University Challenge first aired in 1962 hosted by Bamber Gascoigne and this year celebrates its 60th anniversary as Britain’s longest-running TV quiz show. To mark the occasion, a special documentary will be shown on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Monday 29 August at 9pm. Born in Leeds, Mr Paxman began his career in 1972 on the BBC’s graduate trainee programme, working on local radio and reporting on the Troubles in Belfast. Shortly after moving to London in 1977, he transferred from Tonight to flagship investigative program Panorama, before stints at Six O’Clock News and BBC One’s Breakfast Time. He became the presenter of Newsnight in 1989, a position he would hold until June 2014 during which he interviewed high-profile figures from politics and culture. Bowing out after 25 years, Mr Paxman presented a Newsnight program which included an interview with then London mayor Boris Johnson while both were cycling. Earlier this month, ITV announced a documentary in which Mr Paxman will reflect on his Parkinson’s diagnosis and meet those at the forefront of the research.
