Jeremy Paxman has hit back at students who labelled him ‘sexist’ and revealed the comment they took offence at was about a knitted mascot.

The veteran broadcaster said yesterday he was ‘baffled’ that Reading students had vowed to boycott University Challenge over alleged ‘misogynist’ remarks.

He said that after ‘racking his brains’ he remembered talking with the team about their mascot, which they told him was a ‘Jeremy Paxman doll’.

And he then asked the mixed-sex team in front of the studio audience if they ‘took it to bed with them’, he revealed.

It comes after Samantha Buzzard, the Reading captain and a PhD student working on mathematical modelling of the surface melt of Antarctic ice shelves, took offence to his comments during filming last February. She was the only woman on the team.

Jeremy Paxman (pictured) has hit back at a University Challenge team from Reading who labelled him ‘sexist’. He claims they took offence to a comment about a knitted mascot

It comes after Samantha Buzzard, the Reading captain and a PhD student working on mathematical modelling of the surface melt of Antarctic ice shelves, took offence

Mr Paxman released the information in a statement yesterday after the University of Reading student union publically accused him of ‘oppressing’ women with his comments.

He said no complaint was made at the time and he was surprised that they had brought it up 18 months later.

It is the latest in a string of incidents in which student unions have accused high profile speakers of being sexist, transphobic or racist.

Some critics say the National Union of Students is encouraging today’s undergraduates to be too easily offended by throw-away remarks.

Mr Paxman’s comments were made during recording for a programme in February last year, when Reading was pitted against Imperial College.

Mr Paxman said he struck up a conversation during a break in the recording which was caused by a technical fault.

He said: ‘I have racked my brains to discover what on earth the Reading Students Union is on about.

‘I think they’re referring to a recording of University Challenge which took place in February 2015, though I am baffled at why it has become an issue a year and a half later.’

The comment was made during filming with Ms Buzzard (pictured) on University Challenge

He said he addressed the entire Reading team - which had three male students and one female – while everyone was still sat at their desks.

He added: ‘In the conversation to fill the void – in a brightly lit studio, in front of all eight contestants, a full studio crew and an audience of several hundred spectators – I asked the Reading team about the mascot sitting on their desk.

‘One of them said it was a hand-knitted “Jeremy Paxman doll”.

‘Across the several yards separating the chairman’s desk from the teams, I asked the whole team whether they took it to bed with them.

‘Though no complaint was made at the time, this, apparently, is what has upset them.’

The Reading team lost the round – scoring just 110 against 285 for Imperial College.

He said no complaint about the comment was made at the time and he was surprised that they had brought it up 18 months later

The student union voted earlier this week to boycott the show, saying they had complained to ITV about the remarks and had not received a formal apology.

They said the comment ‘should not be taken lightly’ and had the effect of ‘undermining and oppressing individuals due to their gender.’

They added that the students involved had been let down by a ‘lack of procedure’ and ‘complaints process’ at the show.

However, they have refused to give their own account of what was said because they signed a ‘confidentiality agreement’ with ITV, which makes the programme – although it is aired on BBC2.

University authorities will now take over responsibility of compiling the new team and have said they will ‘of course support any students’ who feel they have been victims of prejudice.

A University Challenge spokesperson said: ‘18 months ago producers spoke with a Reading University contestant about a comment made during a conversation with the whole team which would appear to have been misinterpreted.

‘The Student Union's recent comments are surprising, we are, however, pleased that Reading University continue to apply for the show.’

Earlier this year, students tried to stop feminist Germaine Greer speaking at Cardiff University because they said her views on transgender people were offensive.

And gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has complained that he has been ‘no-platformed’ by students who said he was ‘transphobic and racist’.