Newsnight

British weekday current affairs programme, running continuously on weekdays since 1980. It currently airs at 10.30pm on BBC 2, after the BBC 1 news.

Famous for its style of interviewing, which involves asking the same question several times to a politician who is clearly trying to avoid answering (most famously Michael Howard, who was asked the same question - "Did you threaten to overrule him?" - twelve times and still waffled around without giving an answer - even though the answer turned out, apparently, years later, to be "no" ). Jeremy Paxman (a rare newsreader example of the Deadpan Snarker) is the best known presenter.

Once upon a time, the other star was Peter Snow, whose enthusiasm in explaining wars with sandpits or elections with a "swing-o-meter" was a joy to behold.

The final half hour on Fridays is given over to Newsnight Review, which covers the arts and has a panel of famous artists and critics reviewing new movies, music, exhibits, etc. (Cuttingly satirised by Dead Ringers.) The rest of the week, this time is given over to Newsnight Scotland in Scotland.

""And finally, by popular demand, the second Newsnight weather forecast: take an umbrella with you.""
 * Armor-Piercing Question: The "Did you threaten to overrule him?" incident.
 * The Big Board: The show used to have a sandpit for illustrating military activities.
 * Deadpan Snarker: Jeremy Paxman.


 * Writer Revolt: Jeremy Paxman when the BBC tried to introduce a weather report at the end.