Jeremy Paxman

You are the longest-serving quizmaster currently appearing on UK TV (28 years); do you hope, in Margaret Thatcher’s words, to go “on and on”?
God no. It has been a real privilege, but it’s past time someone else had a shot at it.

How does the current crop of University Challenge geeks differ from the crop of 1994?
The last man who was said to know everything died 200 years ago, and so since no one can know everything (the body of knowledge is enormous), the question is which bits you do know? Today’s lot are immeasurably better on science and terrible on the Bible, by comparison. And why do you call them geeks?

Which know-all has most impressed you on a Christmas Special University Challenge?
Louis Theroux was impressive.

You famously said your job was to find out “why is this lying bastard lying to me?” Who is politics’ biggest liar, and who struck you as thoroughly honest? 
Arthur Scargill is a charlatan. Frank Field is a decent man.

What advice would you give a young journalist setting out to conduct their first major political interview? 
You can’t beat the advice given to Louis Heren on the Times, which I have often quoted [ie “Why is this lying bastard lying to me?].

Boris Johnson called you the last “one nation Tory at the BBC”, is that true? And if so, why? 
Did he?

What’s your verdict on Boris Johnson’s time as PM?
It’s best to draw a veil over it.

Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss? 
Kemi Badenoch is the one for me.

If you were still doing Newsnight who would you itch to interview?
See above.

Is political interviewing a dying art?
I don’t think so. The same rules apply as ever: decide what you want to know and stick to it.

What’s your view on Brexit?
I don’t like being told what to do by anyone.

If you could change the BBC in one way, what would it be?
Have myself made DG.

How have Twitter and social media changed the nature of politics?
They have contributed to its triviality: empty vessels make most noise.

In 2000 an Enigma machine was stolen from Bletchley Park, and then posted to you. What did you make of this enigma?
That I should check my post more often.

What period of history most interests you, and why?
I’ve always loved the Victorians, but lately have become a convert to the latter half of the eighteenth century and the Bonaparte years. I love the cartoons.

People tend to be rather scared of you. Are you misunderstood?
Aren’t we all?

Who had the biggest influence on your life?
My grandfather, who taught me to fish.

If you could invite any five people to lunch, who would they be?
This a desperate question. Get lost.

If you could add one dream role to your varied career, what would it be?
Plumber.

Do you have any regrets?
Of course. But one of them is not that I didn’t share the small change of my life with nosey parkers.

How has being diagnosed with Parkinson’s changed your approach to life?
I wish I could say that it has made more determined to live life to the full; one should  celebrate what one can do, not moan about what you can’t manage any longer.

You have talked about sometimes battling depression. What helps?
Looking at my dog; Derek never gets depressed.

What gives you most cause for optimism?
Tomorrow.

Jeremy Paxman is a broadcaster and author. He is the quizmaster on University Challenge and former presenter of Newsnight. His most recent book is “Black Gold: The History of How Coal Made Britain” (William Collins)