‘Get that man a booster cushion!’ University Challenge viewers poke fun at new host Amol Rajan for being dwarfed by huge desk on debut show – as fans praise his ‘relaxed’ style – but other miss Jeremy Paxman’s ‘scoffing’

• Paxman, 73, stepped down from the tough quiz show after 28 years at the helm 

Amol Rajan looked like ‘a kid in a high chair’ during his debut as the new host of University Challenge on Monday night, viewers have complained.

The BBC’s former media editor, 40, had big shoes to fill after taking over from Jeremy Paxman, 73, who last year stepped down from the famously tough quiz show after 28 years at the helm, following his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2021. 

But Rajan had a huge desk to fill too, according to fans of the BBC2 programme, who also questioned if the chair – which seemed particularly low – had been changed since the departure of his 6ft 2in predecessor. 

One fan wrote on Twitter that the journalist ‘looks like a kid sitting on his dad’s office chair’, while another jibed: ‘He looked as authoritative as a four-year-old at the dinner table.’ 

Another asked: ‘Could they have possibly found a larger desk or a smaller chair for Amol Rajan?’

Amol Rajan was ‘swallowed’ by his ‘huge chair and desk’ during his debut as the new host of University Challenge on Monday night, viewers have complained

Rajan had a huge desk to fill too, according to fans of the BBC2 programme, who also questioned if the chair – which seemed particularly low – had been changed since the departure of his 6ft 2in predecessor

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One added: ‘My only comment on University Challenge is that they seem to have bulked up the staging and scenery yet left Amol Rajan’s chair very low and it’s both making him look slightly foolish and meaning he looks at his screen constantly.’ 

‘Has the gas lift on Amol Rajan’s char failed?’ another quipped. 

Set design woes aside, reviews for Amol were generally positive, although many missed Paxman’s more no-nonsense style. 

One viewer wrote on Twitter: ‘Not a fan of Rajan being impressed with the contestants. I miss the scoffing and often angry condescension of Paxman.’ 

However another said: ‘I loved Jeremy Paxman as presenter but I enjoyed last night’s show. Amol Rajan’s style isn’t worse, just different.’  

Rajan seems to have ushered in a much softer era as he took over as the host of the beloved quiz.

Wearing a shiny orange tie and matching pocket square, the former editor of The Independent was quick to praise the contestants from Trinity College, Cambridge and Manchester and even engaged in some light-hearted chit-chat.

‘Hello and welcome to a new series and a new era of University Challenge,’ he said as he opened the show, addressing viewers.

‘A few things have changed since the end of the last series, but all the important things remain the same; The format is still simple, the questions are still complicated and the teams are still terrifyingly knowledgeable.’

Set design woes aside, reviews for Amol were generally positive, although many missed Paxman’s more no-nonsense style

While Rajan still employed Paxman-favourite, ‘Come on,’ once or twice, he was also liberal with ‘Well done’, which he doled out more often.

At one point Rajan, a regular presenter on Radio 4’s Today Programme, told a contestant that their answer was ‘very impressive’ while another got a ‘wow’ after a lightening quick answer during the music round.

While Paxman created an air of tightly-wound tension, Rajan seemed keen to put the students at ease by making off-the-cuff quips and employing the odd, ‘Bad luck’ when met with a wrong answer.

There was even a cricket-themed question, prompting Rajan – a keen player and author of a book on the sport – to remark: ‘About time we had some more cricket questions on this programme.’

At the end of the show, he described Manchester’s win as ‘one hell of a victory’ after a ‘painful beginning’ and consoled Trinity, saying: ‘My goodness, I’m so sorry.’

He told them: ‘I think it was quite possibly strong enough to see you come back so we may well see you again.’

He added: ‘Well done on a completely phenomenal performance and thank you both do much for keeping us all hugely entertained – that was impressive.’

Meanwhile viewers tuning in said they enjoyed the softer approach, with one person congratulating Rajan for doing an ‘excellent job’ while another said the show had ‘nice dynamics’.

Just after the show finished, Rajan responded to the responses he received by posting: ‘Thanks so much for all the kind, thoughtful or constructive feedback about my first episode of #UniversityChallenge. I really appreciate it, and will discuss with the team.’

The programme’s previous long-standing host Jeremy Paxman, 73, filmed his final episodes last year

READ MORE: ‘It’s happening!’ New University Challenge host Amol Rajan dons a sharp suit and his trademark jewellery as he offers light-hearted glimpse of himself in chair vacated by Jeremy Paxman

But some were not happy with the revamped set design and decision to replace question cards with Rajan reading them out from an electronic screen.

One viewer wrote on Twitter: ‘Finding this difficult to watch. Awful set. No question cards. Quizmaster reading from screen at high speed while wringing his hands.’

A second said: ‘There’s no eye contact from Amol with the contestants. It’s just you staring at a screen. May as well just be a computer reading out questions.’

Another explained that they would ‘much rather he was reading from the cards as Jeremy did’ and that the new screen feels ‘hidden’ and ‘removed’. 

A fourth added: ‘The large computer screen in front of Amol Rajan is a bit distracting. It also means he doesn’t have cards to slam down on the desk when the teams give a stupid answer.’

Another chimed in: ‘The new University Challenge set is dreadful! Tackily built and painted poorly designed and boring. What were they thinking?’

This fan agreed, adding: ‘Reading from the screen makes him look totally disengaged from everything.’ 

Just after the show finished, Rajan responded to the responses he received by posting: ‘Thanks so much for all the kind, thoughtful or constructive feedback about my first episode of #UniversityChallenge. I really appreciate it, and will discuss with the team.’

Paxman’s stint on the show, from 1994 to 2023, made him the longest-serving quizmaster on British television. 

But long-standing host Paxman, 73, filmed his final episodes last year, with the latest series of the programme ending in May after announcing his departure following his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis.

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