University Challenge Bristol fall at final hurdle as Paxman bows out
THE University of Bristol team narrowly lost their first appearance in the University Challenge final, as long-time host Jeremy Paxman bowed out on Monday night.
The host said that he is looking “forward to watching it” along with fans at home in future.
The 73-year-old veteran broadcaster and former Newsnight presenter has hosted the series since the BBC revived it in 1994.
Paxman had announced he was stepping down from the quiz show a year after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
He will be replaced by journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, who is the third host of the programme in its 61-year history. The show was launched by Bamber Gascoigne in 1962.
Signing off, Paxman said: “It remains for me to thank Jung Chang for presenting the trophy, all the teams who have entertained us over the past months, and you for watching.
“University Challenge returns later in the year and I look forward to watching it with you. So it’s good night from me. Good night.”
In the final, Durham became the 2022-2023 champions and received rapturous applause as Wild Swans: Three Daughters Of China author Jung Chang handed over a stainless steel book award to the winners.
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 arrived 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.”
During his 29 years at the helm, Paxman’s famous disapproving looks and combative style has seen him clash with a number of contestants.
Durham beat Bristol by 155 to 120, with Paxman telling the latter it’s “absolutely fine” to become the runners-up and “go out in the final” after the teams were asked about science fiction, proteins, a picture round featuring scenes of historical battles, composers and literary criticism.
Bristol trailed for the entire encounter and were unable to catch their rivals from the north east.
Coincidentally the final was a repeat of the very first match of the series, which Durham edged 195185.
It is believed that this year’s team was the first representing Bristol to reach the final.
University Challenge is due to return this summer with both a new title sequence and batch of students.
The BBC recently released the first images of the modernised set of University Challenge with Rajan.
But the well-known title music and peerless voice of Roger Tilling will remain.