Jeremy Paxman, the face of 'University Challenge', will be stepping down as host of the show later this year.

Paxman served as presenter of the show since 1994, but has finally decided to step down from the role.

The quizmaster's final episode will air sometime in 2023, with a documentary marking 60 years of the show airing on BBC later this month.

A new host for the show will be announced later this week.

Paxman said "I’ve had a blast hosting this wonderful series for nearly 29 years. I’ve been lucky enough to work with an amazing team and to meet some of the swottier brains in the country - it gives me hope for the future.”

The veteran journalist, famed for his combative interviewing style, brought his take-no-prisoners approach to 'University Challenge' which resulted in him becoming a cult hero among viewers of the show.

Kate Phillips, BBC’s director of unscripted, said: “since the BBC revived ‘University Challenge’ in 1994 Jeremy has been at the front and centre of the show’s success and is, without doubt, one of the world’s finest, and most formidable quizmasters.

"We are hugely grateful to Jeremy for his dedication to the program for an incredible 28 years, he will be much missed by us all and the show’s millions of viewers.”

Peter Gwyn, executive producer of “University Challenge,” added: “Jeremy has been our presenter, colleague and friend for 28 years, and everyone on the ‘University Challenge’ production team will miss him greatly."

"He’ll be sorely missed too by both our audience and by the generations of students who’ve relished the chance to pit themselves against him in more than a thousand matches.”