Bamber Gascoigne death: Former University Challenge presenter dies aged 87

Bamber Gascoigne, the television presenter and author best known as the original quizmaster of University Challenge, has died after a short illness, at the age of 87.

His wife Christina, to whom he was married to for 55 years, said: “Bamber and I had a fantastic 62 years together, full of friends and adventures. We never had a quarrel, not even when I turned the car over while we were driving to India.”

He wrote and presented the 1977 docuseries The Christians, which examined Christianity not only as a religion but as a historical force, and was the author of a 1972 satirical novel, Murgatroyd’s Empire.

However, he was best known as the original presenter of University Challenge, fronting the quiz show when it aired on ITV between 1962 and 1987.

During his time on the series, Gascoigne became known for catchphrases, including “Fingers on buzzers” and “I’ll have to hurry you” and “your starter for 10”.

Actor Stephen Fry, who competed on University Challenge in 1980 on behalf of Queen’s College, Cambridge, recalled how the presenter was “kind and warm” to the “nervous” students on the show.

Gascoigne was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours for his services to the arts.

He was portrayed by The League of Gentleman star Mark Gatiss in the 2006 film Starter for Ten.

During his time at Magdalene College at Cambridge University – where he read English Literature – Gascoigne wrote a musical titled Share My Lettuce.

The musical was produced in London in 1957 and starred Downton Abbey’s Maggie Smith opposite Kenneth Williams.

Gascoigne inherited Grange Park Opera in Surrey from his aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe, in 2014.

Gatiss wrote on Twitter: “Very sorry to hear that Bamber Gascoigne has died. An ever-cheerful icon of our collective TV upbringing who made knowledge and intelligence seem fun. That’s how boffins should be, I always thought. It was a great joy to play him. RIP”

David Nicholls, who wrote the 2003 novel and screen adaptation of Starter For 10, said he was “starstruck” when he met the broadcaster.

He tweeted: “Very sad to see this. 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.”

Victoria Coren Mitchell, the host of BBC quiz show Only Connect, also paid tribute, saying that she had “always hoped to meet” the TV presenter.

She added: “No quiz host has ever seemed more like they could answer all the questions themselves. With his gentle manner and great brain, what a wonderful teammate he would have been. RIP.”

Wasfi Kani, the founder of Grange Park Opera, said the TV star had been “like a father” to the venue.

Kani said: “Bamber’s exceptional philanthropy is as extraordinary as the story of how Grange Park Opera came to build the opera house in his garden.

“I’d read that he had inherited the estate of idyllic 14th-century West Horsley Place from his aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe, and realised it was the perfect place for the first opera house of the 21st century.

“My trustees tentatively asked for a meeting, tiptoe-ing around the proposal. Bamber’s reaction was typically ebullient, ‘Of course you can’.”

She added: “Every step of the way, Bamber has been like a father to Grange Park Opera: advising, enthusing, encouraging.”

Kani noted that the opera house “is his” and that “everyone who crosses its threshold must thank this amazing man”.