Montagu lives up to the challenge
TS was thrilled to see Sir Nick Montagu, head of the Inland Revenue and Accountancy Age personality of the year, reliving his student years on BBC 2's University Challenge Reunited.
Sir Nick, who first appeared on University Challenge in 1964, was back representing New College, Oxford, against the 1995 team from of Trinity College, Cambridge.
But the sight of the most senior tax inspector in the land with unkempt hair, baggy jumper and sunglasses (that was a flashback to his 1964 appearance, you’ll understand) was not the lasting image. It was his out-Paxmaning Jeremy Paxman.
Sir Nick was slow to answer a VAT question when Paxman pounced. ‘You’re head of the Inland Revenue,’ said the host. ‘You should have known that.’
‘Different department,’ retorted Sir Nick, coolly.