Jeremy Paxman has explained that he has joined a comedy programme to cover the General Election because he likes to be surprising.
The former Newsnight host is better known for his grilling of politicians, but is part of the team hosting Channel 4′s Alternative Election Night along with comedian David Mitchell and Pointless presenter Richard Osman.
According to the Radio Times, he said of the programme: “The aim is to tell the whole story and to tell it in an entertaining way. I’m not preparing any [comic] sketches, but there are some monologues about voting, about Scotland, what’s wrong with politics. And one or two bits of telly on the night that will involve the three of us.”
University Challenge host Jeremy has had some experience of comedy in the past, as last year he took a one-man stand-up show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
He revealed that his motto was “be unexpected” and added of the comedy festival appearance: “I was scared of doing it and I feel very strongly you should do things you’re scared of doing.”
Alternative Election Night airs on Channel 4 tomorrow from 9pm until 6am on Friday.
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