Jeremy Paxman
(Picture: PA Media)Jeremy Paxman’s final episode of University Challenge is to be filmed this autumn – and the race to fill his shoes is on.
The 72-year-old host was diagnosed last year with Parkinson’s disease, which led to his decision to step down after 28 years on the show.
The BBC are set to announce a replacement of the longest standing quizmaster on British TV later this week, with a few fan favourites.
BBC’s Media Editor Amol Rajan has emerged as a lead for the new presenter role.
The 39-year-old competed in the celebrity edition of the show in 2020, representing the University of Cambridge Downing College alumni team as captain.
In the bid for the job, Rajan will likely change the pace of Paxman’s severe manner.
Bookmakers have also put forward newsreader Fiona Bruce, comedian Sandi Toksvig, both at 2/1 odds.
Richard Osman, former Pointless host, followed closely on 3/1.
BBC journalist Samira Ahmed expressed her regret on Twitter at not landing the role after time spent rehearsing as a “standby”.
I think you should all know: I approached University Challenge myself months ago. I’ve had an amazing time rehearsing & being a standby presenter for it this year. I’ve loved working with the fab team who seem to love me & just narrated a UC documentary that’s going out on BBC2.
— Samira Ahmed (@SamiraAhmedUK) August 16, 2022
She said: “I approached University Challenge myself months ago. I’ve had an amazing time rehearsing & being a standby presenter for it this year.
“But 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. I still am.”
Writer and mathematician Bobby Seagull, who competed on University Challenge in 2017, shared his thoughts on Paxman’s departure.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World At One, he said: “I’m, like many other fans, sad to see the end of the time of the great and formidable Jeremy Paxman.
“He has just become an institution. Many quiz fans every Monday night we have a routine, the pinnacle of the quiz night is University Challenge, Paxman since 1994 has been the centre piece of that.
“There are gimmicky game shows that are fun, University Challenge is all about the knowledge and that is something that is really prized in the 21st century.”
