University Challenge question writer slams appointment of Amol Rajan

A former researcher on University Challenge has heavily criticised the BBC for appointing Amol Rajan as Jeremy Paxman’s replacement. 

Veteran broadcaster Paxman, 72, announced he was due to step down from the long-running quiz show after nearly three decades earlier this week. 

The broadcaster confirmed Rajan, 39, would be his replacement and begin filming in 2023. 

However, with his name not even being on many bookmakers’ lists, his appointment has been a surprise to some fans of the show. 

But others have taken issue with the move from the BBC, after a former University Challenge researcher explained why she felt he was not the right decision to helm the programme. 

Earlier this week, Lillian Crawford shared how she had originally been ‘excited’ to see former standby presenter Samira Ahmed, 54, as the new host.

However, she went on to claim ‘someone high up at the BBC’ chose someone else, who turned out not to be Rajan. 

‘It’s hard to sit on this University Challenge thing. I had been so excited to see Samira as the new host, but someone High Up at the Beeb has chosen someone else. If it’s who I believe it is, it’s a bad decision. 

‘I voiced that at the time. I no longer work on the show,’ she commented on Twitter. 

After the newcomer’s name was announced, she revealed she believed it was ‘worse’ than the name who she was originally told would replace Paxman. 

‘Rajan isn’t who I’d been told. This is worse. A man who has applauded the “bravery” of TERFs is taking over a show with one of the biggest queer/trans representations on TV. 

‘It sends a clear signal and undoes so much work done to make all students feel welcome and safe,’ she began.

In 2020, the BBC’s current media editor, who will soon step down for the new role, was criticised for defending author JK Rowling, who has been heavily scrutinized for her views on transgender people. 

He named one of her essays, titled Reasons for Speaking Out on Sex and Gender Issues one of the Russell Prize winners in 2020.

At the time, he commented of Rowling: ‘In a blog about the transgender debate, she offended many people. Offence is the price of free speech. Those offended felt she was questioning their identity and even attacking their human rights, which they argue is a form of discrimination or hate speech.’

While he went on to claim that he ‘takes no view’ whatsoever on the issues she raised, he added: ‘I do take an issue on abuse and trolling, and Rowling has achieved the inglorious honour of topping many a league table for those.’

Elsewhere in the thread, Crawford went on to share how things progressed in recent series under Paxman, such as with ‘no all-male teams’ on the programme this year.

She explained how she had worked on making casting more diverse, with more female, non-binary and queer students on the programme the ever before, as well as a ‘significant number’ of neurodiverse students. 

‘Jeremy Paxman largely facilitated that environment. No one would have done more to improve that than @SamiraAhmedUK, having seen her practise presenting and talked with her about the show’s values. 

‘Neither of us were properly informed of why we were no longer a part of the show,’ she explained.’

Ahmed herself also commented on Paxman’s departure this week by confirmed she had not been spoken to by the BBC about taking over.

She explained on Twitter: ‘I think you should all know: I approached University Challenge myself months ago. I’ve had an amazing time rehearsing & being a standby presenter for it this year. I’ve loved working with the fab team who seem to love me & just narrated a UC documentary that’s going out on BBC2.

And I’ve loved helping set a few questions for this series too. But no one from the BBC has spoken to me yet about taking over. I’ve always been happy to go through an honest fair process and be judged on my merits.

Metro.co.uk has contracted BBC for comment on this story, while Lillian Crawford declined a request to comment. 

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