Beard Liberation Front
18th August
Media Release
Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett 07803 167266
Campaigners give qualified welcome to Amol Rajan as University Challenge quizmaster
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said following the news Jeremy Paxman is to stand down as presenter of University Challenge, it has given a qualified welcome to the appointment of Amol Rajan as the new quizmaster.
Rajan, who is currently the BBC’s media Editor, has a distinctive beard, but with an Oxbridge background might be seen as an Establishment choice
The programme has only ever had two presenters, the late Bamber Gascoigne and Jeremy Paxman. Neither has worn a beard on air.
The BLF ran a poll on some potential Paxman replacements and found several with popular backing
David Olusoga, academic, historian and broadcaster
Richard Osman, broadcaster and author
Michael Rosen, author, academic, broadcaster
Daniel Norcross- Test Match Special, quizmaster
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we’re pleased that someone with a beard will at last present University Challenge and we congratulate Amol Rajan. We do feel however that the net might have been cast wider not just to other beard wearers but to excellent female presenters such as Samira Ahmed.
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