The only link?

On the stroke of noon today it will be revealed whether Chris Woodhead, formerly England's chief inspector of schools and now research professor at the University of Buckingham, is extending his higher education links with a bid for the rectorship of St Andrews University.

His name has been mooted for the student-elected post, succeeding media luminary Andrew Neil.

Nominations close today, with the election on October 25. But by mid-week, only one nomination had been received, for journalist and former Liberal MP Sir Clement Freud.

Rumours earlier this year of a rectorial battle between Germaine Greer and Anne Robinson have come to nothing.

Student vice-president Kirsty Henderson said: "So many names have been mentioned and it's very difficult to know whether it's people just speculating."