Tonight he took his leave of Newsnight and journalism is somewhat lesser for his departure.
Love him or despise him, no British television journalist could interview like Paxo.
Fools weren't suffered gladly, politicians were yanked 'off message' and crooks and liars were exposed.
Not many came out of a Paxman interview without a scar or several, careers were often broken at his hands.
Michael Howard was leader of the Conservative Party and one election away from becoming PM. Yet mention his name to 100 people and I would wager at least half remember the 'Did you threaten to overrule him' interview...
Type George Galloway and Paxman into YouTube for one of the best two minute of television you will see...
His capacity to eviscerate is legendary, some may say bullying but it was always in pursuit of the truth and holding politicians to account.
In closing this I wanted to make some pithy remark which of course he would have hated.
Instead I found a tweet from the wonderful broadcaster Alastair Stewart who said: "Thanks Paxo. When interested, focused & on form, never equalled. When bored & doubtful of some items, he spoke for many of us."
And the man himself in a Channel 4 interview explained his 'modus operandi'
"Find things out, inform people and let them make their own judgement."
Enough said!
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