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University Challenge - what do we think of Amol?

93 replies

highlandcoo · 03/09/2023 18:26

I like him much more than Jeremy Paxman whom I found short-tempered and sneery (wish him the best re his Parkinson's obviously).

Amol seems warmer and more sympathetic. More like Bamber Gasgoigne who will always be my favourite I think. Still taking it seriously though. And he seems to get through more questions maybe?

OP posts:
viques · 03/09/2023 19:43

I too would have liked to see VCM in the UC chair if only because it is the sort of thing her vile brother would have really loved doing and it would have pissed him off enormously.

Netaporter · 03/09/2023 19:45

@viques oh yes. It’s been a while since anyone has posted his total rant at a sub editor at the Times. Have you ever read it? Breathtaking arrogance.

hittingtheshelves · 03/09/2023 19:48

He's doing a great job

ErrolTheDragon · 03/09/2023 19:52

Jeremy's pronunciation was sometimes really off. He was fine with Latin or Greek, but did you ever hear him try to pronounce any Welsh words? I think it's actually a good thing to use the available tech to enable you to pronounce the words correctly, and a bit arrogant to assume that you're too clever to ever need it.

He was off on some scientific terms too. I didn't watch UC that often, but remember him being sneery when a contestant got a chemistry question wrong, but then ballsed up the pronunciation himself - clearly just reading wrongly off the answer sheet. Hmm

IglesiasPiggl · 03/09/2023 19:55

I like Amol, he has a nice way with the contestants. Agree it's amazing they didn't notice the chair issue on the first recording and get it sorted though. Personally, I would have preferred a non-Oxbridge educated host, given that there are many excellent universities and I find the massive Oxbridge bias on the show rather dated.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 03/09/2023 19:57

I like him but I would like his diction to be clearer. He’s a bit mumbly.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 03/09/2023 19:59

ErrolTheDragon · 03/09/2023 19:52

Jeremy's pronunciation was sometimes really off. He was fine with Latin or Greek, but did you ever hear him try to pronounce any Welsh words? I think it's actually a good thing to use the available tech to enable you to pronounce the words correctly, and a bit arrogant to assume that you're too clever to ever need it.

He was off on some scientific terms too. I didn't watch UC that often, but remember him being sneery when a contestant got a chemistry question wrong, but then ballsed up the pronunciation himself - clearly just reading wrongly off the answer sheet. Hmm

Anions and cations, the first pronounced correctly, the second to rhyme with stations, had us throwing things at the tv.

Vinorosso74 · 03/09/2023 19:59

I like him. Definitely feels less stuffy and he's much more pleasant towards the contestants. The desk and chair does look completely wrong though.

thistimelastweek · 03/09/2023 20:04

He's great.

SoCentralRain · 03/09/2023 20:25

I like him, I like the way he speeds up towards the end to give the losers a chance of a comeback.

Rolling my eyes at the he’s not very clever or an academic type comments🙄

viques · 03/09/2023 20:48

Netaporter · 03/09/2023 19:45

@viques oh yes. It’s been a while since anyone has posted his total rant at a sub editor at the Times. Have you ever read it? Breathtaking arrogance.

I think the best thing you can say about him is that he wears his arrogance and self importance very visibly so there is absolutely no chance of anyone getting the wrong impression of him.

Netaporter · 03/09/2023 21:00

@viques case in point, his review of a £250k Bentley Bentayaga in this weekend’s Times.

duc748 · 03/09/2023 21:15

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 03/09/2023 19:57

I like him but I would like his diction to be clearer. He’s a bit mumbly.

I remember when he was first mooted for the job, I saw complaints from people (not on MN) who knew of him (through radio? I don't listen to radio) that his diction might not be clear enough. As someone whose hearing is pretty poor, I can't say I have a problem with him at all. Although I do have the sub-titles on 😀I find it helps with obscure/technical vocab.

RockaLock · 03/09/2023 22:07

Having subtitles on makes a huge difference, though, to whether you can hear someone properly or not on the TV!

Paxman was not great, especially in the later years, but I do struggle a lot with Amol if we don't have subtitles on.

Other than that, he's great, though, I do like him.

Pythonesque · 03/09/2023 22:50

I haven't watched for a while, really should try again. Interesting reading the comments on Paxman's pronunciation, hadn't realised it extended to other languages too. Like previous posters, we felt his pronunciation of scientific and medical terms was utterly atrocious and frankly embarrassing at times. The judgement of correct answers (or not) for some of those questions was also shaky at times.

Missedmytoe · 04/09/2023 08:44

I want to like him but I don't.
He seems to want to make the contestants relax more, but equally, I find he mumbles a lot, and fiddles with his jewellery.
And I dislike how he will say, "Obviously xzy..." when it really isn't obvious at all.

Missedmytoe · 04/09/2023 08:44

*xyz

Grantanow · 04/09/2023 08:57

Prefer Paxo. And the new studio furniture is awful. Makes it look like a game show. I don't watch it anymore.

Fourlegsandatail · 04/09/2023 09:02

I like his warmth towards the contestants. The studio looks like it was inspired by a 1970s car park though.

Supertillypops · 14/09/2023 23:19

I think he’s OK but cringe every time he says “haitch”.

ShanghaiDiva · 14/09/2023 23:30

I think he could benefit from Chanel’s advice- before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off- ideally the tie pin or the dreadful handkerchief.

duc748 · 15/09/2023 00:42

Ouch! But you have a point. 😀

upinaballoon · 15/09/2023 23:29

I'm one of the people who said I hear him on Radio 4 in the early morning and find he mutters quite fast and I was hoping he wouldn't do that in UC. So far he doesn't seem to. I am pleased with how it's going.

Missedmytoe · 16/09/2023 09:31

A friend of mine just described him as "A budget Alan Sugar".

Agree that 'haitch' is painful to hear.

mixedpeel · 16/09/2023 20:23

Haitch is perfectly standard in many dialects.

Amol is much warmer with the contestants than Paxman ever was. Seems to treat them as fellow smart beings rather than slightly annoying young inferiors.

Set definitely not doing him any favours though, to be sure.