{"id":142403,"date":"2025-05-29T21:27:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T21:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/142403\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T21:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T21:27:14","slug":"qi-host-sandi-toksvig-and-anti-brexit-firebrand-gina-miller-make-cambridge-university-chancellor-shortlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/142403\/","title":{"rendered":"QI host Sandi Toksvig and anti-Brexit firebrand Gina Miller make Cambridge University Chancellor shortlist"},"content":{"rendered":"

By CHRIS POLLARD<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 11:36 EDT, 29 May 2025 | Updated: 11:44 EDT, 29 May 2025 <\/p>\n

Bake Off and QI star Sandi Toksvig<\/a> and anti-Brexit firebrand Gina Miller are on the shortlist to be the next chancellor of Cambridge University<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both are hoping to become the first woman to hold the ceremonial position in its 800-year history.<\/p>\n

But fellow candidate Wyn Evans, an astrophysics professor at the university, warned they may lower the tone at the highbrow institution.<\/p>\n

‘If Cambridge needs a high-profile or celebrity chancellor to be noticed, we might as well give up and rebrand the university as a reality TV<\/a> show – Keeping Up with the Cantabrigians,’ he said.<\/p>\n

Ms Toksvig, 67, who studied law, archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge, questioned whether it was ‘time for a change’.<\/p>\n

She said: ‘The first known chancellor of Cambridge was Richard of Wetheringsett who served sometime between 1215 and 1232.<\/p>\n

‘After that we have had a plethora of other Richards, many Johns and an awful lot of Stephens – after over 800 years I wonder if it isn’t time for a change?’<\/p>\n

The comedian and TV host once told how she was almost kicked out of the university for having a girlfriend sleep over, and was only allowed to stay because of her ‘excellent academic record’.<\/p>\n

\"Bake <\/p>\n

Bake Off and QI presenter Sandi Toksvig believes it is time for a change after 800 years of men holding the position of chancellor at Cambridge<\/p>\n

\"Firebrand <\/p>\n

Firebrand Gina Miller successfully challenged the government over the way Brexit was handled<\/p>\n

\"Cambridge <\/p>\n

Cambridge is one of the world’s leading universities and the third-oldest in continuous operation<\/p>\n

‘If you are going to be gay, at least be clever,’ she joked. ‘What [they] don’t want is gay stupid people.’<\/p>\n

Gina Miller, 60, who successfully challenged the government in court over the implementation of Brexit, said she would champion ‘civil discourse, fairness, and democratic principles’ at Cambridge.<\/p>\n

‘Electing the first woman to the role – while not essential – would be powerful and symbolic, affirming Cambridge’s commitment to modernity and equality,’ she said.<\/p>\n

In 2017, Ms Miller won a Supreme Court ruling that MPs should have a say over triggering Article 50, which took the UK out of the EU. She also successfully challenged Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament in 2019 as a Brexit debate was looming.<\/p>\n

The other eight people on the shortlist for chancellor are all men. They include Cambridge college presidents Lord Smith and Dr El-Erian, former BP chief executive Lord Browne, professors Tony Booth and Wyn Evans, and Cambridge alumni Ayham Ammora, Ali Azeem and Mark Mann.<\/p>\n

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