Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxmanis an English broadcaster, journalist and author. He has worked for the BBC since 1972 and is known for his forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians. His regular appearances on the BBC Two's Newsnight programme were sometimes criticised as aggressive, intimidating and condescending, yet also applauded as tough and incisive. He is the question master of University Challenge, succeeding Bamber Gascoigne when the programme was revived in 1994...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionNews Anchor
Date of Birth11 May 1950
I have neither the learning nor the experience to know whether the doomsayers are right about the human causes of climate change. But I am willing to acknowledge that people who know a lot more than I do may be right when they claim that it is the consequence of our own behaviour. I assume that this is why the BBC?s coverage of the issue abandoned the pretence of impartiality long ago.
The idea of a tax on the ownership of a television belongs in the 1950s. Why not tax people for owning a washing machine to fund the manufacture of Persil?
The defining problem of contemporary television is trust: Can you believe what you see on television, does television treat people fairly, is it healthy for society?
At work people are expected to be at the beck and call of employers all the time. You have blackberries and other things, and they just don't leave you alone. People have less time just to drop into an art gallery.
It seems to me that the way to remove people's cynicism is, when asked a straight question, to give a straight answer.
I find it odd that people take me seriously.
It would be unforgivable to use the role I have, such as it is, to inflict my incoherent, half-baked view of the world on people. That would be illegitimate and unacceptable and I should be fired.
One's teachers all belonged to that generation who were imperialists, and the whole narrative throughout my adolescence was of countries leaving the empire. I find it extraordinary that this purpose which drove how we viewed the world is now considered to be something that has no effect upon us.
It's incumbent on those of us who work with the media...to at least cut through some of the nonsense.
Watching TV is the most popular leisure activity in Britain. I find that very depressing.
It's stupid to have a simple-minded view.
The cure for cynicism is simply to engage honestly.
I've always felt myself to be an outsider. I've always felt awkward.
At last someone takes me seriously.