University Challenge presenter skewers guest while response leaves him in 'despair' | TV and Radio

BBC University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan shocked viewers when he took to Twitter during a live episode to criticize a team’s inappropriate response to a question.

The 41-year-old presenter, who takes over from Jeremy Paxman in 2023, delighted fans by live-tweeting during the episode as teams of students from St Andrews and Cardiff University competed for a place in the second round.

As the episode progressed, Amol could be seen on screen placing his head on the table, expressing his disappointment and frustration that the students failed to recognize the classic hit, Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay.

When fans commented on his reaction, he didn’t hold back on social media.

One fan said: “I liked Amol Rajan in despair after a team failed to recognize Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay at University Challenge.”

Amol replied, “I mean, come on!”

Fans agreed with his response, adding, “I loved your despair, Amol” and “You are right to despair, @amolrajan. Like you said, ‘what the hell do they listen to?’.”

More chimed in, agreeing with his opinion, adding: “Absolutely fair, Amol. Impressive and deeply disturbing.” Another wrote: “For this level of ignorance they deserve to be sitting in the dock at the Old Bailey.”

But others think Amol should have shown more restraint, writing, “A little tenderness needs to be tried” and “in the student’s defense, they probably didn’t grow up in the same house as their grandparents.”

Elsewhere in the episode, fans were distracted by the player’s unusual hairstyle. Kent footballer Connor Boyling appeared on the show wearing a bright red bob and fans couldn’t help but comment on the player’s look, with many wondering if it was a wig or if he had lost a bet.

“You have to be exceptionally confident to keep your hair that red. Is it or was it a bet? asked a spectator.

A second agreed: “Surely the hair was a gamble!” while a third added: “Boyling did it as a bet, didn’t he?”