Jeremy Paxman reveals anger towards his father who took off to Australia when journalist was 24
Former Newsnight presenter tracked him down a decade later and said he was ‘astonished’ when his dad showed no interest in making up
Former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman has admitted to feeling "passionate hatred" towards his father after he walked out on the family.
The journalist revealed his ill feelings in his new book, A Life In Questions, and detailed how typewriter salesman Keith left the family to move to Australia.
At the time Jeremy, the eldest son, was a 24-year-old BBC trainee but managed to track his dad down a decade later.
Jeremy said he was left “astonished” when his old man showed no interest in making up with him.
: “Did I love my father? My feelings ranged from resentment to passionate hatred.”
In an interview with the newspaper he added: “I was astonished by his lack of curiosity. I mean there were grandchildren he'd never seen, spouses he's never met.
“It seemed as if we were part of a life he'd put behind him.”
As a presenter, Jeremy spent 25 years fronting the BBC's flagship political programme and earned a reputation as a tough interviewer before he left in 2014.
The 66-year-old said he did not want to be portrayed as “poor little me” following the revelations in his book.
He said: "There comes a point, about the age of 40, when you have to stop saying how you are is a consequence of how you were brought up.
“And particularly when you are 66, it is pathetic to say 'I am as I am because of things that happened in my childhood'."
The Leeds-born broadcaster, who studied at Cambridge University, continues to host quiz show University Challenge and reportedly signed a three-book deal with publisher William Collins for almost £1 million.
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