Jeremy Paxman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeremy Paxman
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Paxman in May 2014
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Jeremy Dickson Paxman
11 May 1950 Leeds, England
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| Education | Malvern College |
| Alma mater | St Catharine's College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, journalist, author |
| Years active | 1972–2023 |
| Employer | 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(s) | Elizabeth Ann Clough (1981–2016) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Giles Paxman (brother) |
Jeremy Dickson Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is a well-known English broadcaster, journalist, and author. He is famous for hosting the serious news show Newsnight and the popular quiz show University Challenge.
Jeremy was born in Leeds, England. He went to Malvern College and then studied at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, he was involved in the student newspaper Varsity. He started working for the BBC in 1972. He worked on different shows like Tonight and Panorama. He also read the news for the BBC Six O'Clock News.
In 1989, he became a main presenter for Newsnight on BBC Two. He was known for his direct and tough way of interviewing politicians. Some people thought he was too aggressive, but others praised him for asking difficult questions. He left Newsnight in 2014 after 25 years. From 1994 until 2023, he also hosted University Challenge, a quiz show where university teams compete. He stepped down from University Challenge because he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Contents
Early Life and School
Jeremy Paxman was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire. His father worked for a steel company and later sold typewriters. His mother was Joan McKay. Jeremy is the oldest of four children.
His brother, Giles, was a British Ambassador to Spain. His other brother, James, works for the Dartmoor Preservation Association. His sister, Jenny, is a producer at BBC Radio.
Jeremy grew up in different places like Hampshire and Worcestershire. He started at Malvern College in 1964. Later, he studied English at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, he was part of the student newspaper Varsity. He is now an Honorary Fellow of the college.
In 2006, Jeremy was featured on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are?. This show helps people learn about their family history. He found out he was related to Roger Packsman, a politician from the 1300s.
Career in Journalism
Jeremy Paxman joined the BBC's training program in 1972. He began his career in local radio at BBC Radio Brighton. He then moved to Belfast to report on a period of conflict known as the Troubles.
In 1977, he moved to London. Two years later, he joined the Panorama team. He spent five years reporting from various countries. After that, he read the news for the Six O'Clock News. He then moved to present the Breakfast Time show on BBC1.
Hosting Newsnight
Paxman became a presenter for Newsnight in 1989. This show was known for its in-depth interviews. He often interviewed important political figures.
One famous interview was in 1997 with Michael Howard, a former government minister. Paxman asked him the same question many times. He kept asking, "Did you threaten to overrule him?" This happened twelve times in a row. Paxman later said he kept asking because the next part of the show wasn't ready.
In 2003, Prime Minister Tony Blair appeared on Newsnight. He answered questions from a studio audience, with Paxman as the host. Paxman famously asked Blair if he and U.S. President George W. Bush prayed together. Blair said no, and Paxman asked, "But why not?"
During the 2005 election, some viewers complained about Paxman's interviewing style. They thought he was rude to party leaders. He was criticized for an interview with George Galloway. Paxman asked if Galloway was proud of getting rid of "one of the very few black women in Parliament."
In 2012, Paxman interviewed comedian Russell Brand about his political views. Brand said it was pointless to vote and that a "political revolution" was needed. This interview became very popular online.
The BBC announced that Paxman would leave Newsnight in April 2014. He had been a presenter for 25 years. He said he wanted to leave so he could go to bed at a normal time. His last Newsnight show was on 18 June 2014. It included interviews with Lord Mandelson and London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Other TV Work
Besides Newsnight, Paxman hosted other TV shows. He presented Did You See...? and You Decide. From 1994 to 2023, he was the host of University Challenge. This made him the longest-serving quizmaster on British TV.
In 2013, some people complained about Paxman's sharp comments on University Challenge. A contestant kept apologizing for a wrong answer. In October 2022, a TV show called Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's showed how his illness affects him. He recorded his last University Challenge episode on 15 October 2022. It was shown on TV on 29 May 2023.
Paxman also appeared as himself in an episode of the BBC comedy The Thick of It in 2007. He played a tough interviewer.
He presented a four-part documentary series called The Victorians in 2009. This series explored art and culture from the Victorian era. In 2012, he hosted Empire, which looked at the history of the British Empire.
In 2014, Paxman presented Britain's Great War. This show went along with his book about World War I. He also hosted election programs for Channel 4. In 2015, he co-hosted a show where he interviewed David Cameron and Ed Miliband. He did a similar show in 2017 with Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May.
Books by Paxman
Jeremy Paxman has written several books. His first book, A Higher Form of Killing (1982), was about biological and chemical warfare. He wrote it with his friend Robert Harris.
In 1985, he published Through the Volcanoes: A Central American Journey. This book shared his experiences traveling through Central America. His book Friends in High Places: Who Runs Britain? (1991) explored powerful people in Britain. In 1999, he published The English: A Portrait of a People.
The Political Animal: An Anatomy (2003) looked at why politicians do what they do. His book On Royalty (2006) was about the British royal family. His history book, The Victorians: Britain through the Paintings of the Age (2009), was linked to his BBC documentary series. His book Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British is about the British Empire.
Paxman also wrote a memoir about his life called A Life in Questions (2016).
Radio and Podcasts
From 1998 to 2002, Paxman hosted the BBC Radio 4 show Start the Week.
Since March 2023, Paxman has been part of a podcast called 'Movers and Shakers'. This podcast is about "life with Parkinson's." He and other hosts talk about the good and bad parts of living with the condition. In March 2024, 'Movers and Shakers' won the 'UK Podcast of the Year' award.
Paxman and the BBC
Jeremy Paxman was sometimes critical of the BBC, especially during John Birt's time as the head of the BBC. Paxman believed that TV and radio should challenge the government. He said that this "could only benefit democracy." He also said that the BBC's goals to "inform, educate and entertain" were still important.
In August 2013, Paxman appeared on Newsnight with a beard. He joked that the BBC didn't like beards.
Awards and Recognition
Jeremy Paxman has won many awards for his work. In 1996, he received the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby Award for being an "outstanding presenter." He won the Royal Television Society's Interviewer of the Year Award in 1998 for his interview with Michael Howard. He won this award four times in total.
He has also received honorary doctorates from several universities. These include the University of Leeds, the University of Bradford, and the Open University. He is also an Honorary Fellow of his old college, St Catharine's College, Cambridge.
Personal Life
Jeremy Paxman used to live with TV producer Elizabeth Clough. They have three children together. They separated in 2016 after 35 years. He likes to keep his private life out of the public eye. He has a flat in Kensington, London.
Paxman supports the football team Leeds United. He also enjoys fly fishing. He is involved with charities like the Wild Trout Trust and Sustrans.
When he was younger, Paxman considered himself a socialist. He even ran as a communist candidate in his school elections. Later, he described himself as a one-nation conservative. He has said that he doesn't believe any one political party has all the answers. He thinks that as you get older, simple solutions seem less appealing.
In 2014, Paxman said that Newsnight was made by "idealistic 13-year-olds." He meant that young people often want to change the world. He said that as you get older, you realize it's better to manage things as best you can. He also joked that Belgium was a "pointless little country."
In 2019, Paxman said he voted to stay in the European Union in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. However, he believed the result of the vote should be respected.
In 2000, a stolen Enigma machine was sent to him in the mail. This machine was used for coding messages during World War II. He returned it to the museum it was stolen from.
Paxman has spoken about his experience with depression. He takes medication and has had therapy. He says walking his dog, Derek, helps him feel better.
In September 2021, Paxman said he supported Scottish independence. He believes that if there is a vote on it, English people should also be able to vote.
In May 2021, he shared that he was being treated for Parkinson's disease. He described his symptoms as mild. He has pledged to donate his brain to a Parkinson's research bank. This will help scientists find better treatments and a cure.
In October 2022, a TV show called Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's showed how the disease affects him. He tried ballet and bowls to help with his symptoms. He also met with Sharon Osbourne to discuss caring for someone with Parkinson's. In April 2024, Paxman delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street. The petition asked for better NHS treatment for Parkinson's patients.
