Paxman's replacement

[Arginald Valleywater]

Awful choice. A smarmy lefty and pipe hitter. The BBC has far more quality people than their token batty boy.

[Sam Slater]

Can't please everyone, Arg.

And why do you have a problem with his sexuality?

[max_tranmere]

I think Emily Maitlis as main anchor, rather than just one of many who hosts the show, would have been better. Her or Kirsty Walk. Both are obviously hosts of the show but making one the main person - on TV as often as Paxman was and who people will view as synonymous with the show, like they did Paxman, would have been a better thing to do. I'm not that familiar with the guy they've chosen, I'll have to watch him a few times to see if he's any good.

It was rumoured that Paxman quit because of the new left-leaning editor/producer that was appointed to Newsnight. Appointing people like that, who intend turning TV news programmes into TV versions of The Guardian newspaper is NOT a good idea and will ruin the show. It has already happened to Channel 4 News and I hope it doesn't happen to Newsnight. Probably will though once the new person controlling the show starts to run the programme his way.

[max_tranmere]

Evan Davis's sexuality was raised at the top of this thread. Here he is with his partner, a man called Guillaume Baltz...

[Essex Lad]

Well, Paxman is a Tory so perhaps that's understandable.

Ian Katz probably just saw it as moving to the TV arm of The Guardian, keeping it in the family so to speak.

[David Johnson]

Sad to see Newsnight appointing a Guardian reading, left wing "batty boy" to the post.

Apparently they first asked Nick Griffin, who had unexpectedly become available, but he turned them down.

Anybody know if Genghis Khan is still looking for work?

[Essex Lad]

Is he left-wing? Acc to the Daily Mail, he was one of the architects of the Poll Tax.

[David Johnson]

Wot, Genghis Khan or Nick Griffin?

Genghis Khan is a Daily Mail hero. Apparently he killed so many people that he reduced carbon levels in the atmosphere.

It's here in the Daily Mail so it must be true.



He'd be great on Newsnight - "Chancellor, I'm going to ask you this question one more time. If you don't answer properly, you are dead!"

[David Johnson]

"I'm not that familiar with the guy they've chosen, I'll have to watch him a few times to see if he's any good."

He worked on Newsnight for about four years ages ago and is currently one of the presenters on Radio 4's news programme, Today which is on every morning. Excellent, very experienced interviewer and serious journalist.

He isn't starting 'til autumn.