Jeremy Paxman stays true to self with understated good bye on University Challenge
The quiz host signed off after 29 years saying simply 'So goodnight from me … goodnight!'
Jeremy Paxman's simple good bye on his final episode of University Challenge has been hailed as "elegant", "understated" and very "Paxman".
The 73-year-old broadcaster - who revealed in 2021 he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease - signed off the 52nd series of the BBC quiz with a brief farewell.
Paxman ended the show saying: "University Challenge returns later in the year and I look forward to watching it with you. So it’s goodnight for me. Goodnight."
Read more: Jeremy Paxman rushed to A&E twice in two days
Many viewers embraced the simplicity of the sign off.
One tweeted: "What an elegant no nonsense farewell to University Challenge by Jeremy Paxman. He’ll probably snort but I found it rather moving.."
Another declared: "That was the most Paxman send-off possible."
One viewer commented: "Lovely understated goodbye from Jeremy Paxman at the end of his final show of #universitychallenge."
Somebody tweeted: "It feels like we all, collectively, just witnessed a moment of telly history just there!"
What an elegant no nonsense farewell to University Challenge by Jeremy Paxman. He’ll probably snort but I found it rather moving.. pic.twitter.com/X2DWLYYf9E
— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) May 29, 2023
And another viewer observed: "I think he got slightly emotional in the final seconds. I was hoping for a presentation but he probably asked for no fuss knowing him. He’ll be missed. I thought Bamber Gascogne would never be surpassed but Paxman exceeded with class."
Some viewers felt the BBC should have made a bit more fuss after 29 years.
One said: "Justice for Jeremy Paxman! He deserved a better send off than that. #universitychallenge."
Another tweeted: "Well, someone could have brought Paxman a cake..."
But most fans agreed it was a fitting end to the presenter's reign.
Paxman took over hosting University Challenge from Bamber Gasgoine, who was quizmaster from 1962 to 1987.
He will pass the baton to BBC journalist Amol Rajan, who was announced as the new host in August 2022.
Paxman also hosted Newsnight from 1989 to 2014.
Paxman announced in 2021 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and went on to step away from hosting University Challenge.
Read more: Jeremy Paxman says he'll try cannabis to help his Parkinson's
The NHS says Parkinson's "is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years".
Watch: University Challenge host Bamber Gascoigne died in 2022 aged 87
