Amol Rajan’s University Challenge disaster

Congratulations to Amol Rajan, who adds the mantle of University Challenge host to his burgeoning portfolio of BBC jobs. Rajan will succeed Jeremy Paxman in the role when the latter steps down this autumn after 28 years hosting the show. On current trends, Mr S estimates the former Independent editor will have held every top job in the British media by the year 2024...

Already there have been fears as to how well the new appointee can fill Paxo's formidable shoes though. Kate Phillips, the BBC’s director of unscripted insisted that 'If future student contestants think they’ll get an easier ride with Amol taking over, they can think again.' We shall see. While Steerpike adds his voice to the chorus of congratulation for Rajan, it's worth noting that his own appearance on the show in December 2020 was less than entirely successful.

The Cambridge graduate captained that year's Downing College team and managed to lose by 65 points to 90 to a Durham team boasting comedian Ed Gamble. Rajan seemed to have a tough time, with 14 of the 18 answers being incorrect, though many of those were in his capacity as head of the team. Still, perhaps he'll have more luck asking the questions rather than fielding them.

Amol's incorrect answers

1. Which British painter created the Triptych, that sold for more than $84m dollars in an online auction in 2020? Amol passed – correct answer was Francis Bacon.
2. An installation piece entitled The End resembling a swirl of cream with a cherry on top appeared on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth in July 2020. Who created it? Amol answered Mark Wynne – correct answer was Heather Phillipson.
3. Which scientist created a gas combustion device with a metal collar to regulate airflow? Amol passed - correct answer was Bunsen (Bunsen burner).
4. For your picture starter you’ll see a map of Texas: name the city? Amol buzzed in, answered Austin – correct answer was Houston.
5. From which Shakespeare play is the line ‘At Christmas I no more desire a rose. Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth; But like of each thing that in season grows’? Amol answered The Tempest – correct answer was Love’s Labour’s Lost.
6. Identify the locations of these US places in which events in the Virginia Slims women’s tennis tour took place? Amol answered Delaware first – correct answer was Philadelphia.
7. Amol passed on the second.
8. Give the names of these birds from a description: Amol answered yellowhammer - correct answer was goldfinch.
9. Amol was timed out - correct answer was long tailed tit.
10. Amol passed - correct answer was house sparrow.
11. Name the book titles from the cover art: Amol passed – correct answer was Anatomy of a Murder
12. Amol passed – correct answer was Bonjour Tristesse
13. Named after a Canadian educational theorist, which proposition states that in a hierarchy each employee tends to rise to the level of their incompetence? Amol answered Maslow - correct answer was Peter
14. Comet black telescope, lionhead and shubunkin are common breeds of what freshwater fish? Amol answered tuna - correct answer was goldfish.

Amol's correct answers

1. Who wrote ‘It snowed last year too! I made a snowman and then my brother knocked it down. Then I knocked my brother down. Then we had tea’. Amol answered Dylan Thomas.
2. In September 2020, Essex beat Somerset to win a trophy named after which England pace bowler. Amol answered Bob Willis.
3. Name the book titles from the cover art. Amol answered Vertigo
4. Identify the locations of these US places in which events in the Virginia Slims women’s tennis tour took place? Amol answered Las Vegas.