Amol Rajan’s University Challenge debut showed he is no Paxman

OK, what did you make of the new series of University Challenge then, with Amol Rajan occupying the seat that Jeremy Paxman once graced? Actually, if it was the same chair, it was a bit big for Amol, and I’m sure there’s a metaphor there somewhere.

But really, the whole thing was just fine. Amol was cheerful rather than intimidating. He lacks Jeremy Paxman’s cherishable incredulity and he doesn’t have a long nose to look down at people with, which is nobody’s fault.

There was less brusqueness and less mobility with the eyebrows, though he did manage a scathing ‘What!’ when Trinity College Cambridge suggested the end of a book title was Gone With the Wind (they were only kidding). And he brought himself into the frame by declaring that there should be more cricket questions.