Latest news with #AmolRajan
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
University Challenge's 'easy' music question stumps every single BBC contestant - but can YOU beat the odds and solve it?
One seemingly 'easy' music question left every single University Challenge contestant stumped in a recent episode of the game show. The BBC programme sees the best young minds in the UK compete in a knockout tournament, answering questions on a wide range of cultural and academic topics. This time, four students from the University of Bath battled against opponents from the University of Southampton. After having navigated rigorous questions on science, literature and maths, it was the music section that left both teams baffled. The round saw music clips played through studio speakers, and the contestants were tasked with naming the artists behind the songs. Host Amol Rajan gave the Southampton team a hint, saying the first artist based the song on her friendship with Nellee Hooper. The clip played, and the team answered correctly that it was Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjork. The next clue was: 'This singer sang this song in honour of her collaboration with Marvin Gaye.' But as the clip played, the team looked clueless. They turned to one another for answers, but each was more unsure than the last. One team member shook his head, and admitted: 'I don't know,' before his teammate passed on behalf of the group. Amol revealed: 'It's Diana Ross,' at which the team were obviously dejected. Meanwhile, agitated fans were shouting at the TV screen at home, with many online shocked at the 'easy' question. 'P**s easy music round,' wrote one, while another chimed in: 'This is a boring match.' Fans were quick to point out the seeming disparity between the simpler music section and the show's other categories. One shared an image of a sketch by comedy duo Armstrong and Miller, with the caption: 'And then the music round is all sort of Pop Music, and b***er me, I got three right! Boom! I is on fire, isn't it?' A fourth wrote: 'Geeks, you might know all sorts of elements but if you don't know The Boss Miss Ross, I can't help you.' It follows a similar loss on a recent episode of the quiz programme, where UCL and SOAS were the two universities fighting to progress to the next round. One question Amol, 42, put to the students left them dumfounded as they tried to give the presenter an answer. Amol asked them: 'In what present-day country was a territory that was given the name 'Island of the True Cross' by Pedro Álvares Cabral during a trading expedition to India in 1500? 'Perhaps attempting to avoid becalm waters in the Gulf of Guinea, Cabral sailed south-west under the terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas, claimed the place for the Crown of Portugal.' UCL tried their best to answer, with Doherty blurring out 'Goa,' but Amol told him it was incorrect. Mozayen then had a go, simply saying: 'Sri Lanka?' but was promptly told that also wasn't correct. Have you managed to correctly guess the answer? The answer was in fact Brazil. Meanwhile, BBC viewers were recently reduced to tears as University Challenge host Amol Rajan sobbed over a bereavement 'too painful to think about' in an emotional new documentary. Amol Rajan Goes To The Ganges, released on BBC One last month, followed the journalist and broadcaster on a life-changing trip to his birth country of India. The hour-long documentary came after the British-Indian presenter lost his father three years ago and struggled to come to terms with it. Amol did not take his emotional journey alone - his mother accompanied him and provided a steadying presence throughout its ups and downs. He noticed on the trip his mother, a practising Hindu, 'seemed to have an emotional toolkit that I lacked'. Amol was touched by fans' admiration of his mother, posting on X during the broadcast: 'If you're one of the thousands of people watching this on BBC One and thinking my mum is a legend, I confirm you are absolutely correct.' To a suggestion she do the famous Thought For The Day segment on Radio 4's Today programme, which he hosts, he replied: 'My mum is the most extraordinary person. She'd be fantastic.'
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
University Challenge question leaves every single BBC contestant stumped - but can YOU defy the odds and solve it?
A University Challenge question left every single contestant baffled as they struggled to correctly guess the answer on Monday night. The beloved BBC show, which is presented by Amol Rajan, returned for a brand new run of episodes. Kicking off this week, it was UCL v SOAS as the two universities battled it out to progress to the next round. However, one question Amol, 42, put to the students left them dumfounded as they tried to give the presenter an answer. Amol asked them: 'In what present-day country was a territory that was given the name 'Island of the True Cross' by Pedro Álvares Cabral during a trading expedition to India in 1500? 'Perhaps attempting to avoid becalm waters in the Gulf of Guinea, Cabral sailed south-west under the terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas, claimed the place for the Crown of Portugal.' Kicking off this week, it was UCL v SOAS as the two universities battled it out to progress to the next round by putting their best students forward UCL tried their best to answer, with Doherty blurring out 'Goa,' but Amol told him it was incorrect. Mozayen then had a go, simply saying: 'Sri Lanka?' but was promptly told that also wasn't correct. Have you managed to correctly guess the answer? The answer was in fact Brazil. Meanwhile, BBC viewers were recently reduced to tears as University Challenge host Amol Rajan sobbed over a bereavement 'too painful to think about' in an emotional new documentary. Amol Rajan Goes To The Ganges, released on BBC One last month, followed the journalist and broadcaster on a life-changing trip to his birth country of India. The hour-long documentary came after the British-Indian presenter lost his father three years ago and struggled to come to terms with it. Amol did not take his emotional journey alone - his mother accompanied him and provided a steadying presence throughout its ups and downs. He noticed on the trip his mother, a practising Hindu, 'seemed to have an emotional toolkit that I lacked'. Amol was touched by fans' admiration of his mother, posting on X during the broadcast: 'If you're one of the thousands of people watching this on BBC One and thinking my mum is a legend, I confirm you are absolutely correct.' To a suggestion she do the famous Thought For The Day segment on Radio 4's Today programme, which he hosts, he replied: 'My mum is the most extraordinary person. She'd be fantastic.'
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC University Challenge viewers witness 'best comeback ever' in show's history
The new series of University Challenge kicked off with a dramatic showdown between students from Sheffield and Warwick - and viewers were left stunned by the result The latest series of University Challenge launched with a thrilling face-off between Sheffield and Warwick students, leaving viewers gobsmacked by what's being hailed as the most remarkable comeback in the programme's history. Monday's episode (July 14) saw Sheffield take an early lead, racking up a formidable 170 points to Warwick's 120. However, in a breathtaking final few minutes, Warwick rallied to clinch victory with a decisive 210 points, completely flipping the match. BBC presenter Amol Rajan was visibly taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, labelling it a "brilliant comeback". He said: "That is an absolutely perfect example of how momentum is everything, because you (Sheffield) began in the first 10 minutes by soaring and taking it away and then just disappeared at the last five minutes. I'm so sorry, bad luck, but you lost to a fantastic team." He went on to praise Warwick as "inspirational", saying: "You guys are going to be an eternal inspiration for teams that are quite far behind with five minutes to go. "But in the end you won by a comfortable margin. It was a brilliant comeback, we shall definitely see you again. Well done." Amol also hinted that this might not be the last we see of Sheffield, adding: "170 might well be enough to come back again, so we might well see you again." Viewers were quick to take to social media to share their reaction to the gripping match, celebrating it as an exhilarating kick-off to the new season, reports the Express. One commented: "What a great start to the new series, and what an excellent recovery from Warwick! Well done them, and best of luck to them and Sheffield who will surely be back too, in your next matches!" Another chimed in, stating: "Excellent start to the new series. This bodes well for the coming weeks..." Amol's return as quizmaster also garnered praise among fans. A delighted viewer remarked: "Monday nights are made for this! Two really likeable teams and what a comeback from Warwick. Quizmaster looking very sharp as ever. Welcome back @amolrajan." "Wow what a comeback from Warwick," another fan said. "They stayed in the game when all seemed beyond them. No wonder that show was picked for episode one." "That was by far the best comeback I've ever seen on this show," another avid fan said. The 42-year-old quizmaster reprised his role on the show after viewers recently watched him embark on an emotional journey to the Ganges in search of healing following his father's death. The British-Indian presenter has openly discussed his struggles with bereavement, revealing how grief "can really screw you up". His pilgrimage to India's largest religious festival, the Kumbh Mela, served as a significant step in confronting his loss. On The One Show, he shared how the profound experience had "made a big difference" in coping with his sadness.
Times
12-07-2025
- Health
- Times
What is fexofenadine? The hay fever pill that could save your summer
The latest box that Amol Rajan has ticked on his busy to-do list is finding a cure for hay fever. Well, sort of. The University Challenge quizmaster, Today programme host and summertime sneezer has been singing the praises online of a pill called fexofenadine — and has been inundated with messages of gratitude from fellow sufferers on Instagram and TikTok. About a quarter of the population suffers from hay fever, although the charity Allergy UK says levels are rising, with as many as 49 per cent of people now reporting symptoms. Rajan's followers, however, say 'fex' has relieved them of theirs. So what is it and how does it compare with other allergy drugs? The most commonly taken hay fever medications are both antihistamines: cetirizine (often sold under the brand names Benadryl or Piriteze) and loratadine (Clarityn). They work by stopping you feeling the effects of histamine — the chemical your body releases during an allergic reaction. This chemical causes the runny nose, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. • Why nature isn't to blame for your hay fever hell These pills make you less drowsy than older generations of antihistamine such as chlorphenamine (Piriton), they last longer and are less likely to disrupt the important REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Cetirizine and chlorphenamine are generally faster-acting than loratadine, both taking effect within an hour compared with up to three hours, but loratadine can last for up to 24 hours. Cetirizine can also last all day but is slightly more likely to cause drowsiness than loratadine. Chlorphenamine lasts up to six hours. Fexofenadine is also an antihistamine, but has only been available over the counter since December 2020. It is generally the least sedating of the antihistamines and lasts for 24 hours. It can cost more than cetirizine or loratadine, but buying a branded version such as Allevia (£12.49 for 30 tablets at Boots) is unnecessary. 'Generic versions are cheaper and equally effective,' says Dr Chris Rutkowski, a consultant allergist at OneWelbeck in London. 'When looking at a label you should focus on the active ingredient rather than a brand.' The active ingredient is fexofenadine hydrochloride, which, despite the glowing reports sent to Rajan, is no more potent than the other histamine blockers. 'All antihistamines work a little differently in different people and it's worth trying a few to see which suits you, but they are really pretty similar,' says Professor Adam Fox, chairman of the National Allergy Strategy Group. • Will genetically modified rice end hay fever misery for millions? Fexofenadine is suitable for most people aged six and above. If the single 120g adult dose isn't working for you, talk to your pharmacist or GP about a larger dose. There are very few people who cannot take antihistamines but if you have glaucoma, prostate issues, a heart condition or are on certain medications it's best to check with your GP first. 'Side-effects for fexofenadine are typically mild,' Fox says, but they can include those of the other antihistamines: dry mouth, nausea, headaches. Adding a steroid nasal spray may help some sufferers. For serious cases Rutkowski says to consider sublingual immunotherapy (Slit), where a small amount of pollen is placed under the tongue. • How to exercise when you suffer from hay fever Alternatively Fox recommends asking your GP about prescription-only tablets such as Grazax and Itulazax, which treat grass and tree pollen allergies respectively.
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
F1 the Movie to Squid Game: the week in rave reviews
Disney+; full series available now Summed up in a sentence The Bear isn't the chaotic 'Yes, chef!' drama it used to be – but that's no bad thing, as it is beautiful to watch this urban family grow. What our reviewer said 'Payoffs big and small ping in every scene as narrative seeds carefully sown – including in that bad third season! – burst into bloom and these people we have come to adore are rewarded.' Jack Seale Read the full review Further reading 'Shh, chef!' The agonising, joyful power of silent TV episodes Netflix; full series available now Summed up in a sentence The Korean dystopian thriller is now much less pointed than its first stellar series, and it has become ludicrous even by its own standards – but fans simply must know how it all ends! What our reviewer said 'If you can get on board with the new contestant twist – and that is a big if – then the final two episodes have a nicely grand and operatic feel to them, and ultimately, Squid Game does its job. But it leaves the impression, too, that it has become a more traditional action-thriller than it once was.' Rebecca Nicholson Read the full review Further reading 'People like happy endings. Sorry!' Squid Game's brutal finale ramps up the barbarity BBC One/iPlayer; available now Summed up in a sentence As he grieves his beloved father, the atheist broadcaster sets off on a pilgrimage that takes him on a surprisingly glorious spiritual adventure. What our reviewer said 'What Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges expresses most powerfully of all, certainly to this fellow bereaved Hindu, are the irresolvable particularities, and commonalities, of second-generation grief.' Chitra Ramaswamy Read the full review Channel 4; both series available now Summed up in a sentence The second series of Bridget Christie's whimsical and wonderful menopause story is life-affirming – with cracking comedy moments. What our reviewer said 'The Change is ambitious, surreal, moving, and above all hysterically funny. It is unlike anything else on TV.' Chitra Ramaswamy Read the full review Further reading Bridget Christie on brain fog, flirting, and why she won't be taking a lover: 'My heart is full. I am open to it, but I'm not looking for it' In cinemas now Summed up in a sentence Brad Pitt stars as a supercool old-school driver returning 30 years after a near fatal crash to break all the rules of Formula One racing. What our reviewer said 'Motor racing is a sport in which constituent team members seem to be competing against each other as much as against the opposition, and so it ought to be an ideal subject for a movie treatment. There's a fair bit of macho silliness here, but the panache with which director Joseph Kosinski puts it together is very entertaining.' Peter Bradshaw Read the full review Further reading Brad Pitt in the paddock: how F1 the Movie went deep to keep fans coming In cinemas now Summed up in a sentence Heart-wrenching true story about anti-Nazi activist Hilde Coppi, a dental assistant who is arrested while pregnant What our reviewer said 'Hilde's story, told here by interspersing scenes of her grim prison life and the first summer of her love affair with Hans, is comparable to that of iconic anti-Hitler activist Sophie Scholl, but this is a more adult, passionate drama.' Peter Bradshaw Read the full review In cinemas now Summed up in a sentence Documentary that draws on director Hind Meddeb's on-the-spot experience in 2019 as protesters rose against the 30-year rule of Omar al-Bashir. What our reviewer said 'Meddeb finds among the protesters a vivid, vibrant artistic movement: an oral culture of music, poetry and rap which flourishes on the streets. There is also a kind of subversive, surrealist energy: the camera finds a mock traffic roadworks sign reading: 'Sorry for the Delay – Uprooting a Regime'.' Peter Bradshaw Read the full review In cinemas now Summed up in a sentence Thirtieth anniversary rerelease of Amy Heckerling's high-school romcom coming-of-age classic starring Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy, composed entirely of quotable funny lines, remains a sophisticated pleasure. What our reviewer said 'Silverstone is amazingly innocent and charming and her sublimely weightless screen presence has a kind of serenity and maturity that belongs to an instinctive comedy performer.' Peter Bradshaw Read the full review Further reading Alicia Silverstone to reprise Clueless role in TV sequel Prime Video; out now Summed up in a sentence Gory horror franchise returns with a hugely entertaining sixth instalment which sets up an entire family tree for the slaughter. What our reviewer said 'The most entertaining kills, which this time around involve everything from lawn tools to an MRI, have a Buster Keaton-esque flair for physical comedy. These sequences, along with the plot as a whole, tend to include little callbacks to the past: buses, barbecues, ceiling fans and logs make cameo appearances, thrilling little reminders of the havoc they can wreak in a Final Destination.' Radheyan Simonpillai Read the full review Reviewed by Marcel Theroux Summed up in a sentence A black comedy about endangered snails and Ukraine's marriage industry is disrupted, in both narrative and form, by Russia's full-scale invasion. What our reviewer said 'Rather than feeling distracting or tricksy, the author's intervention heightens the impact of the story, giving it a discomfiting intensity and a new, more intimate register. We all have skin in the game at this point.' Read the full review Reviewed by Lara Feigel Summed up in a sentence A flamboyant tale of fakery and forgers that delights in queering the Victorian era. What our reviewer said 'In book after book, Stevens is showing herself to be that rare thing: a writer who we can think alongside, even while she's making things up.' Read the full review Reviewed by Christopher Shrimpton Summed up in a sentence The perfect lives of wealthy New Yorkers are shattered by a violent act on a birthday weekend. What our reviewer said 'A bracingly honest and affectingly intimate depiction of abuse, family dynamics and self-deceit … it upends its characters' lives so ruthlessly and revealingly that it is hard not to take pleasure in a false facade being finally smashed.' Read the full review Reviewed by Joe Moran Summed up in a sentence Behind the scenes at the Guardian, 1986-1995. What our reviewer said 'Few events in these years, from the fatwa on Rushdie to the first Gulf war, failed to provoke fierce disagreements in the newsroom.' Read the full review Reviewed by Kathryn Hughes Summed up in a sentence How animals have shaped British identity. What our reviewer said 'Hedgehogs were reputed to sneak into human settlements at night and steal eggs (true) and suck the udders of sleeping cows (almost certainly false).' Read the full review Reviewed by Alex Clark Summed up in a sentence Life on the women's wards of Iran's infamous prison. What our reviewer said 'It is unclear how many of these dishes are materially realised within the confines of the prison, and how many are acts of fantasy, a dream of what life might be like in the future.' Read the full review Out now Summed up in a sentence After her 2021 album Solar Power embraced switching off, the New Zealand musician returns to pop's fray to revel in chaos and carnality. What our reviewer said 'Virgin is haunted by a very late-20s kind of angst, born of the sense that you're now incontrovertibly an adult, regardless of whether you feel like one – and despite the euphoric choruses, the sound of Virgin is noticeably unsettled and rough.' Alexis Petridis Read the full review Further reading Girl, so inspiring! Lorde's 20 best songs – ranked Out now Summed up in a sentence The mysterious new Sheffield-based artist's thrillingly complete sound world is glitchily complex but beguilingly light on its feet. What our reviewer said 'You can find affinities with other artists and styles here: the bookish but playful minimalism of another Sheffield musician, Mark Fell; Objekt's trickster vision for bass music and techno; the white-tiled cleanliness of some of Sophie's work; Jlin's paradoxically static funk. But the way it's all pulled together is totally NZO's.' Ben Beaumont-Thomas Read the full review Out now Summed up in a sentence The US singer's seventh album takes his meta-theatrical style almost into showtune territory as he confronts being abused by a camp counsellor as a child. What our reviewer said 'Christinzio's inventive, infuriating writing often packs three extra songs into every single track – but this time for good reason. When the chatter falls away on instrumental closer Leaving Camp Four Oaks, he achieves a hard-won, sun-lit sense of peace.' Katie Hawthorne Read the full review Out now Summed up in a sentence The US saxophonist pulls back the vocals of his last record to present a new ensemble and all-original repertoire, resulting in an ideal balance of ingenuity and rapport. What our reviewer said 'He has introduced a terrific new young road band on an all-original repertoire … the result is an album that feels more like an ideal balance of Redman's own ingenuity and his ensemble rapport.' John Fordham Read the full review On tour this week Summed up in a sentence The US singer-songwriter debuts some songs from her long-awaited new album The Right Person Will Stay on her first stadium tour. What our reviewer said 'Lana Del Rey is crying real tears next to plastic weeping willows, momentarily overcome by the size of the audience. This sort of tension, the push-pull between genuine vulnerability and an exploration of aesthetics, has always been there in her music, and her wonderfully ambitious first stadium tour runs on it.' Huw Baines Read the full review
