Q: Why has Amol Rajan’s new role as host of University Challenge left BBC insiders ‘seething’?
ANSWER: Because, after a bidding war with ITV, they say he gets paid so much, the bosses ‘have to find him stuff to do’
something of my life to turn into denying opportunities to others, or being sharp-elbowed.’
He remained at the paper until the publication went digitalonly in 2016, joining the BBC soon after. In May 2021 he made his first appearance on the Today programme.
It turned out to be a difficult debut for Rajan, who is married to the academic Charlotte Faircloth, an associate professor at University College London’s Institute of Education, with whom he has three children.
Unable to sleep the night before, Rajan decided to knock himself out with three large rums and half a sleeping pill ahead of his 3am start. ‘I might have still been a little bit p****d,’ he later revealed. ‘Slightly smelling of Old Havana. But the team were really, really nice about it. And adrenaline takes over.’
Other recent projects in which Rajan has been involved have ruffled feathers — both inside and outside the Corporation.
A documentary he fronted entitled The Princes And The Press about William and Harry drew censure from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, and accusations of bias.
The series was criticised by the royal households for giving credibility to ‘ overblown and unfounded claims’.
Rajan later found himself having to apologise after a series of past tweets and comment pieces he had written about the monarchy came to light.
In them he called for the downfall of the ‘ ridiculous
House of Windsor’ and joked about ‘ throwing a brick’ at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
In one message, posted on the day of Trooping The Colour in June 2012, he even said that the BBC’s ‘monarchist propaganda’ made him sick. Apologising for the remarks, he said: ‘I wrote things that were rude and immature and I look back on them now with real embarrassment, and ask myself what I was thinking, frankly. I would like to say sorry for any offence they caused then or now. I’m completely committed to impartiality and hope our recent programmes can be judged on their merits.’
Then, earlier this year he conducted an interview with the tennis player Novak Djokovic, boasting that it was a ‘ mega global scoop’. But he was criticised for fawning over the star, who had refused to be vaccinated against Covid.
Senior BBC insiders also expressed anger about the way the interview had been arranged, with a PR agency central to brokering the exclusive chat.
Announcing his latest appointment Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted, said: ‘University Challenge is an incredibly important staple of our entertainment slate as it continues to entertain, challenge and educate audiences. We’re delighted that Amol has agreed to be the new host. Jeremy leaves a very big chair to fill but Amol’s experience, expertise and sense of humour makes him the perfect fit for one of Britain’s longest-running and toughest quiz shows. If future student contestants think they’ll get an easier ride with Amol taking over, they can think again!’
And, of course, one question no one can answer is how long the ever-ambitious Amol will occupy the famous quizmaster’s chair – before a better opportunity comes along.