Quick Info
| Profession | Journalist, broadcaster and writer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian-born British |
| Date of Birth | 04/07/1983 |
| Age | 43 years |
| Birthplace | Calcutta (now Kolkata), India |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
Latest News about Amol Rajan
Amol Rajan was announced as guest host of Have I Got News For You, airing on BBC One on 23/10/2026. The announcement followed his removal as the first contestant voted out of the second series of The Celebrity Traitors.
Sister Group signed a production and distribution deal with Amol Rajan, announced at the Edinburgh TV Festival where he delivered the alternative MacTaggart Lecture. The first project under the partnership is The Amol Rajan Connection, a content club to be recorded at the Koko venue in Camden.
Amol Rajan announced he would step down from the BBC Radio 4 Today programme after four years, later in 2026. He said he wanted to build his own company in the creator economy, and he stayed on at the BBC to present University Challenge and the Radical with Amol Rajan podcast.
Do you like Amol Rajan?
You can vote only once.
88% like · 12% dislike
Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Indian-British journalist and broadcaster who has worked in the United Kingdom. He was born in Calcutta, moved to England at age three, and grew up in south London. He left the BBC's Today programme in summer 2026 to build his own digital media company while remaining a BBC presenter. |
|---|---|
| Known For | Presenting the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 (2021 to 2026) and hosting University Challenge on BBC Two (since 2023) |
| Other Names | Amol Varadarajan |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Secondary School | Graveney School |
|---|---|
| University | Downing College, Cambridge (BA in English) |
| Student Journalism | Edited the student newspaper Varsity |
Personal Life
| Religion | Hinduism by family background |
|---|
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Charlotte Faircloth (married 2013) |
|---|---|
| Children | 4 |
Family
| Siblings | One older brother |
|---|
Career
| Early Career | Worked as a production role and researcher on The Wright Stuff on Channel 5, then as a secondary presenter on the show during its 2006–2007 series |
|---|---|
| The Independent | Joined in 2007 as a news reporter, later serving as sports correspondent, columnist, comment editor and editor of Independent Voices; appointed editor in June 2013, aged 29, and later editor-at-large as the paper went digital-only |
| BBC | Appointed the BBC's first Media Editor in 2016, leading coverage of journalism, media and technology; later presented The Media Show on BBC Radio 4 |
| Today Programme | Presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme from 2021 to 2026; announced his departure in January 2026 and left the programme in summer 2026 |
| University Challenge | Host of BBC Two's University Challenge since 2023 |
| Other Work | Stand-in presenter on BBC Radio 2 and host of The Big Debate on BBC Asian Network; presenter of the Radical with Amol Rajan podcast and interviews series for the BBC; launched The Amol Rajan Connection, a paid content club, in 2026 |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Became the first non-white editor of a national newspaper in over a century when appointed to The Independent in 2013 | |
| 2. Worked as a restaurant critic for The Independent on Sunday | |
| 3. Has made occasional appearances on MasterChef | |
| 4. Was the first contestant voted out of the second series of The Celebrity Traitors |
