Jeremy Paxman has signed off from University Challenge for the final time, adding he’s ‘looking forward to watching it’ with the rest of the world.
Since the BBC resurrected the programme in 1994, the 73-year-old veteran broadcaster and former Newsnight host has presented it.
Paxman, on the other hand, hosted his farewell programme on Monday night (May 29).
Paxman announced his retirement from the quiz show one year after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and after 28 years in charge.
Amol Rajan, a journalist and broadcaster, will take over as the show’s third host in its 61-year existence. Bamber Gascoigne originally aired the show in 1962.
‘It remains for me to thank Jung Chang for presenting the trophy, all the teams who have amused us over the last months, and you for watching,’ Paxman said.
‘University Challenge returns later in the year and I look forward to watching it with you. So it’s goodnight for me. Goodnight.’
In the final episode, Durham University was crowned 2022-2023 University Challenge victors and earned rousing acclaim when Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China author Jung Chang presented the winners with a stainless steel book trophy.
Chang said: ‘I’m really pleased to be invited here to present the trophy because University Challenge was the most prestigious programme to me when I first arrivetd in Britain in 1978.
‘I grew up in Cultural Revolution China, when schools and the universities were all closed, (Chairman) Mao said, “The more books you read, the more stupid you become.”‘
‘And (the) books were burned across China and so tonight, I watched these brilliant minds at work, and I want to congratulate them for their brilliant brains, and I do hope that they would use their brains to make our world a better place.’
Opening the quiz, Paxman told the two teams: ‘Well, you’re all old hands at this now, so just get on with it.’
Throughout his nearly three decades as the show’s host, his trademark disapproving eyes and aggressive manner have caused him to fight with a number of candidates.
Durham defeated Bristol with a score of 155 to 120, with Paxman informing the latter that it’s ‘totally great’ to finish second and ‘go out in the final’ following questions regarding science fiction, proteins, a picture round involving pictures from past wars, composers, and literary criticism.
Paxman, who was born in Leeds, began his broadcasting career in 1972 on the BBC’s graduate trainee programme.
He worked on local radio in Belfast, reporting on the Troubles, and shortly after relocating to London in 1977, he moved from Tonight to the investigative flagship series Panorama.
The TV personality has also appeared on the Six O’Clock News and BBC One’s Breakfast Time.
He joined Newsnight in 1989 and interviewed high-profile personalities from politics and society until June 2014.
After 25 years, Paxman delivered a Newsnight broadcast that included an interview with then-London mayor Boris Johnson while riding a tandem bicycle.
In May 2021, he disclosed that he was receiving Parkinson’s treatment, but that his symptoms were “currently mild.”
He stepped down as University Challenge host in August of last year, according to the BBC.
This summer, University Challenge will return with a fresh title sequence and batch of students.
The BBC just unveiled first-look photographs of the updated set of University Challenge with Rajan, but the well-known theme music and Roger Tilling’s renowned voice will stay.
University Challenge returns to BBC Two and iPlayer later this year.
Source My Celebrity Life.