Jeremy Paxman has defended his habit of shooting squirrels while sitting on his toilet – saying “they kill all sorts of things.”
The broadcaster, 70, who lives in a country pile in Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, said: “You turn around – not while I’m having a c**p of course.
“Just sitting on the loo if it’s by the window.
“You sit on the loo with the lid down. With an air rifle you can pop, pop off a squirrel or two.”
The former Newsnight host and University Challenge presenter – renowned for his ferocious interviewing technique – said in a live online interview with Richard Herring that he saw nothing wrong with targeting squirrels.
He said: “Why is it cruel? They’re annoying me.
“They’re always getting on the bird feeder.
“I love song birds and I can’t stand the fact that squirrels are always driving them off.
“They kill all sorts of things. For example they kill trees – entire trees are killed by squirrels.
“They’re a menace.”
Back in 2016, Paxman released his book A Life In Questions, which is when he made his squirrel confession.
Seemingly not wanting to allow readers too far into his life – despite writing a memoir – he trickled personal information through far less serious stuff.
He wrote: "I don't sleep very well and I don't much like kale," before adding: "Occasionally I sit on the loo and shoots squirrels out of the bathroom window."
And it's not just squirrels that annoy the television legend.
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He said that "virtually everything" does, telling The Guardian: "I was just in John Lewis, trying to buy a toaster, and I said to the woman, 'What's the best kind of toaster? These ones are quite good, aren't they – they are made in Britain?' and it was extortionate, £160 or something.
"I said, 'No one is going to pay £160 for a toaster unless there are off their head!'"
- Shooting
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