A Life in Questions

Description

The witty, incisive and frank memoirs from the legend of Newsnight and long-standing quiz master of University Challenge. Filled with views, opinions and stories from 4 decades in front of the camera. Jeremy Paxman is the no-nonsense star of BBC Newsnight, a supreme inquisitor and a master at skewering mammoth egos with his relentless grilling. From John Major to Theresa May and Tony Blair to Ed Miliband, he had them quaking in their boots. But it wasn't just politicians. Paxman's interviews with Dizzee Rascal, David Bowie, Russell Brand, Vivienne Westwood are legendary. He discussed belief with religious leaders and philosophers, economics with CEOs and bankers, books with writers and art and theatre with artists. After 23 years on University Challenge, Paxman is also the longest-serving active quizmaster on British television. In A Life in Questions, the tables are turned: the quizmaster answers our burning questions, telling terrific stories and laughing at much of the silliness in the world. These are the long-awaited memoirs of the greatest political interviewer of our time.

Jeremy Paxman was born in 1950 and studied English Literature at Cambridge. Unable to get another job, he became a BBC reporter and then a studio presenter. Over a quarter-century on Newsnight, he revolutionised the cosy relationship between interviewer and politician and, more than any other interviewer, took the side of the viewer against the guest. He is also quizmaster on University Challenge, has written and presented television series such as Empire, The Victorians, Great Britain's Great War, and is the author of numerous articles for many publications . He has also written many books including the best-selling The English, On Royalty and Friends in High Places. In his spare time, he enjoys fly-fishing.

'[Paxman] records his childhood and the highs and lows of his subsequent career with a sharp eye, an acerbic wit and a lingering trace of melancholy.' Daily Mail 'Funny, sad and revealing' David Aaronovitch, The Times 'Entertaining', Books of the Year, Observer '[A] trenchant memoir' Daily Mail 'Eye-opening ... [an] entertaining and anecdote-rich book' Daily Express 'Revealing memoir' Observer 'Gripping' Literary Review Praise for Jeremy Paxman: 'Intelligent, well-written, informative and funny ... A book to chew on, dip into, quote from and exploit in arguments' Andrew Marr, Observer 'He writes with wit and penetration, and every page of Empire can be read with relaxed pleasure' Spectator 'Paxman is witty, incisive, acerbic and opinionated . . . In short, he carries the whole thing off with panache bordering on effrontery' Sunday Times 'A very engaging account ... with a good sprinkling of jokes, funny nicknames and sexual references. Paxman makes some very sharp points and writes well' Guardian 'Bursting with good things' Daily Telegraph