Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman has promised to investigate "pogonophobia, underpants and the human condition" in a new one-man stage show.

The broadcaster is appearing for a week at the Edinburgh Festival in August.

An advertisement for the show, which is called Paxo, said: "The broadcaster, author and Spitting Image puppet probes pogonophobia, underpants and the human condition. With surprises galore and your opportunity to quiz the grand inquisitor, Paxo unstuffs the man ranked by GQ Magazine as 'Britain's 26th rudest person'."

Paxman accused the BBC of pogonophobia - a fear of beards - after he caused a stir last year by appearing on air with one.

Speaking last year, he said: "I have grown a beard for the last few summers, and suddenly wondered whether I really needed to shave it off to present Newsnight.

''Unless you're lucky enough to be Uncle Albert on Only Fools And Horses, Demis Roussos or Abu Hamza, the BBC is generally as pogonophobic as the late-lamented Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha."