Jay 'Bobby' Seagull, the celebrated maths teacher, author and broadcaster, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The honour, announced in the King's New Year Honours list for 2025, recognises his dedicated services to public libraries.
From Jury Duty Notice to Royal Honour
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the 41-year-old revealed his initial confusion upon receiving the official letter. "I got this letter through the post and it says 'On His Majesty's service'," Seagull recounted. "I thought, could it be jury duty?" He described his elation upon opening it to find the news of his MBE, an accolade he immediately credited to his library card.
He fondly recalled formative weekly trips with his father and brothers to East Ham Library in east London. "We would sit cross-legged on the floor reading all sorts of books," he said. "It was this, week after week, month after month, year after year that gave me the skills to be the person I am today. I wouldn't have my public recognition in terms of knowledge if it wasn't for libraries and librarians."
A Lifelong Advocacy for Libraries
Seagull's connection to libraries has been a consistent thread through his public life. In a post on X, he stated: "Those weekly visits shaped who I am today. From BBC's University Challenge to sharing my love of learning on TV and social media, libraries have always been at the heart of my journey." He described libraries as "the beating hearts of our high streets and communities" and dedicated his MBE to all libraries and librarians.
His advocacy is backed by concrete action. He serves as an ambassador for The Reading Agency and is a former champion of the Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP). In 2020, CILIP awarded him an honorary fellowship after he presented a 10-point manifesto for libraries at the House of Lords, championing long-term funding.
The Journey from Trader to Teacher and TV Star
Seagull first captured the nation's attention in 2017 as the infectiously enthusiastic captain of Emmanuel College, Cambridge's University Challenge team, which reached the semi-finals. He leveraged that fame to promote education, particularly mathematics.
His own educational path was distinguished: he attended Eton College on a scholarship, studied mathematics at Oxford, graduated from Royal Holloway, and later completed a teaching qualification and master's at Cambridge, where he is now completing a doctorate. Prior to teaching, he worked in investment banking at Lehman Brothers & Nomura and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC.
His post-University Challenge career has been prolific, including:
- Co-authoring The Monkman and Seagull Quiz Book (2017).
- Becoming an ambassador for the charity National Numeracy.
- Launching the TV series Monkman And Seagull's Genius Guide To Britain (2018).
- Publishing The Life-Changing Magic Of Numbers.
- Co-hosting the Maths Appeal podcast until 2022.
Born in Newham, London to parents from Kerala, India, he explained his unique surname was adopted by his father, a fan of the book Jonathan Livingstone Seagull. Today, he balances his charity work, doctoral studies, and a part-time role as a maths teacher in east London schools, continuing his mission to inspire learning.
