Jeremy Paxman rapped by BBC News boss for publicly criticising corporation Departing Newsnight anchor Jeremy Paxman was reprimanded by BBC News boss James Harding for his remarks about the corporation Jeremy Paxman was reprimanded by the BBCs director of news over negative comments he made about the corporation before the announcement of his departure from Newsnight, it has emerged. Last month, Paxman said in an interview that the corporation was smug and complained about how Radio 1Xtra being played in the lifts was hell. According to sources, the incident prompted James Harding, the director of BBC News, to send a note reprimanding Paxman for his public criticism of the corporation. Insiders claim that Harding said Paxmans comments were disloyal and that Paxman replied, refuting the accusation and pointing out his long service at the corporation. Harding has not been the only executive to rebuke Paxman in recent weeks. Last month an email was sent to the outgoing Newsnight host by Ben Cooper, the controller of Radio 1Xtra, in which he told Paxman to take the stairs if he did not like the stations music being played in the lifts. BBC executives have been keen to hit back at attacks by some of its biggest stars after Danny Cohen, the director of television, said in December that the daily chorus of BBC-bashing was damaging the corporation and driving staff mad. A BBC spokesman said the corporation never commented on internal issues. Paxman said he made the decision to leave last summer, but there has been speculation for some time about simmering tensions within Newsnight. Paxman told presenter Richard Bacon in an interview in October that he would stay as long as someone asks me. The BBC has said it is open to working with Paxman on other programmes in the future, and for him to continue to host the long-running quiz University Challenge. Given his formidable reputation, it is no surprise that some rival broadcasters, including Channel 4, have privately expressed interest in working with him. There has also been speculation that he may follow in the footsteps of other broadcasting grandees such as Sir David Attenborough, Lord Bragg and Sir Michael Parkinson and make programmes for Sky, although Sky sources said nothing was planned. Paxman, who is about to turn 64, was long thought to be the best-paid presenter in news, earning about £800,000 a year for his work on Newsnight and University Challenge. Newsnight ratings have dropped to 600,000 viewers a night from 800,000 in 2010. Paxman, though, has long been the programmes most popular presenter. It is not known who will replace him as the programmes anchor on his departure in June, but among the names that have been touted to join Newsnight are the presenter of Radio 4s PM, Eddie Mair, who made waves with his interview with Boris Johnson in 2013, in which he branded the London mayor a nasty piece of work.
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 20:12:00 +0000
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