Bobby Seagull is a man of boundless enthusiasm and sharp intellect: he is a secondary school maths teacher, a published author, and has been a staple on our television screens ever since his life-changing appearance as a team captain on University Challenge. 

When Bobby is outside of the classroom, he remains dedicated to transforming students’ lives. He has written books, delivered TED talks, and made numerous TV appearances, all with the aim of challenging maths anxiety. 

In conversation with Liz Adekunle, Chaplain to HM the King, Bobby shares the story behind his distinctive surname, his Indian Catholic upbringing, and how a football sticker book ignited his passion for mathematics. 

He also reflects on his time on BBC Two’s Pilgrimage and how the journey to the famous sanctuary in Fatima, Portugal – where in 1917 three shepherd children reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary – rekindled his relationship with God.