JEREMY Paxman has said that Andrew Marr can “say what he likes” after the rival broadcaster described the ex-Newsnight host as “tortured”.
The University Challenge host, 66, appeared on the Sky News show All Out Politics when he was asked about Marr’s comments.
Marr, 57, had described the ex-Newsnight host as “disdainful and contemptuous and furious with his guests” in a quote that Paxman published in his own memoir.
Presenter Adam Boulton asked him: “Andrew Marr, quoted in your book A Life in Questions.. he says ‘Paxman looks disdainful and contemptuous and furious with his guests because, by in large, he is’. Is that true?’ Paxman replied: “Andrew Marr can say what he likes, poor chap. He also described me as genuinely angry and tortured.”
His voice raised, Paxman added: “I’m not disdainful and contemptuous of my guests any more than you are” to which Boulton replied: “OK, just your interviewers.”
Paxman said of his famously aggressive interviewing technique: “I am interested in what they have to say but I’m disdainful of having b******s talked to me.”
He added: “Andrew Marr can say what he likes. He’s not the font of all wisdom.”
Paxman also hit out at the “frenetic way” in which 24-hour news is delivered and at TV bosses for making their news presenters stand up.
“In a lot of news studios now, they make people like you or me stand up to deliver the news. What’s the point?... It gives a false sense of urgency,” he said. Boulton replied: “If you sit for too long, you get piles” to which Paxman laughed: “Speak for yourself. Sorry to hear that.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel