Paxo, the Great Inflator: TV's great inquisitor turns Mr Fixit on bike run to work

By MAIL ON SUNDAY REPORTER
Updated:

As the presenter of the BBC's flagship news programme, he is famous for deflating the egos of the country's most senior politicians.

But Newsnight interrogator Jeremy Paxman was left feeling a little flat himself after encountering problems with his bike on his way to work.

The 60-year-old looked agitated as he struggled to pump up the rear tyre last week -- just hours before he was due to interview guests on the BBC2 programme.

Enlarge   Under pressure: Jeremy Paxman had problems with his bike on his way to work. He nipped into a shop to borrow a pump

Under pressure: Jeremy Paxman had problems with his bike on his way to work. He nipped into a shop to borrow a pump

Enlarge   Come on, come on! Paxman usually makes the journey to the BBC studios in White City from his flat two miles away in Notting Hill on his bike

Come on, come on! Paxman usually makes the journey to the BBC studios in White City from his flat two miles away in Notting Hill on his bike

Dressed in a navy suit, pinstripe shirt and green tie -- the same outfit he would later wear on the show -- Paxman examined the problem tyre with all the barely concealed disdain he normally affords his studio guests.

Eventually, he was forced to nip into a nearby bike shop to borrow a pump.

After several minutes, Paxman managed to reinflate the tyre and looked 'rather pleased with himself' as his efforts finally yielded results, according to onlookers.

Inflation perspiration: A bystander said the BBC presenter was 'quite sweaty' by the end of his pumping episode

Inflation perspiration: A bystander said the BBC presenter was 'quite sweaty' by the end of his pumping episode

One bystander said: 'Jeremy was quite sweaty by the time he had finished.

Enlarge   Easy rider: After a few exhausting minutes, he was on his way again

Easy rider: After a few exhausting minutes, he was on his way again

'He took the pump back to the shop, then cycled off in the direction of the BBC studios in White City.'

Kevin Hatten, assistant manager of the Evans store that lent the news presenter the pump, said: 'Mr Paxman pops in quite regularly and is always very pleasant.

'He asked to borrow a bike pump and we were happy to help. He was very nice about it.'

Paxman, who has been a keen cyclist for many years, is thought nearly always to make the two-mile journey from his flat in Notting Hill, West London, to the BBC
studios by bike.

He is a patron of Sustrans, a charity that promotes walking, cycling and public transport as an alternative to cars.

That's better: Paxman more relaxed in the Newsnight studio

That's better: Paxman more relaxed in the Newsnight studio

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