University challenge

Paxman was great. He didn’t put them down,it was very tongue in cheek, they all say he was lovely, Victoria is too jokey. Alexander Armstrong is a singer and comedian, who hosts a terminally boring quiz show with up himself Osman.

Gosh I’m in a grump today?

I didn't say Paxman put anyone down Lucca, he is a very intelligent man with a sense of occasion and I rather liked him.
And I don't think you are too grumpy today!
They will need someone fairly youngish who can give a few decades worth. Too much chop and change wouldn't be good.

I know you didn’t but others have!

AGAA4

Richard Osman?

Hope not. Don't know why, but I find him irritating and somehow makes me uneasy.

Thank you for the names, I think either Mr. Monkman or Mr.Seagull would be good, they have both gone on to be presenters along with their experience of being a Contestant on UC.

IMO UC doesn’t need a famous name to carry it.

grannydarkhair

According to The Telegraph at 20:47, Amol Rajan is the front runner. However, the comments don’t back this up.

No, he speaks far too fast and gabbles, swallowing his words. I can barely follow what he's saying and whenever he's on I shout at the screen "slow down, will you!"

I'm glad Paxman is giving it up. His brain was all there but it was painful how he was slurring his speech and slowing down. He wouldn't be doing himself a favour by continuing for another season.

I like the idea of Seagull or Monkman. There have been a few standout contestants since but those two have gained some media savvy since and - particularly Seagull - have charisma.

There was also a girl who blew everyone's mind a few years back - Gayle Trimble. Remember her? She turned up later as a contestant on Only Connect, having had a bit of a makeover and with more confidence.

I would also agree with Semira Ahmed as it really is time for a woman to take over.

Please not Clive Myrie. He has such trouble pronouncing foreign words. I sometimes can't even understand the question on Mastermind when he pronounces it wrong.

As for talking fast, have a look on YouTube at some of the old programmes with Bamber Gascoigne. Machine-gun fire comes to mind, compared with nowadays. But the questions were easier then. Scores were double and treble what they are now.

sandy toksvig

Sorry about decline in Paxman's health. Did Bamber Gascoigne(?) present it at one time?

Beg pardon, Jacky B ,just read yours

Much as I like Sandi - I’ve never really seen her do much ‘serious’. I think she’d be a bit of a waste as part of her ‘charm’ is going off on a tangent. I think 15 to 1 completely lost the plot when it was revived and expanded from half an hour to an hour, with her commenting after almost every question was answered.
Perhaps it doesn’t need to be someone famous, but definitely, as already said, someone in for the long-haul. It’s not a programme given to chopping and changing, IMO.

What is not needed is someone who waffles.

It’s one of my favourite programmes and I do love Paxman I think he does it well, he’s a very clever well educated man. Not sure who I want to take his place, as I’m sorry he’s going, but I think his illness has caught up with him. I just hope whoever it is , is not some brainless lightweight!

Yes, Bamber Gascoigne did present it and I did not like him.

I was part of a team from Kings College, Durham that became Newcastle University while I was there. I was on the team after we separated from Durham and he made it abundantly clear, that he really had no interest in red brick universities and spent all his time consorting with the Oxford College that we thrashed soundly.

TwiceAsNice

It’s one of my favourite programmes and I do love Paxman I think he does it well, he’s a very clever well educated man. Not sure who I want to take his place, as I’m sorry he’s going, but I think his illness has caught up with him. I just hope whoever it is , is not some brainless lightweight!

Agree with this post !

I liked Paxman. I know he comes across as rude but it's an act.
When he was the subject on who do you think you are, I was in tears as was he.
A very hard act to follow.

Russell Davies very ably hosts ‘Brain of Britain’ and is very kind to contestants!

Osman or Coren-Mitchell.

I liked JP. I thought he did a good job.
Victoria Coren Mitchell-but only if she keeps doing Only Connect as well.
Please not Richard Osman or Alexander Armstrong. Either of them might start making inane jokes like they do on Pointless.
Clare Balding -she’s OK on sports programs,
not patronising.
I don’t think UC would work with guest presenters but I can’t think of anyone I’d like to see week after week.
I don’t think we’ll be asked.

It seems to be a very small list of the same people doing the same kind of shows.
I can't think of anyone else, though.

What do people see in richard Osman ? So up himself.

How about Clive Anderson?
Is he still working?

Alice Roberts

MissAdventure

How about Clive Anderson?
Is he still working?

I’d vote for him. Witty and clever ?
He does something on radio 4 but I can’t remember what it’s called.