University Challenge Has New Host

[Punctilio]

Paxo has been at the helm for 28 years.

Amol Rajan to take over next year.

It's been his favourite programme for decades and he is a massive quiz geek,
I'm sure these impressive qualifications must be the reason why Amol was top
of the BBC list to replace Jezza.

[AlexRS2782]

Punctilio said:

Paxo has been at the helm for 28 years.

Amol Rajan to take over next year.

It's been his favourite programme for decades and he is a massive quiz geek,
I'm sure these impressive qualifications must be the reason why Amol was top of the BBC list to replace Jezza.

You might be better off on the Daily Mail comments section - muppet.

In the meantime, you've only got another 9 months & 848 posts to go until you'll be able to post in NP&E again

[untakenname]

Paxman with his scathing wit that most times went over the heads of the contestants is what made the show.

I'll watch a couple of episodes and hope for the best but after the Djokovic decable I'm not holding out much hope.

[I am alright Jack]

Punctilio said:

Paxo has been at the helm for 28 years.

Amol Rajan to take over next year.

It's been his favourite programme for decades and he is a massive quiz geek,
I'm sure these impressive qualifications must be the reason why Amol was top
of the BBC list to replace Jezza.

He's an anti royal leftie so probably fits right in at the BBC.

[coppice]

Yawn - he's also a very , very smart guy and a natural presenter. Oddly enough , he has views of his own . Is that the problem , or the fact that he isn't a
right wing royalist ?

[motco]

He gabbles incomprehensibly on 'Today' on Radio 4 - that's his problem as far as I am concerned. His politics aren't likely to affect University Challenge. He'd be preaching to the disciples in the main.

[okgo]

coppice said:

Yawn - he's also a very , very smart guy and a natural presenter. Oddly enough , he has views of his own . Is that the problem , or the fact that he isn't a
right wing royalist ?

He’s also fairly quick witted having been at an event where he spoke and took questions live.

[sam greenock]

I am alright Jack said:

Punctilio said:

Paxo has been at the helm for 28 years.

Amol Rajan to take over next year.

It's been his favourite programme for decades and he is a massive quiz geek,
I'm sure these impressive qualifications must be the reason why Amol was top
of the BBC list to replace Jezza.

He's an anti royal leftie so probably fits right in at the BBC.

Thank fek for that - last thing needed is another tory wannabe neo-fascist with delusions of intelligence

[55palfers]

Struggling by on a paltry £325,000.00 a year.

[SpeckledJim]

I'm not very pleased. I find Amol Rajan to be extremely pleased with himself and not at all charming.

I recognise this makes me a colossal racist, obvs, but there we go.

Paul Sinha would be a much better host, IMO. I understand he's not in good health.

We'll still watch it anyway.

[okgo]

SpeckledJim said:

extremely pleased with himself and not at all charming.

Sounds like an epitaph for Paxman to me.

[SpeckledJim]

okgo said:

SpeckledJim said:

extremely pleased with himself and not at all charming.

Sounds like an epitaph for Paxman to me.

I know what you mean, but I found Paxman extremely pleased with himself and very charming.

[Bannock]

https://twitter.com/peterjukes/status/119890769354...

Hmm.

[RDMcG]

This kind of change is hard as Paxman was very good indeed and I will miss him.
I will spend the first few episodes criticizing the non-Paxman host but if he is good I will get used to it. Will keep an open mind.
If he is not good I will elbow my way through the run for the exits.

Edited by RDMcG on Friday 19th August 13:27

[SpeckledJim]

I hope he doesn't try to do a Paxman impression. That would be a real bear trap.

And I don't think he has the gravitas to pull-off a proper crotchety like Paxman can.

Clive Myrie has been brilliant as Mastermind host, completely different to Humphrys, and Magnussen.

[Punctilio]

SpeckledJim said:

Clive Myrie has been brilliant as Mastermind host, completely different to Humphrys, and Magnussen.

Indeed, he's a class act.

With Clive as inspiration a Mastermind winner from a person of Jamaican heritage can't be far off.

[AnotherClarkey]

Rajan does have his moments but I fear it might turn into 'The Amol Rajan Show incorporating University Challenge" like with everything else.

I never rated Paxman much either as UC host or as an interviewer but he did look in quite some discomfort during the last series and I hope slowing down a bit lets him feel better.

[Tom8]

Will he use his street accent to be down with the kids on the show or will he use his posher effort? Either way I won't be watching anymore. Shame I love the show.

[oddman]

55palfers said:

Struggling by on a paltry £325,000.00 a year.

Probably not enough

Wonder if he's still on the Russian payroll?