Leeds born Jeremy Paxman to step down from University Challenge after 28 years hosting the BBC Two show

Jeremy Paxman will film his final episode this autumn and his final series will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from Monday, August 29 through to summer 2023.

He has presented the show since 1994 and University Challenge celebrates 60 years of being Britain’s longest running quiz show this year.

A special documentary will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Monday, August 29 at 9pm.

University Challenge is produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, and is based on the format of College Bowl by Richard Reid.

A new presenter will be announced later this week.

Jeremy Paxman, who hails from Leeds, said: “I’ve had a blast hosting this wonderful series for nearly 29 years.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with an amazing team and to meet some of the swottier brains in the country. It gives me hope for the future.”

Kate Phillips, BBC’s director of Unscripted, said: “Since the BBC revived University Challenge in 1994 Jeremy has been at the front and centre of the show’s success and is without a doubt one of the world’s finest, and most formidable quizmasters.

“We are hugely grateful to Jeremy for his dedication to the programme for an incredible 28 years, he will be much missed by us all and the show’s millions of viewers.”

Executive producer of University Challenge, Peter Gwyn, said: “Jeremy has been our presenter, colleague and friend for 28 years, and everyone on the University Challenge production team will miss him greatly.

“He’ll be sorely missed too by both our audience and by the generations of students who’ve relished the chance to pit themselves against him in more than a thousand matches.”