‘Desperate’ Amol Rajan throws his head in his hands as University Challenge makes a ‘baffling and deeply disturbing’ blunder – but would you make the same mistake?

Amol Rajan was seemingly in despair during an episode of University Challenge over a team’s major blunder.

The 41-year-old presenter, who took over from Jeremy Paxman in 2023, put his head in his hands after hearing the bad reactions from the teams.

The star tweeted live during the episode, which saw teams from St Andrews and Cardiff University battle it out for a place in the second round.

But it was Amol’s response to a music round question that fans of the show really enjoyed.

The host was in total despair and made his thoughts clear after both teams failed to recognize the classic hit Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay.

Amol Rajan, 41, looked desperate during an episode of University Challenge over one team’s major blunder

The presenter who took over from Jeremy Paxman in 2023 put his head in his hands after hearing the bad reactions from the teams

The host was in total despair and made his thoughts clear after both teams failed to recognize the classic hit Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay

And fans of the quiz show expressed their disappointment with the contestants to X: ‘Definitely fair enough Amol. Staggering and deeply disturbing.’

Another wrote: ‘Despite that level of ignorance they deserve to be in the dock at the Old Bailey.’

Others said, “You are right to despair. Like you said, “What the hell are they listening to?” and ‘Death penalty that…’.

But others seemed to think Amol was being too harsh and took to social media to defend the young teams.

Fans of the show said, “We need to try a little tenderness,” and “in the students’ defense, they probably didn’t grow up in the same house as their grandparents.”

Others echoed these thoughts, saying, ‘Would you know the name of a song that may have been a hit forty years before you were born…?’.

But it wasn’t just the answers that shocked viewers.

Some fans were left speechless by one contestant’s bold fashion choice.

Connor Boyling from Kent appeared on the show with a bright red bob and fans couldn’t help but comment on his striking look.

But it wasn’t just the answers that shocked viewers; some fans were left speechless by one contestant’s bold fashion choice

Fans of the quiz show took to X to express their disappointment with the contestants, but the episode divided viewers with some jumping to their defense

Recently the show came under fire from RuPaul’s drag racing star Kate Butch (pictured) who felt the universities of Oxford and Cambridge have an unfair advantage

Some even suggested that the bright color could be a wig or the result of a lost bet.

One viewer said: ‘You must be exceptionally confident to be able to tolerate red hair like that. Is it or was it a bet?’ while another added: ‘The hair was definitely a bet!’ while a third added: ‘Boyling did that for a bet, didn’t he?’.

Recently the show came under fire from RuPaul’s drag racing star Kate Butch, who felt the universities of Oxford and Cambridge have an unfair advantage.

The drag race took to X to express their frustration, saying: ‘I’m almost militant about how I don’t think Oxford and Cambridge should take part in the University Challenge 30 times a year, it’s not called the College Challenge is it?’

Each series of the BBC quiz usually includes at least ten entries for Cambridge and Oxford colleges, with the remaining 18 places going to other universities.