The BBC’s director of news is understood to have reprimanded Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman over negative slurs he made about the corporation, before he announced his departure from the show.
The presenter branded the corporation ‘smug’ and complained that the station Radio 1Xtra being played in the lifts was ‘hell’, during an interview last month.
Sources told the BBC’s very own Guardian newspaper, James Harding sent a note to Paxman condemning his public criticism of the BBC.
They claim Mr Harding said Paxman’s comments were ‘disloyal’ and prompted the University Challenge presenter to reply, denying the accusation and pointing out his long service at the corporation.
It comes after Ben Cooper, the controller of Radio 1Xtra addressed Paxman’s dislike of his station’s work, sending an email telling him to ‘take the stairs’ if he did not enjoy the lift entertainment.
A BBC spokeswoman told us the corporation does not comment on internal issues.
Paxman decided to step down from the position he has held for 25 years, last summer.
He informed the BBC’s director general Tony Hall and Mr Harding at the time, but agreed to stay on to help the team after the appointment of a new editor following a difficult period for the show.
The BBC confirmed Paxman will continue to present University Challenge following his last stint hosting Newsnight in June.
Speaking earlier this week when Paxman’s departure was announced, Mr Harding, 44, who previously edited The Times, said he had become the ‘great lion of BBC journalism’ and would be sorely missed.
He said: ‘Jeremy has led from the front: fearless, aggressive and persistent.
‘He never failed to ask the difficult questions and always refused to accept glib or deceptive answers.
‘Of course we will miss him but he has set standards for our journalism that the rest of us must follow.
‘We accept his decision to move on but I think it is fair to say that the only people really celebrating his decision will be the politicians and public figures he has so often and so brilliantly held to account.’
It is said that rival broadcasters, including Channel 4 have privately expressed an interest in working with Paxman on future projects.
It is not yet known who will replace him when he leaves Newsnight in June.