People paid far too much attention to Jeremy Paxman's hair on the return of University Challenge

(Screengrab/BBC Two)

Paxman's let his hair grow out somewhat this series. Not sure how to react to this… #UniversityChallenge

— Laine Tisdall (@LaineTisdall95) July 11, 2016

Some people thought his new slightly longer look was crying out for a trim.

Oi, Paxman. Get a haircut. #universitychallenge

— (((Neil))) (@dungeekin) July 11, 2016

Paxman needs a hair cut #universitychallenge

— Emily Bannister (@EmleeBannister) July 11, 2016

Gosh, Paxman needs to cut his hair ASAP #UniversityChallenge

— Lucy (@luccccys_) July 11, 2016

#universitychallenge @JeremyPaxman sort your hair out Jeremy #disgrace

— Kriefers (@seat56) July 11, 2016

While others found some positives in the change.

Jeremy Paxman's hair is different, windswept #universitychallenge

— Luke Modrate (@LukeMod) July 11, 2016

Is paxman sponsored by head and shoulders this evening? There's a lot of volume in that hair 😂 #universitychallenge

— BB (@Beverlovey) July 11, 2016

Good to see Paxman getting with the long grey hair look #universitychallenge

— Neil McKenna (@neilmckenna) July 11, 2016

Paxman's sporting great 'retirement hair'. #universitychallenge

— Matthew Horton (@matthewjh) July 11, 2016

Then they got creative and thought he looked like a lot of different things.

Paxman has the hair of a confused man in a library. #universitychallenge

— Crispin (@SirMustard) July 11, 2016

Paxman's hair though. Taken it off my Primary School maths teacher. Not one of the male ones. #universitychallenge

— Chris Rubery (@Chrisrubery) July 11, 2016

Paxman's hair looks like whipped cream that has somehow gotten covered in dust #UniversityChallenge

— Richard Cardall (@Hum_Con) July 11, 2016

Paxman's hair suggests his journey to the recording incorporated passing through a particularly tricky hedge. #UniversityChallenge

— David Ephgrave (@David_Ephgrave) July 11, 2016

I'm sure I've seen Paxman's new hair style somewhere before?… #UniversityChallenge pic.twitter.com/8FOE9y47yZ

— Michael (@Michaelspikel) July 11, 2016

Is Jezza growing a 'Boris Barnet'? #UniversityChallenge #BBCUniChallenge #Paxman #BoJo

— Neil Todd (@Neil_Rivelino) July 11, 2016

Nice to see Dave Allen's hair lives on, care of Paxo #universitychallenge pic.twitter.com/6BsMeXgd3A

— victoria (@VicsterLS) July 11, 2016

Paxo's hair is getting a bit Game of Thronesy…. #universitychallenge

— Heather Lyons (@HezTalk) July 11, 2016

The new *do* proved rather distracting from the actual real questions on the show.

I'm transfixed by Paxman's hair. I can't focus on the questions. #UniversityChallenge

— Mike (@mijath) July 11, 2016

Can't stop looking at Paxman's hair… #UniversityChallenge

— Tyler Bryce (@TyBry_) July 11, 2016

Finding #UniversityChallenge difficult to watch right now as I'm constantly looking out for hungry baby birds emerging from Paxman's hair.

— Mark H (@neonbubble) July 11, 2016

Believe it or not, this actually wasn’t the first time Paxman’s hair has been a serious topic of conversation – back in 2013 it was the hair on his face that caused the meltdown, even prompting the man himself to make a statement.

Jeremy Paxman has issued this statement after Twitter went into meltdown when his beard made its Newsnight debut pic.twitter.com/xruDncID0N

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) August 13, 2013

Few weeks in & it thankfully seems that Jeremy has somewhat grown attached to me…or have I grown attached to him? Either way, i'm staying!

— PaxmanBeard (@PaxmanBeard) August 30, 2013

So we look forward to the latest statement and other inevitable event that will follow…

How long before Jeremy Paxman's hair gets its own twitter account? #UniversityChallenge

— Alice Wright (@sequinnedsheep) July 11, 2016