Amol Rajan responds to ‘constructive’ feedback after first University Challenge

Amol Rajan has responded to fan feedback following his first episode as the new host of University Challenge.

The BBC journalist, 39, was last year revealed as the replacement for the quiz programme after long-time host Jeremy Paxman announced he would be stepping down after 29 years at the helm.

At the time Amol said the job was ‘dream-come-true territory’ after he’d watched the show ‘obsessively’ for years.

Fans of the beloved series unsurprisingly had plenty to say when it returned on Monday night, and while many praised the presenter, they did point out the new set design wasn’t quite doing it for them.

Now Amol has responded to the feedback, sharing on social media that he would pass the messages on.

‘Thanks so much for all the kind, thoughtful or constructive feedback about my first episode of #UniversityChallenge,’ he posted on Twitter.

‘I really appreciate it and will discuss with the team.’

His message was appreciated by fans, who also added their thoughts on his post.

‘Well done. Such a nail-biting episode. I expect the new set will grow on me, but I do like the new titles,’ one person shared.

‘Congrats. It’s going to take me years to get used to the set/font/style changes though. That was a cracker of a first match,’ someone else wrote.

Another added: ‘I think the biggest points of feedback were the title sequence; set design; fonts; some of the question speed; and the screen rather than question cards…Nothing major then(!) I appreciate you’ve followed along though, and that you’ll pass it on. Until next Monday!’

One of the main points of feedback fans had commented on when tuning in was the fact that Amol’s chair looked like it was so big it could swallow him up.

‘Amol Rajan looks like a kid in a highchair, reading questions from a silly screen,’ one viewer joked.

Another questioned whether the set was ‘incredibly big’ or Amol was ‘incredibly small’.

Beginning his career in the newspaper industry and as a secondary presenter on The Wright Stuff, Amol later went on to become the BBC’s Media Editor.

In the years since he has presented on Radio 2, The One Show, The Media Show, and serves as a host of Today on Radio 4.

University Challenge has been airing since 1962.

University Challenge airs Mondays at 8.30pm on BBC Two.

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