University Challenge really is my favourite programme. This past weeks standout has been the full-spectrum warfare unleashed by the tabloids on the BBCs Amol Rajan for having the temerity to make a documentary about Princes William and Harry who you will, of course, barely ever read about in the tabloids. Very hard to know you're not going to get better. "His tweets show Amol Rajan's bias, @BBCNews should be ashamed," one person wrote. The journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan has been announced as the new host of University Challenge, taking over from Jeremy Paxman. Rajan, a former editor of The Independent, was forced to apologise after making incendiary remarks about the royals in articles written for the newspaper in 2012. This is going to be one of our best series yet.. What is it about Rajan that has so enraged some sections of the press? Amol Rajan, who presented the controversial Beeb documentary The. He continues in this. He will film his last episode this autumn and his final series will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from Monday August 29 through to summer 2023. The journalist and broadcaster said: 'I've had a blast hosting this wonderful series for nearly 29 years. A BBC documentary he recently presented - The Princes And The Press - attracted criticism from the royal households, which said "overblown and unfounded claims" were given credibility. ", The Daily Mail reports in one open letter to William and Kate after they had announced their first pregnancy, Rajan congratulated the couple, but wrote: "Neither of you have a special claim on the glorious city of Cambridge so quit pretending you do.". Ive loved working with the fab team who seem to love me & just narrated a UC documentary thats going out on BBC2. The comments were made in a 2012 article for The Independent, which he used to edit, in which he was also critical of princes William and Harry. Amol Rajan will take over from Jeremy Paxman as host of University Challenge from autumn 2023, the BBC revealed today. Rajan has worked variously as the BBC's media editor and presenter of its Media Show, a Masterchef critic, and the host of the Big Debate on the Asian Network. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Amol Rajan today apologised for comments he made in The Independent years ago, Amol Rajan said the royal clan was 'full of fools' and called Prince Philip a 'racist buffoon', BBC documentary 'The Princes and the Press' explores William and Harrys relationship with news outlets, BBC star Amol Rajan forced into humiliating apology for rude and immature comments on Prince Philip, Kate and William, Huge blow to Keir Starmer as Sun mega poll shows Brits think Rishi Sunak is a better leader & reject Labour's woke ideas, Brits are proud of this great country despite endless negativity from the left, Just one in five Brits back 'completely outdated' BBC licence fee, poll reveals, Chances of Labour landslide are melting as voters simply don't trust Keir Starmer, Evil 'Devils Disciple' serial killer enjoys freedom after 47 years despite being 'too dangerous to release permanently', First picture of 'friend to everyone' Brit grandad, 60, who died snorkelling on dream family P&O cruise in Caribbean, Leading Jewish organisation demands meeting with Guardian editor over 'sickening anti-Semitic cartoon' of ex-BBC boss, Woman stabbed to death in horror daylight attack on busy street next to O2 Brixton Academy as police hunt killer, Princes and The Press is understood to have sparked fury at the Palace, allegedly aired "unfounded" allegations that William and his staff briefed the media, legal reps reported to have watched the second instalment, The second part of the doc was titled 'Sussexit', Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). I'm completely committed to impartiality and hope our recent programmes can be judged on their merits. Amol Rajan is a 39-year-old journalist and broadcaster. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. TV tonight: Amol Rajan's futile attempt at cracking the class ceiling The BBC reporter investigates how much freedom of travel there is between Britain's classes. Are you excited for University Challenge to return? Amol is an experienced BBC journalist who reports on all of the topics he covers in an impartial way and in line with the BBC's editorial guidelines. Mr Paxman had a 34-year relationship with Elizabeth Clough, who is the mother of his three children, but left her for book editor Jillian Taylor in 2017. As longtime observers of so-called Fleet Street will be aware, living down to expectations is a constant burden. ", He added: "I'm completely committed to impartiality and hope our recent programmes can be judged on their merits.". Rajan said he was delighted to become only the third host in the shows 60-year history, following Paxman and the recently deceased Bamber Gascogine. By Rachel Cooke Photo by Getty Images What's the collective noun for royal correspondents? I wont stop thinking today about my late, beloved Dad, whose devotion to education brought him to England, whose love of knowledge I imbibed as a kid, and whose belief in the noble challenge of university so shaped my life. . 'It's the best possible antidote to cynicism about young people, allowing millions of us to test our wits against the best minds of a new generation, and annoy and impress our families by barking answers from the sofa.'. If its who I believe it is, its a bad decision. In the days and hours before The Princes and the Press screened, some parts of the media were in a right old flap. ", The BBC did not comment any further, but in a previous statement, it said: "Once journalists join the BBC, they leave past views at the door. The Beeb said: The podcast is still in production", adding it will now be launched as a boxset all at once instead. It is not the first time Rajan has been the focus of royal controversy. The Princes and the PressBBC Two, aired Monday 22 November, 9pm; now on BBC iPlayer, This article appears in the 24 Nov 2021 issue of the New Statesman, The Agent of Chaos, Subscribe for the best of our politics, international affairs, culture and business coverage, straight to your inbox. He has covered for Zoe Ball and Jeremy Vine on Radio 2, and been a regular stand-in on The One Show. ", Another, posted the day before Prince Philip's 90th birthday, read: "The Duke of Edinburgh, for all his faults, is also c**p at doing a tie knot. He added that the diagnosis made him feel depressed, but that he didn't feel it was a series of symptoms. Last year, he sparked anger from the Royal Family over a documentary about Prince William and Harry and their relationship with the media which was criticised as inaccurate - although the BBC defended it. I cant help feeling something rather similar is happening with the continuing saga of the Rajan documentary, in which the behaviour of the royal households and some newspapers will ultimately be found to be the fault of the BBC. He has been married to Charlotte Faircloth since September 2013 and the couple have three children. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. At the time, he commented of Rowling: In a blog about the transgender debate, she offended many people. Born in Leeds, Mr Paxman started his career in 1972 on the BBC's graduate trainee programme, working in local radio and reporting on the Troubles in Belfast. Meghan And The Media - to accompany broadcaster Amol Rajan's BBC2 . By Rory Tingle and James Robinson and Claire Toureille For Mailonline, Published: 10:17 BST, 18 August 2022 | Updated: 14:22 BST, 18 August 2022. The idea that the royal family could claim with any certainty that one or several of their ludicrous retinues HADNT briefed a journalist is absurd. The presenter will . Amol Rajan was behind the microphone and it was his name that got the first mention. Inside the luxury boutique hotel above a wine bar where Jock Zonfrillo spent his final hours - before the Brit is arrested after fatal mid-air collision with another paraglider which sent both men crashing onto a Aristocrats could pay out for Great Famine: Ex-BBC reporter Laura Trevelyan 'would consider' reparations for Do not sell or share my personal information. After the newcomers name was announced, she revealed she believed it was worse than the name who she was originally told would replace Paxman. Clarence House denied it, unconvincingly. However, this is emphatically not to suggest that royal stories are the exclusive province of royal correspondents. There are people in the legal profession flabbergasted at the size of the damages that. His appointment to the University Challenge job has attracted some controversy around the hiring process. The fallout from Amol Rajans BBC documentary has shone a light on the least edifying beat in British journalism. Ahmed herself also commented on Paxmans departure this week by confirmed she had not been spoken to by the BBC about taking over. A BBC journalist was today slammed for joking about throwing a brick at Kate Middleton and Prince William in unearthed tweets. However, she went on to claim someone high up at the BBC chose someone else, who turned out not to be Rajan. No one would have done more to improve that than @SamiraAhmedUK, having seen her practise presenting and talked with her about the shows values. The presenter also said he didn't want to join a support group because he was suspicious of them. Its the best possible antidote to cynicism about young people, allowing millions of us to test our wits against the best minds of a new generation, and annoy and impress our families by barking answers from the sofa. Just before the 8am pips on Radio 4s flagship current affairs programme last Friday, one of the presenters issued the traditional reminder to listeners: Youre listening to Today on Radio 4 with Amol Rajan and Justin Webb. They never STOP briefing. attracted criticism from the royal households. Speaking of his diagnosis, Paxman, who wrote a new book, Black Gold: The History of How Coal Made Britain during lockdown, said the only thing people could do was to 'adapt,' but admitted he struggles with how unpredictable the disease is. I long to know which editors William has entertained to drinks, and whether Harry will press on with his various legal cases against the newspapers its fascinating that Meghans lawyer, Jenny Afia of Schillings, appears in these films with the duchesss agreement. Jamie Oliver seen with Jock Zonfrillo just hours before his death was announced, Bride and Prejudice reality star dies after being hit by intoxicated driver, MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo dies aged 46 leaving family devastated. Amol Rajan is the BBC's media editor. Metro.co.uk has contracted BBC for comment on this story, while Lillian Crawford declined a request to comment. I still am.. Ill devote my first starter for 10 to him and to the millions of quiz fiends who, like me, love those rare occasions when they know the answer before the students do., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. [5] But I expect theyll shut up now. Rajan isnt who Id been told. I sat next to Brian Redhead and John Timpson and we always wore suits, jackets and ties. . OK, but these are distant past events. Another said: "After the Bashir debacle, HOW can the BBC turn a blind eye to Amol Rajan and his vile tweets going back to 2012? (Not that hes interested in gossip; no, he is preoccupied only with how or why narratives emerge.). Urged to divulge her sources, Camilla Tominey of the Daily Telegraph in particular looks like she might be about to faint with happiness (No, no, no, Amol! she doesnt quite scream). Offence is the price of free speech. Amols wearing jeans and a red sweatshirt how things have changed on the Home Service., Then a cocksure Rajan chipped in: Is it called modernisation or something?. 'With his immense intellect, authority, and respect from students and viewers alike, Jeremy hands over a format, and show, as strong as ever. , others. He said: Being asked to host my favourite TV programme is dream-come-true territory. He became a presenter of Newsnight in 1989, a position he would hold until June 2014 during which time he interviewed high-profile figures from politics and culture. I'm about to throw a brick at Kate and Wills and would love a good cat sanctuary right now. The broadcaster said the Duchess of Sussex had asked it to 'clarify' that she had, in fact, apologised for 'not remembering' asking her former PR chief to help with the controversial royal biography Finding Freedom. He explained: 'I kept falling over, I blamed the dog getting under my feet, but after the last time I went down, straight on my face, it was a real mess - black eyes, cuts and blood everywhere - and I thought, 'This isn't right', he said. "Couple have a mog sanctuary mansion with bazillions of cats. [See also: Prince Harrys attack on the tabloids ignores the real media pirates]. Bowing out after 25 years, Mr Paxman presented a Newsnight programme including an interview with then-London mayor Boris Johnson, while they both rode a tandem bicycle. Now, weve been given our first look at Rajans University Challenge debut, as recording is underway for the programmes 61st year. Who is Amol Rajan? To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Amol Rajan's The Princes and the Press reveals the parasitical sycophancy of royal correspondents The gargoyles on display here only make their weird, semi-necrophilia seem all the more repellent by talking so very earnestly about it.

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