'Bah humbug!' - Jeremy Paxman Branded A 'Scrooge' For Banning Christmas Tree On Newsnight Set

'Bah humbug!' - Jeremy Paxman Branded A 'Scrooge' For Banning Christmas Tree On Newsnight Set
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Many, many, many men have played Ebenezer Scrooge over the years. Kesley Grammar's had a crack at the infamous grump, as has Patrick Stewart, James Earl Jones, Michael Caine, Ross Kemp and Bill Murray.

The latest addition to the very long list of on-screen Scrooges is - according to BBC Breakfast hosts Sian Williams and Bill Turnbull, anyway - Jeremy Paxman, after they mentioned on air that he doesn't like having a Christmas tree in the studio.

As Newsnight and BBC Breakfast share a studio, it makes sense that they'd know, but why would the University Challenge host not want to feel the Christmas spirit at work? Does a complicated three ghost haunting need to be organised Chez Paxman?

It turns out that though there's a big ol' Christmas tree on set during BBC Breakfast, it is swiftly put away before Ebenezer Paxman sits behind his desk to present Newsnight.

"As soon as we're off air it's whipped out of the way," says Turnbull, reports The Daily Telegraph. "Jeremy doesn't want a tree in the studio," added Turnbull. "Bah humbug!"

One of The Sun's ever-reliable "sources" over at the BBC also put in his two pence, saying: "Jeremy doesn't want his Newsnight set turned into Santa's grotto. We think it's hilarious, as do the Breakfast crew. But that's Jeremy all over."

Whether you believe that perfectly-formed quote or not is up to you, but one thing's for sure - there isn't going to be a Christmas tree on Newsnight anytime soon.

To celebrate his Paxo-ness, we've put together a little video gallery boasting his finest moments on-air, from his Michael Howard interview to his more more-recent bust up with Boris Johnson. What a hero this man is...