Amol Rajan has shared his “excited” to take on the role of the new host of college challenge for the first time this month.
The popular BBC quiz show, which features competitive university teams, will return to screens on July 17.
Journalist and broadcaster Rajan, 40, was announced last year as a replacement host following the departure of longtime presenter Jeremy Paxman.
The veteran broadcaster hosted the show for 29 years, but aired his last show in May, two years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Speaking on the eve of his tenure as host college challenge, Rajan said: “We’re back! I’m excited to watch and relive this great series with the audience and what a great series it is, with a thrilling ending and higher standards than ever before.”
Tackling the conundrums will be 28 teams of new students from universities across the country, stretching from Aberdeen to Southampton.
The show has a new set and title sequence, but its format will remain the same, with contestants expected to take part in and answer questions from aromatic compounds to the philosopher Zeno. by Citium.
Rajan is the third person to present the show’s main series in its 61-year history. Before Paxman, Bamber Gascoigne came up with the puzzle in 1962.
Rajan with the Manchester team
(BBC/Lifted Entertainment, Part of ITV Studios/Ric Lowe)
Rajan’s Top Introduction of Radio 4 Today program and has also hosted BBC podcasts on topics including education, climate change, equity and population.
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In 2020, Rajan appeared as a contestant on the Christmas celebrity special of college challengebut his team from Downing College, Cambridge, lost to Durham University.
In May 2021, Paxman announced that he was being treated for Parkinson’s disease but said his symptoms were “currently mild”.
It was revealed in an ITV documentary that his doctor diagnosed him with the disease after noticing that he was less “excited”. college challenge.
Paxman said: “Turns out he was watching college challenge and noticed that my face had acquired what is known as the ‘Parkinson’s Mask’.”
college challenge returns on Monday 17 July at 8:30pm on BBC Two.
Press Association supplementary report.
