Jeremy Paxman

Jeremy Paxman at the Forward Prizes judging meeting 2014 (cropped)

Jeremy Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is a British broadcaster, journalist, and author. He is best known for his work on the BBC television programme Newsnight, which he presented from 1989 to 2014. Paxman is renowned for his forthright and often abrasive interviewing style.

Early Life and Education

Jeremy Paxman was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Malvern College, an independent school in Worcestershire, and later attended St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he read English literature. During his time at Cambridge, Paxman was editor of the student newspaper, Varsity.

Career

Early Career

Paxman began his career in broadcasting in 1972 at the BBC, working as a trainee. He initially worked on local radio and later moved to BBC Radio Brighton. In 1977, he transferred to BBC Television, where he worked as a reporter on the Tonight programme.

Newsnight

In 1989, Paxman became the presenter of Newsnight, a role he held for 25 years. His tenure on the programme was marked by his rigorous and often confrontational interviewing style. Notable interviews include his 1997 interview with then-Home Secretary Michael Howard, during which Paxman asked the same question 12 times.

Other Work

In addition to his work on Newsnight, Paxman has presented a variety of other programmes, including University Challenge, a quiz show for university students, which he began hosting in 1994. He has also written several books, including The English: A Portrait of a People and Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British.

Personal Life

Paxman has been known for his private nature regarding his personal life. He has three children with his former partner, Elizabeth Clough. In 2021, Paxman revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Paxman has received numerous awards for his work in journalism, including the Royal Television Society's Richard Dimbleby Award and the BAFTA for Best Presenter.

Bibliography

• Friends in High Places: Who Runs Britain? (1991)
• The English: A Portrait of a People (1998)
• The Political Animal: An Anatomy (2002)
• On Royalty (2006)
• Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British (2011)
• Great Britain's Great War (2013)
• A Life in Questions (2016)

See Also

• Newsnight
• University Challenge
• BBC
• Journalism in the United Kingdom