NIULoyd091 at 11:10, 29 April 2026

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{{Short description|English maths teacher and television presenter (born 1984)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|02|13|df=yes}}
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
| name = Bobby Seagull
| image = Bobby Seagull for Argos.jpg
| caption = Seagull in an advertisement for [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]]
| education = {{ubli|[[Eton College]]|[[University of Oxford]] (failed to complete)|[[Royal Holloway, University of London]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Hughes Hall, Cambridge]] ([[Postgraduate Certificate in Education|PGCE]])|[[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])}}
| workplaces = [[East London Science School]]
}}

'''Jay Bobby Seagull''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 13 February 1984) is a British mathematics teacher, broadcaster and writer. He appeared on the television programme ''[[University Challenge]]'' in 2017, and in 2018 on ''Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain.'' His second book, ''The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers'', was published in 2018.

==Early life and education==
Seagull, the second of his parents' four sons all of whom were called Jay, grew up in the [[London]] [[London Borough of Newham|Borough of Newham]].<ref name="CEonBS">{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/bobby-seagull-age-who-maths-12896245|title=... Bobby Seagull|author=Chris Elliott|date=14 April 2017|work=Emmanuel College's University Challenge star has revealed what it's like to become a celebrity|publisher=Cambridge News ("Cambridgeshire Live"), Waterbeach|access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> His Malayali parents emigrated to [[East Ham]] from [[Kerala]] in India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tes.com/news/bobby-seagull-teacher-who-wants-britain-love-maths|title=Bobby Seagull: The teacher who wants Britain to love maths|website=Tes|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b2cf993266c07b1ca7a812f/t/619ba70ede4b5577ecccb3cd/1637590798262/Quiz+Shows+and+Math+Anxiety+-+with+Bobby+Seagull.pdf|title=Quiz Shows and Math Anxiety - with Bobby Seagull|work=Numberphil|date=23 October 2020|accessdate=27 August 2025}}</ref> He said on episode ten of ''The Answer Trap'' that "my first name is Jay because in my family there's a South Indian tradition, so Jay Dave, Jay Bobby, Jay John, Jay Thomas, and then my family name is Jose, from Kerala in South India".<ref name="answertrap">{{cite episode|series=The Answer Trap|series-no=1|title=Episode 10|network=[[Channel 4]]|date=21 May 2021}}</ref> Asked by an interviewer in 2017 about his "pretty unusual" name, Bobby Seagull explained, "My dad was very taken by the book ''[[Jonathan Livingston Seagull]]''".<ref name="CEonBS" /> He attended St Michael's Primary School followed by [[St Bonaventure's]] in [[Upton Park, London|Upton Park]].<ref name=":0" /> He is a fan of local [[Association football|football]] club [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/may/16-may/how-west-ham-fan-bobby-seagull-using-football-make-maths-cool|title=How West Ham fan Bobby Seagull is using football to make maths cool|website=West Ham United F.C.|date=16 May 2018|access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

When he was growing up, his father would take his boys regularly to East Ham Library, where Seagull was encouraged to find books that interested him.<ref name=":0" /> His headteacher was [[Michael Wilshaw]].<ref name=":0" /> After seeing an advertisement for sixth form scholarships at [[Eton College]], he subsequently applied and studied at Eton.<ref name=":0" /> Seagull started studying [[mathematics]] at [[Lady Margaret Hall]], [[University of Oxford]], but left his degree and graduated from [[Royal Holloway, University of London]].<ref name=":0" />

==Career==
After graduating from [[Royal Holloway, University of London]], Seagull joined [[Lehman Brothers]] as a trader.<ref name=":0" /> He was there during the [[2008 financial crisis]], and has spoken about the days before it filed for [[Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers|bankruptcy]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jack |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Jack |date=29 April 2026 |title=A fresh financial crisis might be coming - but it won't play out like the last one |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3p5l0nyevo |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> He left banking and worked as an [[accountant]] for [[PricewaterhouseCoopers|Pricewaterhouse Coopers]].<ref name=":0" /> During this time, Seagull was involved with voluntary work and training new graduates.<ref name=":0" />

Seagull did a [[Postgraduate Certificate in Education|PGCE]] at [[Hughes Hall, Cambridge]] and completed a master's degree in education at [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge|Emmanuel College]] whilst finishing his [[newly qualified teacher]] (NQT) year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.staff.admin.cam.ac.uk/features/the-university-challenge-star-propelled-by-a-love-of-maths|title=The University Challenge star propelled by a love of maths|last=Thomas|first=Glynn|date=2017-04-13|website=For staff|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> He has taught at [[Chesterton Community College]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/case-studies/bobby-seagull|title=Rate My Placement - Guides on helping you find a placement or internship}}</ref> Cambridge and [[East London Science School]].<ref name=":0" /> Seagull is a part-time Maths teacher at a secondary school in London.<ref name=":0" /> He has created mathematics raps for his school classes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.lichfieldfestival.org/news/young-critics-review-2019-bobby-seagull/|title=Young Critics Review 2019 - Bobby Seagull (by Jamie Robinson) {{!}} Lichfield Festival unique arts projects across the West Midlands|newspaper=Lichfield Festival Unique Arts Projects Across the West Midlands |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> He is also leading a course on [[money management]] at the [[Open University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/bobby-seagull-changing-attitudes|title=Numeracy doesn't end after school, it's something we use for the rest of our lives.|last=admin|date=2017-11-08|website=National Numeracy|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> Since the start of 2018, Seagull has been pursuing a [[doctorate]] at the [[University of Cambridge]] concerning [[Mathematical anxiety|"mathematical anxiety and phobia"]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgemaths.org/blogs/seven-questions-with-bobby-seagull/|title=Seven questions with... Bobby Seagull {{!}} Cambridge Mathematics|website=www.cambridgemaths.org|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>

He has been a [[columnist]] for the ''[[Financial Times]]'' since January 2018.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/aug/17/university-challenge-eric-monkman-bobby-seagull-bbc|title=University Challenge duo Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull to star in BBC show|author=Amy Walker|date=17 August 2018|website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/bobby-seagull|title=Bobby Seagull|website=[[Financial Times]]|access-date=9 October 2018}}</ref> Seagull has since become a national campaigner to improve maths literacy.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/news/meet-bobby-seagull-the-east-london-genius-fighting-for-britain-to-love-maths-011519|title=Meet Bobby Seagull: the east London genius fighting for Britain to love maths|website=Time Out London|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09 |last1=Haidrani |first1=Salma }}</ref> He is concerned that in the [[United Kingdom]] it is acceptable to celebrate being bad at maths as if it is a badge of honour.<ref name=":0" /> He is also an advocate for maths teachers, supporting them in the creation of new materials and campaigning for better pay.<ref name=":0" /> He has said he wants to be the "Jamie Oliver of maths..Jamie Oliver helped to introduce healthy food in schools. I would love to be the equivalent for mathematics where I can help change how people nationally think about it".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/08/14/news/university-challenge-s-bobby-seagull-says-he-turned-down-celebrity-big-brother-1406803/|title=University Challenge's Bobby Seagull says he turned down Celebrity Big Brother|date=2018-08-14|website=Irish News}}</ref> He has created maths puzzles for [[BBC]] [[Bitesize]], as well as working with [[Rachel Riley]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/zrbsfcw | title=Challenge Your Brain with Bobby Seagull's Maths Puzzles | work=Bitesize | publisher=[[BBC]] | access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>

Seagull releases regular maths challenges on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5fdpKCTWDYlSbXqDWg0jKjB/puzzle-for-today|title=BBC Radio 4 - Today - Puzzle for Today|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> In 2018 he taught mathematics to three [[BBC News]] presenters, [[Naga Munchetty]], [[Jayne McCubbin]] and [[Tim Muffett]], before they retook their [[General Certificate of Secondary Education]] (GCSE) mathematics paper.<ref name=":1" /> He presents the podcast ''Maths Appeal'' with [[Susan Okereke]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-appeal/id1445702010|title=Maths Appeal on Apple Podcasts|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>

===''University Challenge''===
Whilst working at [[East London Science School]], Seagull was made captain of the [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge|Emmanuel College]] ''[[University Challenge]]'' team.<ref name=":0" /> During the competition he was praised for his enthusiasm, and his name started to trend on [[Twitter]].<ref name=":0" /> He met [[Eric Monkman]] in the semi-final, where Monkman's team ([[Wolfson College, Cambridge|Wolfson College]]) won.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/17/who-are-eric-monkman-and-bobby-seagull-and-how-are-they-best-known-7951457/|title=Who are Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull and how are they best known?|author=Caroline Westbrook|date=17 September 2018|website=Metro}}</ref> Whilst the pair started as rivals, they went on to form a friendship and began broadcasting together.

===Broadcasting===
Seagull and Monkman were given their own radio show, ''Monkman and Seagull's Polymathematic Adventure'', in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b091szlz|title=BBC Radio 4 - Monkman and Seagull's Polymathic Adventure|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05br0pf|title=BBC Radio 4 - Today, Monkman and Seagull on life after University Challenge|website=BBC|date=7 August 2017 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> Seagull and Monkman co-hosted their first television series, ''[[Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain]]'', in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bl1vp2|title=BBC Two - Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain, Series 1, England|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bl1vnr|title=BBC Two - Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> In the show, the pair travelled the [[United Kingdom]] to identify Britain's technological achievements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/monkman-and-seagull|title=BBC - Monkman and Seagull go on a clever journey around Britain for new BBC Two series - Media Centre|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> In 2020 they followed up with ''[[Monkman & Seagull's Genius Adventures]].''

In 2019 Seagull became an advocate for investment in public libraries, working with the [[Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals]] (CILIP) to front the 'Libraries Deliver' campaign as a national 'Library Champion'. In 2020, Seagull was awarded Honorary Fellowship of CILIP.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Natalie|title=News & Press: News: CILIP announces Honorary Fellowships including Library Champion Bobby Seagull|url=https://www.cilip.org.uk/|website=CILIP: The library and information association|access-date=2020-10-23|archive-date=2018-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910203935/https://www.cilip.org.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Seagull has appeared on the [[YouTube]] channel Football Daily on a number of occasions, specifically in their Stat Wars series. He has also participated as a panellist on the [[BBC Radio 4]] discussion programme ''[[Any Questions?]]''.

In 2021, he and quiz expert Frank Paul became the resident "trappers" on the [[Channel 4]] game show ''The Answer Trap''. Their role is to create plausible-sounding but wrong answers to questions asked of the contestants, which are hidden among the genuine responses.

In December 2022 Seagull competed alongside Eric Monkman in BBC's ''[[Celebrity Antiques Road Trip]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title=BBC Two - Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Series 11, Episode 14 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g695 }}</ref>

In 2023, Seagull was on ''[[Pilgrimage (TV series)|Pilgrimage: The Road Through Portugal]]'', a [[BBC Two]] series following a group of celebrities going on a pilgrimage to [[Fátima,_Portugal|Fátima]]. He was the only Roman Catholic pilgrim in the group.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Two - Pilgrimage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09w7lc0 |website=BBC}}</ref>

In April 2023, Seagull appeared on ''[[Indian Matchmaking]]'', a [[Netflix]] series where people of Indian heritage enlist the help of a matchmaker to find a partner to marry. He took part in [[Hunted (2015 TV series)#Series 5 (2023)|series five]] of ''[[Hunted (2015 TV series)#Celebrity Hunted|Celebrity Hunted]]'' in 2023, alongside [[Saffron Barker]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Famous Fugitives confirmed for new series of Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/famous-fugitives-confirmed-new-series-celebrity-hunted-stand-cancer |website=[[Channel 4]] |access-date=13 May 2023 |date=10 March 2023}}</ref>

He was awarded an MBE in the 2026 New Year's Honours list.<ref name="Ahmed 2025">{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Shariqua |title=Bobby Seagull appointed MBE for libraries work |website=BBC Home |date=2025-12-30 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgkgd5k19ko |access-date=2026-02-08}}</ref>

==Books==
* {{Cite book|title=The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers|last=Seagull|first=Bobby|publisher=Penguin|year=2019|isbn=978-0-7535-5280-3}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Monkman And Seagull Quiz Book|last=Seagull|first=Bobby|publisher=Eyewear Publishing|year=2017|isbn=978-1-911335-99-3}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seagull, Bobby}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century British mathematicians]]
[[Category:21st-century English non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Academics of the Open University]]
[[Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Hughes Hall, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London]]
[[Category:British people of Malayali descent]]
[[Category:British science communicators]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from the London Borough of Newham]]
[[Category:English male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Financial Times people]]
[[Category:Lehman Brothers people]]
[[Category:Participants in British reality television series]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:People from East Ham]]
[[Category:PwC people]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from London]]
[[Category:Television personalities from the London Borough of Newham]]
[[Category:Writers from the London Borough of Newham]]

Bobby Seagull - Revision history

NIULoyd091 at 11:10, 29 April 2026