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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Kate Lally

Unearthed footage shows Jeremy Paxman on The Thick Of It

Jeremy Paxman is one of the UK's most respected journalists after a TV career spanning decades.

The former Newsnight presenter, 72, announced his decision to step down from University Challenge earlier this year, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He had fronted the show, which sees teams of students go up against each other to answer a tough series of questions, for some 29 years.

Mr Paxman first joined the BBC in 1972 and has since become known for his forthright interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians.

READ MORE: Amol Rajan confirmed as new University Challenge host after Jeremy Paxman exit

And in 2007, he played himself on political satire comedy The Thick Of It. Mr Paxman grilled Ben Swain, a backbench MP who previously served in the Shadow Cabinet.

Swain fidgeted and "mega blinked" as he struggled to answer a single question, making the scene one of the show's most cringeworthy. Meanwhile, viewers can see Will, Emma and Ollie squirming as they watch from home.

The interview didn't last long, with Malcolm Tucker telling producers to wrap it up. Mr Paxman turns to a bumbling Mr Swain and says "Minister, thank you very much".

Mr Swain says: "Well, no, not yet" to which Jeremy repeats: "Thank you very much" and the discussion comes to a close.

A clip of the episode on Youtube is billed by the BBC as "Junior Minister Ben Swain is carved up by Jeremy Paxman on his first appearance on Newsnight." Despite it being uploaded in 2010, it is still gaining views to this day.

One viewer recently commented: "Coming here today after Liz Truss's performance on BBC local radio...", while another said: "When Jeremy Paxman said, "Thank you very much". That was it for Ben, the show was over, it was curtains, no curtain call", and a third added: "Love how Will and Ollie hate each other's guts but can come together to roast Ben".

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