MICHAEL DEACON, British author and political journalist, has revealed that he once appeared on University Challenge and couldn’t believe what Jeremy Paxman was wearing behind the desk.
In a recent column in The Telegraph, the columnist shared that he once took part in the Christmas series of University Challenge two years ago, and said he was “absolutely hopeless.”
Michael Deacon revealed that Jeremy Paxman wore baggy jeans and desert boots behind the desk out of the shot to the viewers
It was announced Jeremy would be leaving the show after 28 incredible years
Michael went on to explain that during the episode he appeared on, he was shocked to find out that the only part of the suit Jeremy wore was the jacket.
On his lower half, out of shot for the viewers at home, Jeremy was found to be wearing a pair of baggy jeans and desert boots.
He admitted that while, appearing on the popular quiz-show, Deacon and his team only got four questions right, but he said he was happy he went on the show as he got to meet Jeremy Paxman.
He added: “Now that he’s retiring from the show, that’s an experience worth treasuring.”
The Telegraph columnist said: “People always want to know: does he seem as terrifying face-to-face as he does on screen? And the answer is yes and no. When he came out to meet us before the recording began, he was unexpectedly relaxed. Or so it seemed, from the way he was dressed.”
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The columnist couldn’t quite believe that behind the desk, Jeremy Paxman was wearing slouchy denim and boots.
Michael gushed that Jeremy was friendly and amusing, complimenting him on his Home Alone Christmas jumper, and telling him that he’d once had a team of MPs who were utterly useless.
“They only got 3 points,” he quipped.
This comes just shortly after Jeremy Paxman announced he will be stepping down from University Challenge after 28 incredible years.
Paxman, who has presented the show since 1994, will film his last episode this autumn and his final series will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from Monday 29 August through to summer 2023.
Paxman said: “I’ve had a blast hosting this wonderful series for nearly 29 years. I’ve been lucky enough to work with an amazing team and to meet some of the smarter brains in the country. It gives me hope for the future.”
In the meantime, Kate Phillips, the director of unscripted content at the BBC, said: “Since the BBC revived University Challenge in 1994, Jeremy has been at the front and center of the show’s success and is without doubt one of the world’s finest, and most formidable quizmasters.
“We are hugely grateful to Jeremy for his dedication to the programme for an incredible 28 years, he will be much missed by us all and the show’s millions of viewers.”
This year University Challenge celebrates 60 years of being Britain’s longest running quiz show. A special documentary will air on BBC Two and iPlayer on Monday 29 August at 9pm.
The BBC have also confirmed that Amol Rajan will take over from Jeremy Paxman as the host of University Challenge.
The journalist and broadcaster, who is also one of the hosts of Radio 4’s Today programme, will start presenting the BBC Two quiz show next autumn.
Jeremy was previously host of the BBC’s Newsnight for 25 years, before leaving the topical show in 2014
Paxman is to step down as the host of University Challenge after 28 years, the BBC has announced
