Amol Rajan was born on 4 July 1983 in Kolkata, India, to Indian parents before moving to the UK as a child. He attended Graveney School in London and later studied English at Downing College, Cambridge.

He began his journalism career in the mid-2000s and rose quickly through the media industry. In 2013, he became editor of The Independent, making history as one of the youngest editors of a national UK newspaper.

Rajan joined the BBC in 2016 as Media Editor and later became a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in 2021. He also hosted documentaries and interview series, building a strong reputation in political and media reporting.

In 2023, he succeeded Jeremy Paxman as the host of University Challenge on BBC Two. The long-running academic quiz show tests university students’ knowledge and has been a major part of British television since 1962.

He lives in London with his wife and children, continuing his work in broadcasting and journalism.