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| − | {{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
| + | {{use British English|date=August 2010}} |
| − | {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} | + | {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} |
| − | {{Infobox person | + | {{Infobox brand |
| − | |name = Jeremy Paxman | + | | name = Yorkshire Tea |
| − | |image = Jeremy Paxman, September 2009 2 cropped.jpg | + | | logo = [[File:Yorkshire Tea Logo.png]] |
| − | |caption = Paxman in September 2009 | + | | image = |
| − | |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|5|11|df=yes}} | + | | caption = Let's Have a Proper Brew |
| − | |birth_place = Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
| + | | producttype = [[Tea]] |
| − | |television = ''[[Newsnight]]'' (1993–2015)<br/>''[[University Challenge]]'' (1992–present) | + | | currentowner = [[Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate|Bettys & Taylors Group]] |
| − | |nationality = British, [[England|English]] | + | | producedby = Taylors of Harrogate |
| − | |residence = [[Stonor]], [[Oxfordshire]], England | + | | country = [[England]] |
| − | |alma mater = [[Malvern College]]<br/>[[St Catharine's College, Cambridge]] | + | | introduced = 1886 |
| − | |employer = [[BBC]], [[Channel 4]] | + | | discontinued = |
| − | |occupation = Broadcaster, journalist, author | + | | related = |
| − | | years_active = 1972–present | + | | markets = |
| − | |salary = £1,040,000 (2006) per annum<ref>{{cite news |last=Day |first=Julia |title=Paxman's pay revealed by BBC salary mole |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/apr/19/bbc.broadcasting |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=19 April 2006 | location=London|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> | + | | previousowners = |
| − | |spouse = | + | | trademarkregistrations = |
| − | |successor = Janine Machin | + | | ambassadors = |
| − | |relatives = [[Giles Paxman]] (brother) | + | | tagline = "Let's have a proper brew" |
| − | |website = {{website|jeremypaxman.co.uk}} | + | | website = {{URL|www.yorkshiretea.co.uk}} |
| | }} | | }} |
| − | '''Jeremy Dickson Paxman'''<ref name = WW>{{cite book|contribution=PAXMAN, Jeremy Dickson|contribution-url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U30303|title=[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who 2009]]|edition=Online|location=Oxford|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=December 2008|accessdate=19 April 2009}} {{Subscription or membership required}}</ref><ref name="Independent: Outsider">{{Cite news|first=Ian |last=Burrell|title=Jeremy Paxman: The outsider|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jeremy-paxman-the-outsider-462914.html|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=25 August 2007 | location=London |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204231023/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jeremy-paxman-the-outsider-462914.html | archivedate=4 February 2009|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> (born 11 May 1950) is an English [[presenter|broadcaster]], [[journalist]], and author. He is the question master of ''[[University Challenge]]'', having succeeded [[Bamber Gascoigne]] when the programme was revived in 1994. | + | '''Yorkshire Tea''' is a [[black tea]] [[Tea blending and additives|blend]] produced by [[Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate|The Bettys & Taylors Group]]. It is the third most popular tea brand in the UK, and was introduced in 1886 by Charles Edward Taylor. Founded as CE Taylor & Co., later shortened to "Taylor's", the company was purchased by rival 'Betty's Tea Rooms' which today forms [[Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate|The Bettys & Taylors Group]]. Taylor's is still based in [[Harrogate]], [[Yorkshire]], in the first 'Betty's' tea room. The group is still owned by the founder of Betty's' family, Fredrick Belmont and is currently chaired by Lesley Wild.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/about-us/yorkshire-tea-who-we-are.php|title=Who We Are|publisher=Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate Limited|accessdate=5 July 2014}}</ref> The company is one of the few remaining family tea and coffee merchants in the country, whilst competing with the British-owned [[PG Tips]] ([[Unilever]]) and [[Tetley]] ([[Tata Group|Tata]]), where Yorkshire Tea is now the second most purchased tea brand in the UK, overtaking [[Twinings]] and [[Typhoo]]. |
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| − | Born in [[Leeds]], Paxman was educated at [[Malvern College]] and [[St Catharine's College, Cambridge]], where he edited the undergraduate newspaper ''[[Varsity (newspaper)|Varsity]]''. At Cambridge, he was a member of a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] club and described himself as a [[socialism|socialist]], although in later life described himself as a [[One-nation conservatism|one-nation conservative]]. He joined the [[BBC]] in 1972, initially at [[BBC Radio Brighton]], although relocated to London in 1977. In coming years, he worked on ''[[Tonight (BBC television programme)|Tonight]]'' and ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' before becoming a newsreader for the ''[[BBC Six O'Clock News]]'' and later a presenter on ''[[Breakfast Time]]''.
| + | ==Products== |
| | + | Yorkshire Tea uses varieties of tea grown in [[Assam]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Kenya]], blended to form four varieties: |
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| − | In 1993, he became a presenter for the [[BBC Two]] programme ''[[Newsnight]]'', during which he interviewed a wide number of political figures. Paxman is known for his forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30278273|title=Jeremy Paxman to publish BBC memoirs|date=1 December 2014|publisher=|via=www.bbc.com}}</ref> These appearances were sometimes criticised as aggressive, intimidating and condescending, yet also applauded as tough and incisive.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mosey |first=Roger |title=BBC and the 'Paxman Problem' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4460000/newsid_4463800/4463837.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=20 April 2005|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> In 2014, Paxman left ''Newsnight'' after 25 years as its presenter.<ref name="Petersen">Hannah Ellis-Petersen [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/apr/30/jeremy-paxman-quit-newsnight-bbc "Jeremy Paxman to quit Newsnight after 25 years"], theguardian.com, 30 April 2014</ref> Since then, he has done occasional work for [[Channel 4 News]].
| + | *Yorkshire Tea (commonly known as Yorkshire Red) |
| | + | *Yorkshire Tea for [[Hard Water]] |
| | + | *Yorkshire Gold |
| | + | *Yorkshire Tea Decaffeinated |
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| − | ==Early life and education==
| + | The Yorkshire Tea brand is [[brand extension|being extended]] to include a range of cakes, biscuits, and fruit loaves, sold as being complementary to drinking tea by its parent company [[Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate|The Bettys & Taylors Group]], which owns cookery schools and tea rooms. |
| − | [[Image:Maincollege.jpg|thumb|left|Malvern College]] | |
| − | Paxman was born in [[Leeds]], the son of Arthur Keith Paxman, who worked in industry, and Joan McKay (''née'' Dickson; 1920–2009).<ref name="wdytya JP">{{cite episode |title=Who Do You Think You Are? with Jeremy Paxman |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/wdytya_s2_celeb_gallery_01.shtml|series=Who Do You Think You Are? |serieslink=Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC Two]] |airdate=11 January 2006|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3070400117/paxman-jeremy-1950-jeremy.html |title=Paxman, Jeremy 1950– (Jeremy Dickson Paxman) – Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |accessdate=29 June 2012}}</ref> He is the eldest of four children: one of his brothers, [[Giles Paxman|Giles]], was the [[List of ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Spain|British Ambassador to Spain]] (having previously been ambassador to Mexico), and the other, James, is the chief executive of the [[Dartmoor Preservation Association]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5999228/Jeremy-Paxmans-brother-launches-battle-against-wind-turbines.html|title=Jeremy Paxman's brother launches battle against wind turbines|date=10 August 2009|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=15 April 2013|location=London|first=Caroline|last=Gammell}}</ref> His sister, Jenny, is a producer at [[BBC Radio]].
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| − | Paxman was brought up in [[Hampshire]], [[Bromsgrove]], and [[Peopleton]] near [[Pershore]] in [[Worcestershire]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Paxman |first=Jeremy |date=2016 |title=A Life in Questions|location=London |publisher=William Collins |pages=1, 11, 32 |isbn=9780008128302 |author-link=Jeremy Paxman}}</ref> He went to [[Malvern College]] in 1964,<ref name="WW" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=34562 |title=Toffs at the top|work= Press Gazette|date= 16 June 2006|accessdate= 8 September 2010}}</ref> and later read English at [[St Catharine's College, Cambridge]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jeremy-paxman-the-outsider-462914.html|title=Jeremy Paxman: The outsider|work=[[The Independent]]|date=25 August 2007|accessdate=6 April 2010 | location=London | first=Ian | last=Burrell}}</ref> where he edited the undergraduate newspaper ''[[Varsity (newspaper)|Varsity]]''.<ref name="Independent: Outsider"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Akbar |first=Arifa |title=Now Paxman rails against the 'Scottish Raj' |work=[[The Independent]] |date=14 March 2005 |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article6106.ece | location=London|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rayner |first=Jay |title=Hah! |work=Comment |date=19 May 2002|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,718152,00.html | location=London|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> While at Cambridge, Paxman was briefly a member of the [[Cambridge Universities Labour Club|Labour Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-01-27/jeremy-paxman-i-love-this-country--often-we-dont-know-how-lucky-we-are |title=Britain's Great War: "I feel in awe of my parents' generation and guilty having a privileged life" says Jeremy Paxman| accessdate=12 May 2015}}</ref> He has since been made an [[List of Honorary Fellows of St Catharine's College, Cambridge|Honorary Fellow]] of the College.
| + | ==History== |
| | + | [[File:Yorkshire Tea Gold.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Yorkshire Tea packaging. A box of Yorkshire Gold tea]] [[File:YorkshireTea.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Yorkshire Tea packaging. This variety is for use in a [[hard water]] areas. ]] |
| | + | Yorkshire Tea was introduced by Charles Edward Taylor and his brother in 1883, creating their company, CE Taylor & Co., which was later shortened to "Taylor's". The brothers later opened "Tea Kiosks" in the [[Yorkshire]] towns of [[Harrogate]] and [[Ilkley]], and in 1962, local tea room competitor 'Betty's' took over 'Taylor's', renamed it 'Taylors of Harrogate' and formed [[Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate|The Bettys & Taylors Group]], which still to this day, is owned by the family of Fredrick Belmont, who founded 'Betty's Tea Rooms'. The Group now uses the 'Bettys' and 'Taylors' brands in a number of industries including Yorkshire Tea and Taylors Coffee Merchants under the 'Taylors of Harrogate' name and Bettys Tea Rooms, Bettys Cookery School and Bettys Confectionery under the 'Bettys' brand. |
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| − | In January 2006, Paxman was the subject of an episode of the BBC [[genealogy]] series ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (UK TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]''.<ref name="wdytya JP"/> The documentary concluded that he was descended from Roger Packsman, a 14th-century politician from [[Suffolk]] who had changed his name to Paxman in order to impress the electorate (''pax'' being Latin for 'peace'). Paxman's maternal grandmother was born in [[Glasgow]], Scotland. The programme generated much publicity before its transmission by displaying him with tears in his eyes on camera when informed that his impoverished great-grandmother Mary McKay's [[poor law|poor relief]] had been revoked because she had a child out of wedlock.<ref name="wdytya JP"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Peek |first=Sitala |title=The Day Paxman Shed a Tear |url=http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/features/newsfeatures/671528.the_day_paxman_shed_a_tear/ |work=Bucks Free Press |date=11 January 2006|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
| + | When [[Safeway (UK)|Safeway]] was taken over by [[West Yorkshire]]-based [[Morrisons]] in 2004, commentators in the London press noted the amount of shelf space in one former Safeway store that was suddenly given over to Yorkshire Tea.<ref>{{cite news | title = Safeway stayaway | url = http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article471973.ece | newspaper = The Times | date = 20 August 2004 | accessdate = 15 July 2007 | location=London | first=Dominic | last=Walsh}} {{subscription required}}</ref> |
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| − | ==Career== | + | In 2009, the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales]] granted Yorkshire Tea a [[Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom)|Royal Warrant]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/yorkshire_tea_firm_granted_royal_seal_of_approval_1_2331573 | title=Yorkshire tea firm granted Royal seal of approval | date=15 January 2009 | work=Yorkshire Post | accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref> |
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| − | ===Journalism=== | + | Until 2011 Taylor’s of Harrogate supplied the tea free to branches of the WI ([[Women's Institutes|Women's Institute]]).<ref>{{cite news| last = | first = | title = The tea's off, ladies: Potty bureaucracy at the WI means the end of free cuppas for members | url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365744/The-teas-ladies-Potty-bureaucracy-WI-means-end-free-cuppas-members.html | publisher = Associated Newspapers Ltd | date = 13 March 2011 | accessdate = 15 September 2012 }}</ref> The company has also sponsored [[ITV1]]'s Yorkshire-based ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' from 1998–2001.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/a-warming-heartbeat/95563.article | title=A warming Heartbeat | date=31 July 2004 | newspaper=The Grocer | accessdate=15 March 2012}}</ref> |
| − | Paxman joined the BBC's graduate trainee programme in 1972. He started in local radio, at [[BBC Radio Brighton]]. He moved to [[Belfast]], where he reported [[the Troubles]]. He moved to London in 1977. Two years later he transferred from the ''[[Tonight (BBC television programme)|Tonight]]'' programme to ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]''. After five years reporting from places such as [[Beirut]], [[Uganda]] and Central America, he read the ''[[BBC Six O'Clock News|Six O'Clock News]]'' for two years, before moving to BBC1's ''[[Breakfast Time]]'' programme.
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| − | ===''Newsnight''=== | + | By 2015, Yorkshire Tea was the third best-selling tea brand in Britain behind [[Tetley Tea|Tetley]] and [[PG Tips]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tea sales plummet UK-wide... but Yorkshire Tea bucks the trend|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/13576638.Tea_sales_plummet_UK_wide____but_Yorkshire_Tea_bucks_the_trend/?ref=rss|accessdate=21 August 2017|work=York Press|date=5 August 2015}}</ref> By September 2017, it was the second best-selling brand behind PG Tips after having overtaken Tetley on sales in the traditional "black tea" market.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Behrens|first1=David|title=How Yorkshire Tea grew from a local brand to be the nation’s cup of tea|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/how-yorkshire-tea-grew-from-a-local-brand-to-be-the-nation-s-cup-of-tea-1-8736132|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=5 September 2017}}</ref> |
| − | Paxman became a presenter of ''[[Newsnight]]'' in 1993.
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| − | On 13 May 1997 he interviewed [[Michael Howard]], who had been [[Home Secretary]] until [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|13 days earlier]] after he had held a meeting with Derek Lewis, head of [[Her Majesty's Prison Service]], about the possible dismissal of the governor of [[Parkhurst (HM Prison)|Parkhurst Prison]], John Marriott. Howard was asked by Paxman the same question{{spaced ndash}} "Did you threaten to overrule him [Lewis]?" {{spaced ndash}} a total of twelve times in succession (fourteen, if the first two inquiries worded somewhat differently and some time before the succession of twelve are included, and once more on his last show).<ref>{{cite news |last=Horrocks |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Horrocks |title=Paxman versus Howard |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/newsnight25/4182569.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=21 January 2005|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
| + | ==Advertising and popular culture== |
| | + | In 2007, a new TV campaign was created using the line "Try It, You'll See", voiced by [[Bill Nighy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billnighy.info/2006/07/21/yorkshire-tea-now-they-really-owe-him-money/ |title=Yorkshire tea : Now they really owe him money.|date=21 July 2006|accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> |
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| − | Later, during a 20th anniversary edition of ''Newsnight'', Paxman told Howard that he had simply been trying to prolong the interview since the next item in the running order wasn't ready.<ref>Paxman's explanation was that "by the time I'd asked the question five or six times... it was clear... that you [Howard] weren't going to answer it... at which point a voice came in my ear and said "The next piece of tape isn't cut, you'd better carry on with this for a while" and I'm afraid I couldn't think of anything else to ask you."</ref>
| + | Yorkshire Gold is mentioned in the popular Showtime TV series [[Homeland (TV series)|''Homeland'']] as a favourite of protagonist [[Sergeant]] [[Nicholas Brody]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/apr/01/homeland-series-one-episode-seven |title=Homeland: series one, episode seven | Television & radio |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 April 2012 |accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> Ian Brabbin, tea buyer at Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate said: "We were both surprised and delighted to discover that Yorkshire Gold has been given such a starring role in ''Homeland'' and are looking forward to seeing the show when it arrives on our screens here later in the year. We are no strangers to the small screen - Yorkshire Tea has also made a cameo appearance on ''Friends'', not to mention our ever growing band of celebrity fans such as Noel Gallagher and Alan Carr."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/harrogate-district/yorkshire-gold-takes-starring-role-in-drama-1-4115544 |title=Yorkshire Gold takes starring role in drama |newspaper=Harrogate Advertiser |date=10 January 2012 |accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> |
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| − | In 1998, [[Denis Halliday]], a United Nations [[Humanitarian Coordinator]], resigned his post in [[Iraq]], describing the effects of his own organisation's [[Iraq sanctions|sanctions]] as genocide.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Denis Halliday opposes U.N.'s sanctions |url=http://www.cnn.com/chat/transcripts/2001/01/16/halliday/ |publisher=CNN |date=16 January 2001|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> Paxman asked Halliday in a ''Newsnight'' interview, "Aren't you just an apologist for Saddam Hussein?"
| + | Also on the celebrity fan list are [[Russell Crowe]], who posted on [[Twitter]] about the beverage in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/262975684870299649 |title=Found Yorkshire tea at Myers of Keswick on Hudson Street, NY|publisher=Twitter.com |date=29 October 2012|accessdate= 19 December 2013}}</ref> and who visited Yorkshire Teas' headquarters in Harrogate whilst touring with his band.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Newton|first1=Grace|title=Russell Crowe visits Yorkshire Tea factory in Harrogate|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/russell-crowe-visits-yorkshire-tea-factory-in-harrogate-1-8781774|accessdate=2 October 2017|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=1 October 2017}}</ref> Other aficionados include [[Martha Reeves]], who was also featured on the social media site holding Yorkshire Tea paraphernalia,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Nath_Brudenell/status/412280677519093760/photo/1|title=A real lady.... MARTHA REEVES loves Yorkshire Tea!|publisher= Twitter.com |date=15 December 2013|author= |author-link= |accessdate= 19 December 2013}}</ref> and [[Sir Patrick Stewart]] who indicated Yorkshire Gold as his favourite tea during a [[Reddit]] AMA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3hq15d/i_am_actor_patrick_stewart_of_yorkshire_xmen_star/cu9jy67|title=I am actor Patrick Stewart of Yorkshire, X-Men, Star Trek and Blunt Talk. AMA!|publisher= reddit.com |date=20 August 2015|accessdate= 20 August 2015}}</ref> |
| | + | {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/262975684870299649|accessdate= 19 December 2013}}</ref> |
| | + | {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Nath_Brudenell/status/412280677519093760/photo/1|title=A real lady.... MARTHA REEVES loves Yorkshire Tea!|publisher= Twitter.com |language=tehst|script-title=test|accessdate= 19 December 2013}}</ref> |
| | + | Yorkshire Tea is notable for its packaging which features romanticised Yorkshire Dales landscapes, although from time to time it explores other themes. As an official supporter of the Grand Départ of the [[2014 Tour de France]] in Yorkshire,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sponsors|url=http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/partners.html|website=Le Tour de France|accessdate=23 July 2014}}</ref> Yorkshire Tea produced a special edition sample pack rebranded as Yorkshire Thé.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yorkshire Thé|url=http://yorkshiretea.co.uk/blog/2014/06/yorkshire-the/|website=Yorkshire Tea|accessdate=23 July 2014|date=18 June 2014}}</ref> As well as the name change, the orange on the usual box was replaced with yellow. |
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| − | In February 2003, Paxman was criticised by the [[Broadcasting Standards Commission]] over a ''Newsnight'' interview in which he questioned the then Liberal Democrat leader [[Charles Kennedy]] about his drinking. The commission said that the questioning was "overly intrusive in nature and tone and had exceeded acceptable boundaries for broadcast".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1423213/Paxman-carpeted-over-Kennedy-interview.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Matt | last=Born | title=Paxman carpeted over Kennedy interview | date=27 February 2003}}</ref> | + | In 2016 Yorkshire Tea was made available inside a promotional tea caddy linked to a tree planting campaign with artwork featuring characters from the children's book [[The Gruffalo]] and branded ''Yorkshire Tree''. |
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| − | In 2003, Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] opted to make the case for the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]] via questions from a TV studio audience, mediated by Paxman. The programme is chiefly remembered for the fact that Paxman asked Blair if he and U.S. [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] prayed together. Blair replied, "No, Jeremy. We don't pray together." To which Paxman replied, "But why not?"<ref name="Variety">{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Steve |title=BBC America Banks on Brash Brit: Network Hopes Paxman is Next U.S. Hit |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967484.html?categoryId=2610&cs=1 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=22 June 2007|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Assinder |first=Nick |title=Blair Tries to Shift Focus |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1987432.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=14 May 2002|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
| + | ==See also== |
| − | | + | *[[Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate]] |
| − | During the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]], some viewers complained to the BBC that Paxman's questioning of party leaders had been rude and aggressive.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holder |first=Matt |title=Paxman Special Sparks Backlash |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4460000/newsid_4461600/4461649.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=19 April 2005|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=I'm Only Human, Says Paxman |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4490000/newsid_4493600/4493665.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=29 April 2005|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> He was criticised for his 5am interview with [[George Galloway]] after his election as the [[Respect Party|Respect]] MP for [[Bethnal Green and Bow (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green and Bow]] by the just defeated [[Oona King]].<ref name="King2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_oonaking_20050511.ram |title=Oona King – BBC Radio 4 Interview (RAM file) |date=11 May 2005 |accessdate=9 January 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325052121/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_oonaking_20050511.ram |archivedate=25 March 2009 }}</ref> Paxman asked Galloway more than once whether he was proud of having got rid of "one of the very few black women in Parliament."<ref>{{cite news |title=Paxman v Galloway |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/blog/4519553.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=6 May 2005|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> Galloway cut the interview short. King later said she "did not wish to be defined, by either my ethnicity or religious background."<ref name="King2005"/>
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| − | On 11 April 2012, he interviewed [[Russell Brand]] about his political views and the article he wrote for the ''[[New Statesman]]''. The interview went viral as Brand stated that it is futile to vote and that a political revolution is needed. After this interview, Paxman confessed that he previously did not vote as well.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jeremy-paxman-i-understand-why-russell-brand-doesnt-votei-didnt-either-8921410.html|title=Jeremy Paxman: I understand why Russell Brand doesn't vote...I didn't|date=2013-11-05|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-04-07|language=en-GB}}</ref>
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| − | On 26 June 2012, he interviewed the [[Economic Secretary to the Treasury]] [[Chloe Smith]] about Chancellor [[George Osborne]]'s decision that day to delay plans to increase fuel duty.<ref name=Guardian-2012-06-27/> Paxman questioned the apparent change in her views on fuel duty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18606060 |title=BBC Newsnight Interview |publisher=BBC |date=26 June 2012 |accessdate=29 June 2012}}</ref> Senior politicians, including [[John Prescott]], questioned Osborne's judgement for sending a junior minister onto the programme in place of himself.<ref name=Guardian-2012-06-27>{{cite news|first=Ben|last= Quinn |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jun/27/tory-minister-chloe-smith-newsnight-disaster?newsfeed=true|title= George Osborne branded a coward after Tory minister's Newsnight disaster|publisher= Guardian Media Group|newspaper= The Guardian|date= 27 June 2012|accessdate= 29 June 2012|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18608133 |publisher=BBC News |title=David Cameron denies George Osborne 'hid' after fuel U-turn |date=27 June 2012 |accessdate=29 June 2012}}</ref>
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| − | The BBC announced Paxman's departure from ''Newsnight'' at the end of April 2014.<ref name="Petersen"/> He had told BBC Head of News [[James Harding (journalist)|James Harding]] and BBC Director General [[Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead|Tony Hall]] that he wished to leave in July 2013, but agreed to stay on ''Newsnight'' for another year after the programme had been damaged by the [[Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal|Savile]] and [[Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green#False allegations of child abuse|Lord McAlpine]] scandals.<ref name="Petersen"/><ref name="BBC3004">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27230684 "Jeremy Paxman to quit BBC Two's Newsnight"], BBC News, 30 April 2014</ref> In his statement Paxman commented: "After 25 years, I should rather like to go to bed at much the same time as most people."<ref name="BBC3004"/>
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| − | Paxman's brusque manner is not restricted to political interviews. When around 2005 ''Newsnight''{{'}}s editor decided to broadcast brief weather forecasts instead of financial reports he openly ridiculed the decision: "And for tonight's weather – it's April, what do you expect?"<ref>{{cite news|title=Paxo's Weather Report|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/3616249/Paxos-weather-report.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=16 April 2005 | location=London | accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref> The financial reports were re-introduced after a few weeks.
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| − | Paxman presented his last ''Newsnight'' on 21 November 2015 on the BBC News Channel at 23:20 with a Full interview with the Current Affairs. [[Mayor of London|London Mayor]] [[Boris Johnson]], while they both rode a [[tandem bicycle]], as well as a brief reappearance of [[Michael Howard]] who, following on from his 1997 interview, was simply asked: "Did you?" The closing theme was replaced with ''[[I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)|I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing]]'' by [[The New Seekers]]. The programme ended with a brief [[post-credits scene]] with Paxman standing in front of a [[weather map]] exclaiming "Tomorrow's weather: more of the same! I don't know why they make such a fuss about it" in reference to the 2005 weather forecasts.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27903226 | work=BBC News | title=Jeremy Paxman hosts his final Newsnight | date=19 June 2014}}</ref>
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| − | ===Other TV work===
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| − | Paxman has presented the weekly TV programme review ''[[Did You See...?]]'', ''You Decide'' and, since 1994, ''[[University Challenge]]'', bringing him the distinction of "longest-serving current quizmaster on British TV."<ref>{{cite web|title=UK Game Show Records|url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/UK_Game_Show_Records#Hosts|publisher=UKGameShows.com|accessdate=4 July 2007}}</ref> He presented on [[BBC America]] and [[BBC World]] a weekly compilation of highlights from the domestic edition of ''Newsnight'' from February 2008 until shortly after the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 U.S. election]], when the American programme was cancelled. The programme is still aired on [[BBC World]].<ref name="Variety"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|title=Paxman Crosses the Pond|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,2105601,00.html|work=The Guardian|date=18 June 2007 | location=London|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
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| − | In April 2006, ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' claimed that Paxman earned £800,000 for his ''Newsnight'' job and £240,000 for presenting ''University Challenge'', bringing his TV earnings to a yearly total of £1,040,000. This was one of a series of BBC salary leaks in the [[tabloid journalism|tabloid]] press that prompted an internal BBC investigation.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Probes DJ Salary Disclosure|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4919678.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=19 April 2006|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
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| − | Paxman appeared as himself in an episode of BBC comedy ''[[The Thick of It]]'' which aired in January 2007. He is seen grilling Junior Minister Ben Swain in a disastrous ''Newsnight'' interview.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ben is grilled by Jeremy Paxman|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALNjevGdB5g|publisher=YouTube|date=29 April 2010|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
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| − | Beginning on 15 February 2009, his four-part documentary ''[[The Victorians]]'' was transmitted on [[BBC One]]. The series explores [[Victorian era|Victorian]] art and culture.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/feb/16/tv-ratings-jeremy-paxman-victorians|title= TV ratings: Paxman's Victorians launches with more than 4m|work= The Guardian|date= 16 February 2009|accessdate= 17 February 2009 | location=London | first=Leigh | last=Holmwood}}</ref> From 27 February until 26 March 2012, BBC One broadcast Paxman's series ''[[Empire (2012 TV documentary series)|Empire]]'', examining the history and legacy of the [[British Empire]].
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| − | In 2014, Paxman presented ''[[Britain's Great War]]'', an accompaniment to his 2013 book ''Great Britain's Great War''.
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| − | On 26 March 2015, Paxman co-presented, with [[Kay Burley]], ''David Cameron and Ed Miliband Live: The Battle for Number 10'', in which he interviewed both British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] and Opposition Leader [[Ed Miliband]] regarding their track record in politics and their plans if elected Prime Minister in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2015|general election]] set for May of that year. He also hosted Channel 4's Alternative Election Night with [[David Mitchell (comedian)|David Mitchell]]. He then later co-presented a similar programme with [[Faisal Islam]], interviewing [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and [[Theresa May]] before the [[2017 UK general election]] on 29 May, ''May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10''.<ref name="Phipps 2017">{{cite web | last=Phipps | first=Claire | title=The Snap: May and Corbyn take on Jeremy Paxman – separately | website=the Guardian | date=29 May 2017 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/29/the-snap-may-corbyn-jeremy-paxman-separately | access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="users 2017">{{cite web | title=May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10 on Channel 4, Mon 29 May 8:30pm | website=TVGuide.co.uk | date=29 May 2017 | url=http://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail/2697927/128131018/may-v-corbyn-live-the-battle-for-number-10 | access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>
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| − | ===Books===
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| − | Paxman's first book, ''A Higher Form of Killing'' (1982), written with then BBC colleague and friend [[Robert Harris (novelist)|Robert Harris]], arose out of an edition of the ''Panorama'' programme they had made together on [[biological warfare|biological]] and [[chemical warfare]]. In a revised 2002 version they asserted that Iraq possessed chemical and biological weapons. In 1985, Paxman published ''Through the Volcanoes: A Central American Journey'', an eyewitness account of people, places and politics. ''Friends in High Places: Who Runs Britain?'' (1991) was the result of numerous detailed interviews with the powerful or highly influential, what used to be called [[The Establishment]]. 1999 saw the publication of his ''The English: A Portrait of a People''.<!-- (1999) was not the first of his books to be greeted with wide critical acclaim.--> ''The Political Animal: An Anatomy'' (2003), again based on extensive interviews, examines the motivations and methods of those who constitute the author's professional prey: Westminster politicians.
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| − | The otherwise-republican<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9307361/Jeremy-Paxman-Were-all-monarchists-now-even-me.html |title=Jeremy Paxman: We'e all monarchists now – even me – Telegraph |accessdate=12 May 2015 | location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 June 2012}}</ref> Paxman's ''[[On Royalty]]'', which entailed the cooperation of Britain's [[royal family]], became by the time it was published in 2006 a defence of the country's [[Constitutional monarchy#Constitutional monarchy in the United Kingdom|constitutional monarchy]]. His recent books have been big sellers. His book, ''The Victorians: Britain through the Paintings of the Age'', published in 2009, was accompanied by a BBC documentary series. In his introduction, Paxman acknowledged that the Irish writer Neil Hegarty had played a significant role in editing the book and bringing it to completion. Paxman stated that since all television is a "collaborative exercise", it was "rather silly for this book – which accompanies a television series – to appear with only one name on the cover."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/mar/20/jeremy-paxman-victorians-neil-hegarty |work=The Guardian |title=Jeremy Paxman too busy to finish his own best-seller |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=20 March 2009 | location=London|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> Paxman's most recent book is a study of the [[British Empire]], ''Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British''.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/05/empire-ruling-world-paxman-review| title = Jeremy Paxman's survey of British imperial rule is sharp and engaging| last= Porter|first= Bernard| date = 5 October 2011| accessdate = 11 October 2011| work = The Guardian| location=London}}</ref><ref name="guardian felt myself an outsider">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/09/jeremy-paxman-felt-myself-outsider | title=Jeremy Paxman: 'I've always felt myself to be an outsider' | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=9 October 2011 | accessdate=13 October 2011 | last=Moss|first= Stephen | location=London}}</ref>
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| − | Paxman's memoir, ''A Life in Questions'', was published in October 2016. Paxman kept a detached tone while writing his memoir <ref name="Paxman2016">{{cite book|author=Jeremy Paxman|title=A Life in Questions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e1qQDAEACAAJ|date=1 October 2016|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Limited|isbn=978-0-00-820153-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/10/a-life-in-questions-jeremy-paxman-review|title=A Life in Questions review – Jeremy Paxman keeps his distance in his memoir|last=Anthony|first=Andrew|date=2016-10-10|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
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| − | ===Radio===
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| − | Paxman presented the flagship BBC Radio 4 show ''[[Start the Week]]'' from 1998 to 2002.
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| − | ==Paxman and the BBC==
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| − | While [[John Birt, Baron Birt|John Birt]] was Director General of the BBC, the British press from time to time reported Paxman's criticism of his boss. The former, suspected at first to be an outsider brought in by a hostile government to supervise the BBC's break-up and ultimate sell-off, in turn publicly questioned the confrontational approach, as he saw it, of certain TV and radio interviewers. This was seen at the time as coded criticism of Paxman himself and of his BBC colleague [[John Humphrys]].<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/diary-fired-by-john-birts-phillippic-1572182.html | title= DIARY: Fired by John Birt's Phillippic | work=The Independent | location=London | first=John | last=Walsh | date=9 February 1995 | accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/aug/07/broadcasting.mondaymediasection | title= I don't snort | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Merope | last=Mills | date=7 August 2000 | accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref>
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| − | On 24 August 2007, Paxman delivered the MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at the [[Edinburgh International Television Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=MacTaggart Memorial Lecture: Never Mind the Scandals: What's It All For?|url=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Media/documents/2007/08/24/MacTaggartLecture.pdf|format=PDF|work=The Guardian|date=24 August 2007|accessdate=29 August 2007 | location=London}}</ref> In it he was critical of much of contemporary TV in Britain. He expressed concern that as a consequence of recent production scandals the medium was rapidly losing public trust. Speaking of prime minister [[Tony Blair]]'s criticism of the mass media at the time he left office, Paxman asserted that, though often, press and broadcasting may be "oppositional" in relation to the government of the day, this could only benefit democracy. Those [[John Reith, 1st Baron Reith|Reithian]] goals, to "inform, educate and entertain," still remained valid. Paxman took the opportunity to dismiss as "inaccurate" the attribution to himself, which was, in fact, [[Louis Heren]],<ref>{{cite news|title=No disrespect|url=http://www.economist.com/node/13135192|work=The Economist|date=18 February 2009|accessdate=23 May 2012}}</ref> of the oft-quoted "Why is this lying bastard lying to me?" as the supposed dominant thought in his mind when interviewing senior politicians. He called on the television industry to rediscover a sense of purpose.
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| − | In November 2012, Paxman publicly defended [[George Entwistle]] after his resignation as [[Director-General of the BBC]] in connection with a ''[[Newsnight]]'' report which falsely implicated [[Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green|Lord McAlpine]] in the [[North Wales child abuse scandal]]. Paxman claimed Entwistle had been "brought low by cowards and incompetents" and criticised appointments of "biddable people" to the BBC in the wake of the [[Hutton Inquiry]], as well as cuts to BBC programme budgets and bloated BBC management.<ref name="New Statesman - 10 November 2012">{{cite web|title=Jeremy Paxman: George Entwistle brought low by "cowards and incompetents"|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2012/11/jeremy-paxman-george-entwistle-brought-low-cowards-and-incompetents|work=New Statesman|accessdate=11 November 2012|date=10 November 2012}}</ref>
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| − | In August 2013, Paxman appeared on ''Newsnight'' with a beard, causing a [[Twitter]] trend when the broadcaster accused the BBC of [[pogonophobia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/is-the-bbc-pogonophobic-jeremy-paxmans-beard-raises-a-hairy-issue-8760547.html |title=Is the BBC pogonophobic? Jeremy Paxman's beard raises a hairy issue |first=Matilda |last=Battersby |first2=Sherna |last2=Noah |publisher=[[The Independent]] |date=14 August 2013 |accessdate=15 August 2013 |location=London}}</ref>
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| − | ==Awards and honours==
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| − | In 1996 Paxman received [[BAFTA]]'s [[Richard Dimbleby]] Award for "outstanding presenter in the factual arena." Two years later he won the [[Royal Television Society]]'s Interviewer of the Year Award for his ''Newsnight'' interview (see above) with Michael Howard, as well as the Broadcasting Press Guild's award for best "non-acting" performer. He gained another Richard Dimbleby Award in 2000 and was nominated for the award in 2001 and 2002. In total, Paxman has won five [[Royal Television Society]] awards. He won the award for International Current Affairs in 1985, and TV journalism interviewer/presenter of the year four times (1997, 1998, 2001 and 2008).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.personallyspeakingbureau.com/speaker/jeremy-paxman/ |title=Jeremy Paxman – Personally Speaking Bureau| accessdate=12 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/21/television1 |title=Royal television Society Television Journalism Awards: the winners Media The Guardian | accessdate=12 May 2015}}</ref>
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| − | Paxman was given an honorary doctorate by the [[University of Leeds]] in the summer of 1999 and in December that year received an honorary degree from the [[University of Bradford]].<ref>{{cite news|title=University Honours Paxman and Birt|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/558355.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=10 December 1999|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> In 2006 he received an honorary doctorate from the [[Open University]]. Among those at the ceremony were three members of the Open University's 1999 ''University Challenge'' team. Paxman is a [[Oxbridge Fellow|Fellow]] by special election of [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford]], and an Honorary Fellow of his ''alma mater'', [[St Catharine's College, Cambridge|St. Catharine's College, Cambridge]]. In July 2016, Paxman was awarded an honorary degree from the [[University of Exeter]] for achievements in the field of broadcasting and journalism.
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| − | ==Personal life==
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| − | [[File:Jeremy paxman dec 2007.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Paxman in 2007]]
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| − | Paxman formerly lived with Elizabeth Ann Clough in [[Stonor]], southeast [[Oxfordshire]]. They have three adult children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/19/foodanddrink.television|title=Profile: Jeremy Paxman|date=19 May 2002|work=The Observer|accessdate=17 November 2013}}</ref> The couple, who did not marry, amicably separated in 2016 after 35 years together.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walter|first=Stephen|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/18/former-newsnight-presenter-jeremy-paxman-splits-partner-35-years/|title=Former ''Newsnight'' presenter Jeremy Paxman splits from his partner of 35 years|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 February 2017|accessdate=18 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=De Peyer|first=Robin|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jeremy-paxman-and-partner-elizabeth-clough-split-after-35-years-a3470171.html|title=Jeremy Paxman and partner Elizabeth Clough 'split after 35 years'|work=London Evening Standard|date=18 February 2017|accessdate=18 February 2017}}</ref> He always tries to keep his private life out of the spotlight and he also claims that he has no interest in the private life of others.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/19/foodanddrink.television|title=Hah!|date=2002-05-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
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| − | He supports [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and he also enjoys [[fly fishing]] in his leisure time.<ref name="BBC Press Office">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/jeremypaxman.shtml |title=Jeremy Paxman |publisher= BBC Press Office|date=June 2008|archivedate=9 November 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109045526/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/jeremypaxman.shtml|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> He is vice-chairman of the Wild Trout Trust conservation charity. He is also a patron of the charity [[Sustrans]] and east London homeless charity Caritas Anchor House.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://caritasanchorhouse.org.uk/our-supporters |title=Our Supporters |publisher=Caritas Anchor House}}</ref>
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| − | When, in his twenties, Paxman unsuccessfully applied for the vacant editorship of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]-supporting weekly, the ''[[New Statesman]]'', he said that in his youth he considered himself a [[Socialism|socialist]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/dec/17/labour.labour1997to99 |title=Focus: Is there a liberal elite? | Politics|work= The Observer |date= 17 December 2000|accessdate=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="Aitkenhead">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/09/bbc-television|title=Decca Aitkenhead meets Jeremy Paxman|last=Aitkenhead|first=Decca|date=9 February 2009|work=The Guardian|page=6|accessdate=9 February 2009 | location=London}}</ref> He had previously stood as a [[Communism|Communist]] candidate in his school elections.<ref name="Aitkenhead"/> More recently, he has been described as "the archetypal [[floating voter]]", and [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]] once said that Paxman's greatest strength was being "not very political".<ref name="Aitkenhead"/> In 2014, Paxman described himself as a [[one-nation conservatism|one-nation conservative]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-paxman-im-a-onenation-tory-and-newsnight-is-made-by-13yearolds-9566874.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Ian | last=Johnston | title=Jeremy Paxman: I'm a one-nation Tory and 'Newsnight' is made by 13-year-olds | date=26 June 2014 | quote=“I have to be frank, I suppose I am a one-nation Tory, yes,” he said.}}</ref> Elsewhere, Paxman has stated that he has no dominant political ideology:
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| − | {{cquote|I do understand we have to have a government, and I do firmly believe in democracy. So it's not true to say I'm not a political person. I am a political person. But I'm not a party political person. I don't believe there is a monopoly of wisdom in any one party. I suppose as one gets older – I would have described it at the age of 21 as the process of selling out, but another way of looking at it is to say, actually, the world is not a very simple place, and that as you get older simple-minded solutions seem less attractive.<ref name="Aitkenhead"/>}}
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| − | In June 2014, Paxman, speaking at the Chalke Valley History Festival about his new book, ''Britain’s Great War'', complained that ''Newsnight'' was made by idealistic “13-year-olds” who foolishly thought they could “change the world”:
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| − | {{cquote|“Look, ''Newsnight'' is made by 13-year-olds. It's perfectly normal when you're young that you want to change the world,” Mr Paxman said. “The older you get, the more you realise what a fools' errand much of that is and that the thing to do is to manage the best you can to the advantage of as many people as possible.” Speaking about his political views in general, he said he was “in favour of governments getting out of people's lives – particularly foreign government”, saying Europe had been “nothing but trouble for us”. He also joked that Belgium was a “pointless little country”. “The closer you can take decision-making to the people affected by those decisions, the better.”<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-paxman-im-a-onenation-tory-and-newsnight-is-made-by-13yearolds-9566874.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Ian | last=Johnston | title=Jeremy Paxman: I'm a one-nation Tory and 'Newsnight' is made by 13-year-olds | date=26 June 2014}}</ref> }}
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| − | Paxman became a focus of media attention in October 2000 when a German [[Enigma machine]], which had been stolen from [[Bletchley Park]] Museum, was inexplicably sent to him in the post. He returned it to its rightful location.<ref>{{cite news|title='No Ransom Paid' for Enigma Machine|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/978274.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=18 October 2000|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Paxman Returns Enigma Machine|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1904795.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=1 April 2002|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
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| − | ==Criticism==
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| − | Paxman has been publicly criticised over his and his former partner's [[Domestic worker|home help]] arrangements. Having advertised on a Romanian website, they hired two people at below the [[minimum wage]] without a written contract. While this is not illegal in the UK if employees live in, Paxman, known for grilling interviewees on workers' rights issues, was criticised when his employees went public, claiming to have been paid "the bare minimum".<ref>{{cite news|last=Saner|first=Emine|title=Paxo's dirty laundry gets a very public airing|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/12/5|work=The Guardian|date=12 February 2008 | location=London|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref>
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| − | Paxman's controversial remarks about the Scots provoked anger at parliamentary level. Twenty Scottish members of parliament signed a [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] motion in March 2005 condemning him for comparing supposed Scottish dominance at Westminster to British rule in India: a "Scottish [[British Raj|Raj]]" was running the UK, said Paxman. The row came right after a Cabinet minister had complained that the ''Newsnight'' host had been offensive about his [[Glasgow]] accent. Paxman's response served further to fan the flames.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scots MPs slam Paxman 'Raj' jibe|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4350233.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=15 August 2005|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> In an introduction to a new edition of ''[[Chambers Dictionary]]'' in August 2008 Paxman labelled the work of Scotland's national poet [[Robert Burns]] as "sentimental doggerel".<ref>{{cite news|title=Paxman slammed over Burns comment|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7561800.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=14 August 2008|accessdate=15 April 2013}}</ref> Paxman himself is quarter-Scottish through his maternal grandmother, a fact which he stated has led to many of his comments being misunderstood as he regards the Scots "with affection".<ref name="wdytya JP"/>
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| − | Paxman has been condemned as disrespectful when commenting on the possible exit of Greece from the [[Eurozone]] ("like bad kebab vomiting") on edition of 31 May 2012 of ''Newsnight''. He received many angry messages from the audience on Twitter and other media accusing him of racist and inappropriate stereotypical analogies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walker |first=Tim |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9303331/BBC-Newsnight-presenter-Jeremy-Paxman-is-condemned-over-offensive-Greece-kebab-remarks.html |title=BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman is condemned over 'offensive' Greece kebab remarks |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 June 2012 |accessdate=29 June 2012 |location=London}}</ref>
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| − | In 2013, on ''University Challenge'', Tom Tyszczuk Smith answered a question incorrectly and was chastised by Paxman. This led to a series of articles claiming that Paxman bullied Tyszczuk Smith, and 47 viewers complained to the BBC about the incident.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blunden|first=Mark|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jeremy-paxman-branded-bully-after-causing-university-challenge-student-to-apologise-for-wrong-answer-8492555.html|title=Parents of student 'bullied' by Jeremy Paxman defend the University|date=13 February 2013|work=London Evening Standard}}</ref>
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| − | In November 2013, while being interviewed by [[Graham Norton]], Paxman called [[Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] an idiot<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/downing-street-demands-apology-after-jeremy-paxman-calls-david-cameron-complete-idiot-8931226.html |title=Downing Street demands apology after Jeremy Paxman calls David Cameron 'complete idiot' |first=Thair |last=Shaikh |work=The Independent|accessdate=11 November 2013 |location=London |date=10 November 2013}}</ref> and admitted that he had not voted in his last local election. [[Nick Clegg]], the deputy prime minister, later criticised his "sneering" attitude to politics and accused the ''Newsnight'' presenter of treating politicians as "rogues and charlatans". He said Paxman profited handsomely from politics through his television work but did not involve himself in the political process.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nick-clegg-condemns-sneering-newsnight-presenter-jeremy-paxman-8926307.html |title=Nick Clegg condemns 'sneering' Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman |first=Heather |last=Saul |work=The Independent|accessdate=7 November 2013 |location=London |date=7 November 2013}}</ref>
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| − | [[John Pilger]] has flagged-up Paxman's membership of the [[British-American Project]] in the context of political biases of [[mainstream media]].<ref name='R000665'>{{cite news | first=John | last= Pilger | title=Tainted hands across the water | date=13 December 2007 | publisher= | url=http://www.newstatesman.com/media/2007/12/pilger-bap-values-british | work=New Statesman | accessdate=26 November 2012 | quote=The BAP rarely gets publicity, which may have something to do with the high proportion of journalists who are alumni. Prominent BAP journalists are David Lipsey, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and assorted Murdochites. The BBC is well represented. On the Today programme, James Naughtie, whose broadcasting has long reflected his own transatlantic interests, has been an alumnus since 1989. Today's newest voice, Evan Davis, formerly the BBC's zealous economics editor, is a member. And at the top of the BAP website home page is a photograph of Jeremy Paxman and his endorsement. "A marvellous way of meeting a varied cross-section of transatlantic friends," says he.}}</ref>
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| − | Paxman was criticised for his presentation of the BBC documentary "Britain's Great War". While describing how British [[conscientious objectors]] were jailed and threatened with the [[death penalty]] because killing was against their beliefs, Paxman ventured his own opinion that it was the objectors themselves who were at fault, and that they were "extreme". The conscientious objectors, Paxman said, "have always struck me as cranks."<ref name="crankshuffpo">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/04/jeremy-paxman-britains-great-war-cranks_n_4721895.html |title=Jeremy Paxman Brands Conscientious Objectors Of WW1 ‘Cranks’ – Twitter Reacts|author=|website=huffingtonpost.co.uk|date=4 February 2014|accessdate=2 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="cranksecho">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/leisure/national/10987654.display/ |title=Paxman attacked over war 'cranks'|author=|website=dailyecho.co.uk|date=5 February 2014|accessdate=2 August 2017}}</ref>
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| − | In 2017, Paxman's interviews of [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and [[Theresa May]] for the upcoming general election were labelled 'embarrassing'.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/29/jeremy-paxman-used-brilliant-happened/</ref> Journalist [[Michael Deacon (journalist)|Michael Deacon]] opined that his pugilistic style of questioning had become tired, claiming that he had been 'doing an impression of himself'.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/29/jeremy-paxman-used-brilliant-happened/</ref> Numerous viewers complained on social media, with [[Jason Cowley]] adding that his style had become a 'pantomime act'. <ref>{{cite tweet|user=JasonCowleyNS|author=Jason Cowley|number=869295965311823877|date=29 May 2017|title=Poor night for "Jeremy Paxman", who is now a kind of celebrity pantomime act. Both May and Corbyn emerging unscathed.}}</ref>
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| − | ==Bibliography==
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Harris|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Harris (novelist)|first2=Jeremy |last2=Paxman|title=A Higher Form of Killing: The Secret Story of Chemical and Biological Warfare|location=New York, N.Y.|publisher=Hill and Wang|year=1982|isbn=0-8090-5471-X}} New edition published as {{cite book|last=Harris|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Harris (novelist)|first2=Jeremy |last2=Paxman|title=A Higher Form of Killing: The Secret History of Gas and Germ Warfare|location=London|publisher=Arrow|year=2002|isbn=0-09-944159-4}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=Through the Volcanoes: A Central American Journey|location=London|publisher=Paladin|year=1985|isbn=0-586-08572-6}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=Friends in High Places: Who Runs Britain?|location=London; New York, N.Y.|publisher=Penguin|year=1991|isbn=0-14-015600-3}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=Fish, Fishing, and the Meaning of Life|location=London; New York, N.Y.|publisher=Penguin|year=1996|isbn=0-14-023741-0}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=The English: A Portrait of a People|location=London|publisher=Penguin|year=1999|isbn=0-14-026723-9}}
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| − | *The 20th Century Day by Day (Foreword by Jeremy Paxman)
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=The Political Animal: An Anatomy|location=London|publisher=Penguin|year=2003|isbn=0-14-028847-3}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=[[On Royalty]]|location=London; New York, N.Y.|publisher=Viking|year=2006|isbn=0-670-91662-5}}
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| − | *Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift (Introduction by Jeremy Paxman)
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=The Victorians: Britain Through the Paintings of the Age|location=London|publisher=BBC Books|year=2009|isbn=978-1-84607-744-9}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British|location=London|publisher=Viking|year=2011|isbn=978-0-670-91957-4}}
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| − | *{{cite book|last=Paxman|first=Jeremy|title=Great Britain's Great War|location=London|publisher=Viking|year=2013|isbn=978-0-670-91961-1}}
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| − | {{reflist|30em}} | + | {{Reflist|30em}} |
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| | ==External links== | | ==External links== |
| − | {{Commons category|Jeremy Paxman}}
| + | * {{Official website|https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/}} |
| − | *{{website|jeremypaxman.co.uk|Official website}} | + | * [http://www.brandsofbritain.com/Yorkshire-Tea-s/1921.htm Yorkshire Tea in USA] |
| − | *{{IMDb name|id=0668096|name=Jeremy Paxman}}
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| − | * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/jeremypaxman.shtml Biography of Jeremy Paxman, member of the BBC's Press Office, at the official website of the BBC.]
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| − | * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8070803.stm BBC 'Newsnight' biography of Jeremy Paxman] | |
| − | *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/default.stm Official website of BBC's ''Newsnight'' programme]
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| − | * [http://frontlineclub.com/events/2008/02/insight-with-jeremy-paxman---the-art-of-asking-the-right-question---fully-booked.html Paxman questioned by fellow-journalists at London's Frontline Club, February 2008]
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| − | * [http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2007/05/15/1/a-conversation-with-jeremy-paxman Paxman interviewed at length on the US ''Charlie Rose Show'', June 2007]
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| − | {{University Challenge}}
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| − | {{Authority control}} | + | {{Teas}} |
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Paxman, Jeremy}}
| + | [[Category:1886 establishments in England]] |
| − | [[Category:1950 births]] | + | [[Category:English brands]] |
| − | [[Category:Living people]]
| + | [[Category:Tea brands in United Kingdom]] |
| − | [[Category:People from Leeds]]
| + | [[Category:Yorkshire cuisine]] |
| − | [[Category:People from Worcestershire]]
| + | [[Category:English drinks]] |
| − | [[Category:English people of Scottish descent]] | |
| − | [[Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists]] | |
| − | [[Category:BBC World News]] | |
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Yorkshire Tea was introduced by Charles Edward Taylor and his brother in 1883, creating their company, CE Taylor & Co., which was later shortened to "Taylor's". The brothers later opened "Tea Kiosks" in the Yorkshire towns of Harrogate and Ilkley, and in 1962, local tea room competitor 'Betty's' took over 'Taylor's', renamed it 'Taylors of Harrogate' and formed The Bettys & Taylors Group, which still to this day, is owned by the family of Fredrick Belmont, who founded 'Betty's Tea Rooms'. The Group now uses the 'Bettys' and 'Taylors' brands in a number of industries including Yorkshire Tea and Taylors Coffee Merchants under the 'Taylors of Harrogate' name and Bettys Tea Rooms, Bettys Cookery School and Bettys Confectionery under the 'Bettys' brand.
In 2007, a new TV campaign was created using the line "Try It, You'll See", voiced by Bill Nighy.[8]
In 2016 Yorkshire Tea was made available inside a promotional tea caddy linked to a tree planting campaign with artwork featuring characters from the children's book The Gruffalo and branded Yorkshire Tree.
