Fingers on buzzers for a tricky University Challenge question... who will be the next host?
Jeremy Paxman has stepped down as the quiz show’s presenter after 28 years, with his replacement due to be announced this week.
And bookies Coral have seen a flurry of bets on QI’s Sandi Toksvig, whose odds have plummeted to 6/4.
Then again, they have also taken wagers on TOWIE’s Gemma Collins at 100/1, although Rylan is seen as the likelier option at 12/1.
Several reports have tipped Radio 4’s Today host Amol Rajan (8/1) for the job.
But Woman’s Hour presenter Emma Barnett, who was reportedly an understudy for Paxo, is also understood to be a contender, as well as Fiona Bruce, who was an early favourite at 4/5.
Having quit Countdown, Anne Robinson is 8-1, and Pointless host Richard Osman is at 5/2, while The Chase’s Beast Mark Labbett (10/1) says it would be his “dream job”.
Samira Ahmed has odds of 8/1, despite already revealing she is miffed to have not been contacted by producers.
Samira had been a stand in presenter for Jeremy, who has Parkinson’s disease, and even approached bosses to apply for the role she would “love”.
The respected journalist said: “No one from the BBC has spoken to me yet about taking over.
“I’ve always been happy to go through an honest, fair process and be judged on my merits.”
