Editing Jeremy Paxman (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Jeremy paxman dec 2007.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Paxman in 2007]]
Paxman formerly lived with television producer Elizabeth Clough in [[Stonor]], southeast [[Oxfordshire]]. They have three children.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/19/foodanddrink.television |title=Profile: Jeremy Paxman |date=19 May 2002 |work=The Observer |location= London |access-date=17 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130826025619/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/19/foodanddrink.television |archive-date=26 August 2013}}</ref> The couple, who did not marry, amicably separated in 2016 after 35 years together.<ref>{{cite news |last=Walter |first=Stephen |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/18/former-newsnight-presenter-jeremy-paxman-splits-partner-35-years/ |title=Former ''Newsnight'' presenter Jeremy Paxman splits from his partner of 35 years |work=The Daily Telegraph |location= London |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=18 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170218110650/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/18/former-newsnight-presenter-jeremy-paxman-splits-partner-35-years/ |archive-date=18 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=De Peyer |first=Robin |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jeremy-paxman-and-partner-elizabeth-clough-split-after-35-years-a3470171.html |title=Jeremy Paxman and partner Elizabeth Clough 'split after 35 years' |work=London Evening Standard |date=18 February 2017 |access-date=18 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170218234456/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jeremy-paxman-and-partner-elizabeth-clough-split-after-35-years-a3470171.html |archive-date=18 February 2017}}</ref> He prefers to keep his private life "out of the spotlight" and says he is not interested in the private lives of others.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/19/foodanddrink.television |title=Hah! |date=19 May 2002 |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 July 2017 |location= London |first=Jay |last=Rayner |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170918151854/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/may/19/foodanddrink.television |archive-date=18 September 2017}}</ref> He has a flat in [[Kensington]], London.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/18/former-newsnight-presenter-jeremy-paxman-splits-partner-35-years/ |title=Former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman splits from partner of 35 years for woman 30 years his junior |first=Stephen |last=Walter |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=18 February 2017 |location= London |access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref>

Paxman supports [[Leeds United]] and enjoys [[fly fishing]].<ref name="BBC Press Office">{{cite press release |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/jeremypaxman.shtml |title=Jeremy Paxman |publisher= BBC Press Office |date=8 June 2003 |archive-date=9 November 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101109045526/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/news/jeremypaxman.shtml |access-date=15 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He is vice-chairman of the Wild Trout Trust conservation charity. He is also a patron of the charity [[Sustrans]] and east London homeless charity Caritas Anchor House.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://caritasanchorhouse.org.uk/our-supporters |title= Our Supporters |publisher= Caritas Anchor House |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141207082342/http://caritasanchorhouse.org.uk/our-supporters/ |archive-date= 7 December 2014}}</ref>

In his twenties, Paxman unsuccessfully applied for the vacant editorship of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]-supporting weekly, the ''[[New Statesman]]''; he said that in his youth he considered himself a socialist.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/dec/17/labour.labour1997to99 |title=Focus: Is there a liberal elite? |work=The Observer |date=17 December 2000 |access-date=2 May 2010 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140509055226/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/dec/17/labour.labour1997to99 |archive-date=9 May 2014  }}</ref><ref name="Aitkenhead">{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/09/bbc-television |title=Decca Aitkenhead meets Jeremy Paxman |last=Aitkenhead |first=Decca |date=9 February 2009 |work=The Guardian |page=6 |access-date=9 February 2009 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140618114233/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/09/bbc-television |archive-date=18 June 2014}}</ref> He had previously stood as a [[communist]] candidate in his school elections.<ref name="Aitkenhead"/> More recently, he has been described as "the archetypal [[floating voter]]", and [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]] once said that Paxman's greatest strength was being "not very political".<ref name="Aitkenhead"/> In 2014, Paxman described himself as a [[one-nation conservative]].<ref name="onenation">{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-paxman-im-a-onenation-tory-and-newsnight-is-made-by-13yearolds-9566874.html |location= London |work=The Independent |first=Ian |last=Johnston |title=Jeremy Paxman: I'm a one-nation Tory and 'Newsnight' is made by 13-year-olds |date=26 June 2014 |quote="I have to be frank, I suppose I am a one-nation Tory, yes," he said. |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150513084223/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-paxman-im-a-onenation-tory-and-newsnight-is-made-by-13yearolds-9566874.html |archive-date=13 May 2015}}</ref> Elsewhere, Paxman has stated that he has no dominant political ideology:

{{cquote|I do understand we have to have a government, and I do firmly believe in democracy. So it's not true to say I'm not a political person. I am a political person. But I'm not a party political person. I don't believe there is a monopoly of wisdom in any one party. I suppose as one gets older – I would have described it at the age of 21 as the process of selling out, but another way of looking at it is to say, actually, the world is not a very simple place, and that as you get older simple-minded solutions seem less attractive.<ref name="Aitkenhead"/>}}

In June 2014, Paxman, speaking at the Chalke Valley History Festival about his new book, ''Britain's Great War'', said that ''Newsnight'' was made by "idealistic 13-year-olds" who "foolishly thought they could change the world". "Look, ''Newsnight'' is made by 13-year-olds. It's perfectly normal when you're young that you want to change the world," Paxman 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." 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". He also joked that Belgium was a "pointless little country". "The closer you can take decision-making to the people affected by those decisions, the better."<ref name="onenation"/>
In 2019, in an interview with ''[[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|60 Minutes]]'' on Australia's [[Nine Network]], Paxman said he voted remain in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]] (initially intending to vote leave), but believed the result had to be respected:

{{cquote|I went to the polling station intending to vote leave and I ended up voting remain, because as I walked in I thought "it's an awful institution the European Union but it's all we've got." So that's why I changed my mind... But actually I think now you can't tell people that you're gonna have a referendum and their vote will be respected and then not respect it, you just can't do it. It shows utter contempt for the voters.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/N3RBdFirLeY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190426220804/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RBdFirLeY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|date=18 April 2019|title=Why Jeremy Paxman wants the Brexit vote respected|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RBdFirLeY|author=60 Minutes Australia|publisher=YouTube|access-date=4 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}

Paxman became a focus of media attention in October 2000 when a German [[Enigma machine]], which had been stolen from [[Bletchley Park]] Museum, was inexplicably sent to him in the post. He returned it to the museum.<ref>{{cite news |title='No Ransom Paid' for Enigma Machine |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/978274.stm |work=BBC News |date=18 October 2000 |access-date=15 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040716102308/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/978274.stm |archive-date=16 July 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Paxman Returns Enigma Machine |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1904795.stm |work=BBC News |date=1 April 2002 |access-date=15 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061218185054/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1904795.stm |archive-date=18 December 2006}}</ref>

In an interview with Emily Dean on a [[Times Radio]] podcast, Paxman described his experience with depression. He said that he takes [[psychiatric medication]] and has undergone [[Cognitive behavioural therapy]]. He stated that he regularly walks his dog, Derek, which "helps as he meets people", and that his dog "makes him laugh".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jeremy Paxman – Walking The Dog with Emily Dean|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lnCHk0MyH2ddnbXsVMwGv|access-date=11 January 2021|website=Spotify|date=3 August 2020}}</ref>

In September 2021, whilst promoting his book ''Black Gold: The History of How Coal Made Britain'', Paxman revealed his support for [[Scottish independence]]. Talking to ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', he said, "My view about the Union is that if there is to be a referendum then the English should be allowed a vote as well. We are supposedly a nation of equals, so we should be equally entitled to a vote. And although I am a quarter Scottish I would vote to separate, I think. Because I can't see what is gained by persistently giving the Jocks an excuse. We're always going to be friends."<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thenational.scot/news/19590503.jeremy-paxman-says-vote-scottish-independence/ |title=Jeremy Paxman says he would vote for Scottish independence |last=Nutt |first=Kathleen |date=19 September 2021 |work=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]] |location= Glasgow |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

Paxman revealed in May 2021 that he is receiving treatment for [[Parkinson's disease]], describing his symptoms as "mild".<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57206289 |title=Jeremy Paxman receiving treatment for Parkinson's disease |date=21 May 2021 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Shan Nicholas of [[Parkinson's UK]] said, "Previously, Jeremy pledged to donate his brain to the Parkinson's UK Brain Bank which will, one day, help scientists uncover the discoveries that will lead to better treatments and a cure for Parkinson's."<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/may/21/jeremy-paxman-diagnosed-with-parkinsons-disease |title=Jeremy Paxman diagnosed with Parkinson's disease |agency=PA Media |date=21 May 2021 |work=The Guardian |location= London}}</ref>

In October 2022 an ITV documentary, ''Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's'', revealed how the disease has impacted him – the programme showed him attending a ballet class, learning to play bowls, meeting experts and observing a brain dissection. He met [[Sharon Osbourne]], the wife of fellow Parkinson's sufferer [[Ozzy Osbourne]], to discuss the role of a partner or family carer; he agreed to her suggestion to one day try cannabidiol oil to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's.<ref name="health.harvard.edu"/> The programme revealed that Paxman recorded his last episode of ''University Challenge'' on 15 October 2022.<ref name="itv.com"/><ref name="theguardian.com"/>

In April 2024 Paxman delivered a petition to [[10 Downing Street]] with recommendations concerning [[National Health Service|NHS]] treatment of patients with Parkinson's Disease, which he commented "may not kill you but it will make you wish you hadn't been born."<ref>{{cite web |last=Culley |first=Jeremy |date=12 April 2024 |title=Jeremy Paxman: Parkinson's 'makes you wish you hadn't been born' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68795161 |website=[[BBC News]] |location=London |access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref>