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Jeremy Paxman mixes gravitas and glitz in one-man show Jeremy Paxman mixes gravitas and glitz in one-man show
(about 1 hour later)
Coming onstage to the sepulchral sound of Leonard Cohen but performing in front of a glittery silver curtain, it was clear that Paxo, Jeremy Paxman's first one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe, would mix gravitas with self-mocking glitz. Coming onstage to the sepulchral sound of Leonard Cohen but performing in front of a glittery silver curtain, it was clear that Paxo, Jeremy Paxman's first one-man show at the fringe, would mix gravitas with self-mocking glitz.
With taped contributions from University Challenge voiceover man Roger Tilling claiming that Paxman, who left Newsnight in June after 25 years, was now available for "bar mitzvahs, weddings, supermarkets – just about anything", the show opened with Paxman saying that he was doing The Knowledge, the examination London cabbies have to pass. "You might be able to say, 'I had that Jeremy Paxman in the front of my cab,'" the BBC's most celebrated journalist announced.With taped contributions from University Challenge voiceover man Roger Tilling claiming that Paxman, who left Newsnight in June after 25 years, was now available for "bar mitzvahs, weddings, supermarkets – just about anything", the show opened with Paxman saying that he was doing The Knowledge, the examination London cabbies have to pass. "You might be able to say, 'I had that Jeremy Paxman in the front of my cab,'" the BBC's most celebrated journalist announced.
Paxman could afford to be self-deprecating – the show is one of Edinburgh's most sought-after tickets, and the Pleasance venue was jammed with an audience of both Newsnight and University Challenge fans. The format saw Paxman spinning a glittery wheel of fortune, on which were printed 26 topics, one for each letter of the alphabet. Paxman then held forth on each topic for five minutes, periodically taking questions from the audience.Paxman could afford to be self-deprecating – the show is one of Edinburgh's most sought-after tickets, and the Pleasance venue was jammed with an audience of both Newsnight and University Challenge fans. The format saw Paxman spinning a glittery wheel of fortune, on which were printed 26 topics, one for each letter of the alphabet. Paxman then held forth on each topic for five minutes, periodically taking questions from the audience.
When called to discuss "religion", Paxman said he was an atheist, but "I wish that I wasn't". He said that being involved in homeless charities, he had observed how many of them had religious foundations. "We atheists, humanists and others have signally failed, it seems to me, to harness that belief in humanity and the innate appropriateness of treating each other properly. It seems to be much more easily done if you have some kind of religious imperative telling you what you should do."When called to discuss "religion", Paxman said he was an atheist, but "I wish that I wasn't". He said that being involved in homeless charities, he had observed how many of them had religious foundations. "We atheists, humanists and others have signally failed, it seems to me, to harness that belief in humanity and the innate appropriateness of treating each other properly. It seems to be much more easily done if you have some kind of religious imperative telling you what you should do."
The show included clips from Paxman's most memorable TV moments. The subject of "novice", prompted a screening of Paxman's car-crash interview with hapless junior minister Chloe Smith, in which she was unable to answer the question about when she had heard that the government was reversing its policy on fuel tax. Paxman sympathised about the way Smith had been sent on to the programme by her Treasury bosses George Osborne and Danny Alexander. The show included clips from Paxman's most memorable TV moments. The subject "novice" prompted a screening of Paxman's car-crash interview with junior minister Chloe Smith, in which she was unable to answer the question about when she had heard that the government was reversing its policy on fuel tax. Paxman sympathised about the way Smith had been sent on by her Treasury bosses George Osborne and Danny Alexander.
Paxo also included a clip from Paxman's interview with Russell Brand. The presenter said that while he did not agree with the comedian's views that voting was futile, "There are a lot of people who feel really alienated from the political process and I don't blame them at all. We have a political class in this country who are pretty interchangeable." Paxo also included a clip from his interview with Russell Brand. The presenter said that while he did not agree with the comedian's views that voting was futile, "There are a lot of people who feel really alienated from the political process and I don't blame them at all. We have a political class in this country who are pretty interchangeable."
"The basic requirement for going into politics in this country is that you strike a political attitude at 20, join the political organisation at your place of study and then you're not allowed to mature. I can't justify things I said last week, let alone 30 or 40 years ago, and yet [politicians are] expected to do that." Politicians, Paxman added, are required "to reduce the whole of politics to a simple binary selection – me or my opponent. Well, life's more complicated than that.""The basic requirement for going into politics in this country is that you strike a political attitude at 20, join the political organisation at your place of study and then you're not allowed to mature. I can't justify things I said last week, let alone 30 or 40 years ago, and yet [politicians are] expected to do that." Politicians, Paxman added, are required "to reduce the whole of politics to a simple binary selection – me or my opponent. Well, life's more complicated than that."
Sadly, "Blair" eluded the wheel's pointer, as did "death". "Gerontophobia" allowed Paxman to repeat his jocular view that there should be a branch of Dignitas on every high street to reduce the UK's elderly population ("you can't move for them!"). Though clearly tongue-in-cheek, reports of the show prompted Piers Morgan to tweet that Paxman was "a horrible little man".Sadly, "Blair" eluded the wheel's pointer, as did "death". "Gerontophobia" allowed Paxman to repeat his jocular view that there should be a branch of Dignitas on every high street to reduce the UK's elderly population ("you can't move for them!"). Though clearly tongue-in-cheek, reports of the show prompted Piers Morgan to tweet that Paxman was "a horrible little man".
After taking swipes at Dan Snow and Jeremy Vine in the previews, Paxman seemed determined to keep the controversy to a minimum on the show's first night. He was even reasonably generous about the management of the BBC, despite describing the organisation as "smug" earlier this year, merely saying that former programme-makers were unsuited to managing such a large and uncontrollable organisation. After taking swipes at Dan Snow and Jeremy Vine in the previews, Paxman seemed determined to keep the controversy to a minimum on the show's first night. He was even reasonably generous about the management of the BBC, despite describing the organisation as smug earlier this year, merely saying that former programme-makers were unsuited to managing such a large and uncontrollable organisation.
In what seemed to be the most popular section of the show, Paxman was positively lyrical in his enthusiasm for University Challenge, saying that as the questions have got more difficult, the audiences have got larger. "TV does not need to treat its audience as inherently stupid."In what seemed to be the most popular section of the show, Paxman was positively lyrical in his enthusiasm for University Challenge, saying that as the questions have got more difficult, the audiences have got larger. "TV does not need to treat its audience as inherently stupid."
The hour-long show concluded with Paxman's belief that the overall tenor of the news is "unnecessarily gloomy. "While the media give you a picture of chaos and catastrophe and human malevolence, if you have, as I have had, a face that people recognise, people talk to you. Of course it's a phoney relationship, but people think that they know you and they therefore confide. And I would say that it's not that the world is full of misery, but if you give people a chance they will be nice." It was an uncharacteristically warm and fuzzy note to end on from a broadcaster an audience member had compared to a "serial killer" earlier in the show. The show concluded with Paxman's belief that the tenor of the news is "unnecessarily gloomy. While the media give you a picture of chaos and catastrophe and human malevolence, if you have, as I have had, a face that people recognise, people talk to you. Of course it's a phoney relationship, but people think that they know you and they therefore confide. And I would say that it's not that the world is full of misery, but if you give people a chance they will be nice." It was an uncharacteristically warm and fuzzy note to end on from a broadcaster an audience member had compared to a "serial killer" earlier in the show.