On Monday, Amol Rajan came on The One Show to discuss his new role as the host of University Challenge.
It was announced last year that Amol, 40, will succeed 73-year-old Jeremy Paxman, who disclosed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2021.
On Monday evening, Amol thanked Jeremy and described a pleasant phone chat they had.
Amol explained why he phoned Jeremy: ‘He’s a broadcasting behemoth.
‘Very sadly he’s got Parkinson’s. He’s been dealing with that. I wanted to give him a call.’
Amol continued: ‘I said I want to say two things, “thank you for passing the show on in such good condition” [and] I promise I won’t screw it up”.’
Amol concluded: ‘He said thank you for calling, I appreciate it.’
As for Jeremy’s advice? He told Amol: ‘Make the show second nature for you.’
The BBC revealed last August that Amol would take the show over and the TV star said at the time: ‘Being asked to host my favourite TV programme is dream-come-true territory. I have watched University Challenge obsessively for years, addicted to its high standards, glorious title music, and inspirational contestants.
‘It’s the best possible antidote to cynicism about young people, allowing millions of us to test our wits against the best minds of a new generation, and annoy and impress our families by barking answers from the sofa.’
He went on to say that he was ‘aware’ of following in the footsteps of Bamber Gascoigne, who died earlier this year, and Jeremy, who hosted the show for 28 years.
Of Jeremy, he said: ‘I have vast shoes to fill. With his immense intellect, authority, and respect from students and viewers alike, Jeremy hands over a format, and show, as strong as ever.
‘I won’t stop thinking today about my late, beloved Dad, whose devotion to Education brought him to England, whose love of Knowledge I imbibed as a kid, and whose belief in the noble challenge of university so shaped my life.
‘I’ll devote my first Starter for 10 to him – and to the millions of quiz fiends who, like me, love those rare occasions when they know the answer before the students do.’
