It's been just over a week since Jeremy Paxman waved a fond farewell to Newsnight, but the BBC's grand inquisitor has already reportedly launched an attack against the show's producers.
The irascible anchor, infamous for savaging interviewees, apparently said Newsnight is made by idealistic “13-year-olds” who foolishly think they can “change the world”.
Paxman, who has had to be politically impartial throughout his journalism career, reportedly suggested he found his personal political leanings contrasting with those behind the BBC show, according the Daily Telegraph.
“Look, Newsnight is made by 13-year-olds. It's perfectly normal when you're young that you want to change the world,” he said.
“The older you get, the more you realise what a fools' errand much of that is and that the thing to do is to manage the best you can to the advantage of as many people as possible.”
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During his last appearance on Newsnight, Boris Johnson suggested Paxman was the “last” Tory at the BBC.
Paxman appeared to finally admit his long speculated political views, speaking at the Chalke Valley History Festival about his new book, Britain’s Great War, The Independent reported.
“I have to be frank, I suppose I am a one-nation Tory, yes,” he said. Paxman added of the final interview with the London Mayor: "It's complete bollocks, of course, typical Boris."
Speaking about his political views in general, he said he was “in favour of governments getting out of people's lives - particularly foreign government”, saying Europe had been “nothing but trouble for us”.
Paxo, who had said before his final Newsnight broadcast that he wanted to “go to bed at the same time as most people”, made his final turn last Wednesday in a show packed with nods to his 25-year tenure.