Bamber Gascoigne, Beloved Original ‘University Challenge’ Presenter, Dies at 87
08.02.2022 - 17:43
/ variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Bamber Gascoigne, who was the original presenter of popular TV quiz show “University Challenge,” has died after a brief illness. He was 87.Gascoigne presented the show, which aired on U.K. broadcaster ITV, from 1962-1987.
The show was later revived on the BBC in 1994 and continues being aired. 2006 film “Starter for 10” revolved around “University Challenge.” It starred James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall and Benedict Cumberbatch and featured Mark Gatiss, who would go on to write BBC series “Sherlock,” as Gascoigne. David Nicholls, who wrote the book “Starter for 10,” on which the film was based, said: “Bamber was a big part of my TV childhood and was very gracious about his fictional cameo in ‘Starter For 10.’ He came to the book launch and left me quite starstruck.” Gascoigne was also known for presenting ITV documentary series “The Christians” (1977) and Channel 4 series “The Great Moghuls” (1990).
Stephen Fry, who participated in “University Challenge” in 1980, said: “Oh no, not Bamber. He was so kind and warm to us students who sat nervously at those desks. Such an elegant, intelligent man.”Peter Gwyn, executive producer of “University Challenge,” said in a statement: “Bamber was unlike anyone else on television when the program started back in 1962 – he was utterly charming, erudite and, at times, seemingly omniscient, and his 25 years spent presenting the program established it firmly as the institution it is now.
The website popstar.one is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can
send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.