Jeremy Paxman
English retired journalist, author and broadcaster (born 1950) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jeremy Dickson Paxman[1][2] (born 11 May 1950) is an English former broadcaster, journalist and author.
Jeremy Paxman | |
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![]() Paxman in May 2014 | |
Born | Jeremy Dickson Paxman (1950-05-11) 11 May 1950 (age 74) Leeds, England |
Education | Malvern College |
Alma mater | St Catharine's College, Cambridge |
Occupation(s) | Broadcaster, journalist, author |
Years active | 1972–2023 |
Employer(s) | BBC (former), Channel 4 (former) |
Known for | Former Newsnight Presenter and former Quizmaster of University Challenge |
Television | Newsnight (1989–2014) University Challenge (1994–2023) Christmas University Challenge (2011–2022) |
Partner | Elizabeth Ann Clough (1981–2016) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Giles Paxman (brother) |
Website | jeremypaxman |
Born in Leeds, Paxman was educated at Malvern College and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he edited the undergraduate newspaper Varsity. At Cambridge, he was a member of a Labour Party club and described himself as a socialist, in later life describing himself as a one-nation conservative. He joined the BBC in 1972, initially at BBC Radio Brighton, relocating to London in 1977. In following years, he worked on Tonight and Panorama, becoming a newsreader for the BBC Six O'Clock News and later a presenter on Breakfast Time and University Challenge.
In 1989, he became a presenter for the BBC Two programme Newsnight, interviewing many political figures. Paxman became known for his forthright interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians.[3] These appearances were sometimes criticised as aggressive, intimidating and condescending, yet also applauded as tough and incisive.[4] In 2014, Paxman left Newsnight after 25 years as its presenter.[5] Since then, he has done occasional work for Channel 4 News. From its revival in 1994 up until he stepped down from the show in 2023, he presented University Challenge and its Christmas spin-off from 2011 to 2022. In 2022, he announced he was standing down, as he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.[6]