Jeremy Paxman "have always struck me as cranks." In 2017, Paxman's interviews of Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May for the upcoming general election were labelled 'embarrassing'. Journalist Michael Deacon opined that his pugilistic style of questioning had become tired, claiming that he had been 'doing an impression of himself'. Jeremy Paxman Jeremy Dickson Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is a British broadcaster, journalist, author, and the quizmaster of "University Challenge", having succeeded Bamber Gascoigne at the time the programme was revived in 1994. Born in Leeds, Paxman was educated at Malvern College and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he edited the undergraduate
University Challenge team of celebrity alumni who had previously appeared on the programme as students, including journalist John Simpson and actor Stephen Fry. This show was preceded by a short documentary about the show's history. Bamber Gascoigne's final appearance as host was in "Universe Challenge" in 1998 (see below). The show has, since its revival in 1994, featured a number of teams of postgraduate and mature students, whose participation has been criticised. The Open University (OU) won the 1999 series with a team whose ages averaged 46. In the quarter-final, they narrowly beat a slightly younger team from part-time and mature student