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Jeremy Paxman's final Newsnight - TV review Jeremy Paxman's final Newsnight - TV review
(about 11 hours later)
End-of-year quizzes that ask a question about Jeremy Paxman's final words on his last edition of Newsnight may find themselves subject to appeals and adjudication. His official payoff from his Newsnight padded chair, at 11.20pm , was, after toying with quoting the "mad as hell" speech from Peter Finch as a deranged anchorman in the movie Network, a simple: "Thank you for watching. I hope you go on enjoying the programme. Goodnight and goodbye."End-of-year quizzes that ask a question about Jeremy Paxman's final words on his last edition of Newsnight may find themselves subject to appeals and adjudication. His official payoff from his Newsnight padded chair, at 11.20pm , was, after toying with quoting the "mad as hell" speech from Peter Finch as a deranged anchorman in the movie Network, a simple: "Thank you for watching. I hope you go on enjoying the programme. Goodnight and goodbye."
However, just when he seemed to be gone after a quarter of a century, Paxo appeared again in front of a BBC weather map to mutter grumpily: "Tomorrow's weather: more of the same. Don't know why they make such a fuss about it."However, just when he seemed to be gone after a quarter of a century, Paxo appeared again in front of a BBC weather map to mutter grumpily: "Tomorrow's weather: more of the same. Don't know why they make such a fuss about it."
That in-joke about the presenter's history of reciting the impending elements rather reluctantly at the end of the current affairs show was one of a number of flashback pranks during his valedictory edition. Michael Howard, once notoriously asked 12 successive times by Paxman whether he had tried as home secretary to overrule the head of the prison service, popped up grinning in the studio before the final item to be asked simply, "Did you?", to which he replied: "No, but feel free to ask me another 11 times." The implication that victims and interviewer are all really good mates underneath may have disappointed some of the inquisitor's admirers.That in-joke about the presenter's history of reciting the impending elements rather reluctantly at the end of the current affairs show was one of a number of flashback pranks during his valedictory edition. Michael Howard, once notoriously asked 12 successive times by Paxman whether he had tried as home secretary to overrule the head of the prison service, popped up grinning in the studio before the final item to be asked simply, "Did you?", to which he replied: "No, but feel free to ask me another 11 times." The implication that victims and interviewer are all really good mates underneath may have disappointed some of the inquisitor's admirers.
Two other old sparring partners were brought into the ring for the heavyweight's final bout. Boris Johnson, who once complained during a TV encounter about the amount that the show's host was allegedly paid, took him for a tandem ride through the streets of London, while Peter Mandelson, who was inadvertently outed by Matthew Parris during a Newsnight discussion chaired by Paxman, came in to be asked if Ed Milliband's strategy for Labour was working. "It may work," Mandy purred, allowing Paxman to echo the answer with trademark incredulous relish, during a conversation in which, on several occasions, he pulled, to the delight of admirers, his most celebrated "snorting horse" look of sneering disbelief. Two other old sparring partners were brought into the ring for the heavyweight's final bout. Boris Johnson, who once complained during a TV encounter about the amount that the show's host was allegedly paid, took him for a tandem ride through the streets of London, while Peter Mandelson, who was inadvertently outed by Matthew Parris during a Newsnight discussion chaired by Paxman, came in to be asked if Ed Miliband's strategy for Labour was working. "It may work," Mandy purred, allowing Paxman to echo the answer with trademark incredulous relish, during a conversation in which, on several occasions, he pulled, to the delight of admirers, his most celebrated "snorting horse" look of sneering disbelief.
The jokey and nostalgic elements in the running order sometimes felt tonally inappropriate as it seemed a reasonable bet, at the beginning of the programme, that Paxman might end his broadcasting career by announcing the end of the world. "How worried should we be?" he asked John Simpson in Baghdad about the possible collapse of Iraq. Luckily, Simpson, himself showing no signs of retiring although five years Paxman's senior, was reassuring that things would hold together for at least the rest of Paxo's Newsnight contract, and they did.The jokey and nostalgic elements in the running order sometimes felt tonally inappropriate as it seemed a reasonable bet, at the beginning of the programme, that Paxman might end his broadcasting career by announcing the end of the world. "How worried should we be?" he asked John Simpson in Baghdad about the possible collapse of Iraq. Luckily, Simpson, himself showing no signs of retiring although five years Paxman's senior, was reassuring that things would hold together for at least the rest of Paxo's Newsnight contract, and they did.
Simpson sensibly omitted the sort of simpering tributes to his retiring colleague that have marred the last nights of some American anchors, although Boris Johnson seized a camera and made a speech about "an adornment to broadcasting" and, more mischievously, "the BBC's last one-nation Tory".Simpson sensibly omitted the sort of simpering tributes to his retiring colleague that have marred the last nights of some American anchors, although Boris Johnson seized a camera and made a speech about "an adornment to broadcasting" and, more mischievously, "the BBC's last one-nation Tory".
Such interventions ignored Paxman's request that there should be "no fuss" about his going, although, perhaps contradicting his own injunction, he had been interviewed earlier in the evening on Channel 4 News, a programme with which Newsnight has a long obsessive rivalry. Both Krishnan Guru-Murthy, introducing the Paxo interview, and Jon Snow, conducting it, seemed to be touting themselves as potential replacements, although Paxman may be moving in the other direction. Asked by Snow about the rumour that he is about to sign for ITN and Channel 4, the outgoing BBC man cagily replied: "I don't know." It might have been worth Snow repeating the inquiry 11 times.Such interventions ignored Paxman's request that there should be "no fuss" about his going, although, perhaps contradicting his own injunction, he had been interviewed earlier in the evening on Channel 4 News, a programme with which Newsnight has a long obsessive rivalry. Both Krishnan Guru-Murthy, introducing the Paxo interview, and Jon Snow, conducting it, seemed to be touting themselves as potential replacements, although Paxman may be moving in the other direction. Asked by Snow about the rumour that he is about to sign for ITN and Channel 4, the outgoing BBC man cagily replied: "I don't know." It might have been worth Snow repeating the inquiry 11 times.
Paxman's last Newsnight won't be remembered as one of his best. He was unusually stumbly reading from the Autocue, presumably from emotion. There was, though, one of his familiar bilious one-liners, suggesting that Ed Milliband is as "popular as a flatulent dog in a lift". As the final lights went down, Paxo sat alone looking contemplative, although, as the camera pulled out, it was impossible to be sure if broadcasting's hard-man interrogator had softened as far as tears on his final night in the studio. The play-out music was the New Seekers' I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, a curious selection, unless it was a reference to the presenter's recent claim that he would like to pursue a career as a teacher, although of history rather than music. Paxman's last Newsnight won't be remembered as one of his best. He was unusually stumbly reading from the Autocue, presumably from emotion. There was, though, one of his familiar bilious one-liners, suggesting that Ed Miliband is as "popular as a flatulent dog in a lift". As the final lights went down, Paxo sat alone looking contemplative, although, as the camera pulled out, it was impossible to be sure if broadcasting's hard-man interrogator had softened as far as tears on his final night in the studio. The play-out music was the New Seekers' I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, a curious selection, unless it was a reference to the presenter's recent claim that he would like to pursue a career as a teacher, although of history rather than music.
The strong suspicion is that any lectures he gives will be in documentaries for one network or another. Letter-writers to the BBC may point out that Paxman used the expletive "Christ!" several times during his bike ride with Boris, but Paxo, now beyond the discipline of the BBC news division, will be able to tell them to get stuffed.The strong suspicion is that any lectures he gives will be in documentaries for one network or another. Letter-writers to the BBC may point out that Paxman used the expletive "Christ!" several times during his bike ride with Boris, but Paxo, now beyond the discipline of the BBC news division, will be able to tell them to get stuffed.
• This article was amended on 19 June 2014. The earlier version misspelled Ed Miliband's surname as Milliband.