Jeremy Paxman: You ask the questions

Jeremy Paxman, 52, was born in Leeds and educated at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He began his journalistic career reporting on the conflict in Northern Ireland. He has been Newsnight's anchorman for 12 years, and has presented University Challenge since 1994. His books include The English, Friends in High Places: Who Runs Britain? and Fish, Fishing and the Meaning of Life. He has won the Royal Television Society award for presenter of the year three times. He spends his free time fishing and walking, and lives in Oxfordshire with his partner, Elizabeth Clough, and their three children.

If you were interviewing Saddam Hussein, what would you ask him?
Bernard Sharpe, Keighley

Apart from all the obvious questions, like whether he'd give weapons inspectors a free hand to go wherever they liked, it might be useful to ask him what tips he would give to those of us who live in democracies with declining turnouts at elections, about how people could be reconnected with democracy. Anyone who can get 100 per cent turnout ought to have all the answers. I might also ask him about his barber.

How much do you drink? Do you drink privately? If you're alone at home, do you finish off a bottle of Scotch?
Sam Childs, London

You cheeky sod – I'll set that Charles Kennedy on you. I don't count how much I drink. But, as a fan and loyal supporter of the Highlands and Islands, I do my level best to support one of their main industries. It's a sort of social service.

Has your abrasive style ever provoked anyone to threaten you with violence? If so, how did you deal with such a situation?
Ron Shuttleworth, Coventry

Yes, a long time ago, in Latin America and also in Africa. I dealt with it by being scared.

What's the biggest fish you've ever caught (truthfully)?
Tara Benning, by e-mail

I caught a striped marlin while fishing off Africa that was 150lb or so – small by comparison with other big-game fish. The biggest salmon I've caught was 25lb, and the biggest wild trout about four and a half pounds. But size isn't everything you know, and I'm not much of a fishmonger: I put most back. The fish that's most fun to catch is the one that's most difficult to catch.

Is there such a thing as an honest politician?
Sally Evans, Reading

Of course there is. I discovered several while I was researching my book. The difficulty, I discovered, is that the self-confidence (or appearance thereof) that is necessary to survival in politics is so often the mortal enemy of self-knowledge. They aren't all scoundrels. The problem is that the real world is a lot more complicated than the simple-minded slogans that get trotted out at election time. To the extent that they fail to admit that fact, they're all deceiving themselves to a degree. And I thought Estelle Morris's resignation statement was remarkably frank. I admired her for it.

Which figure in history would you most like to interview, and why?
Gareth Stevenson, Colchester

Napoleon would have been fascinating, as would any of the invaders or would-be invaders, from Julius Caesar, through William the Conqueror, to the unsuccessful Stuart pretenders. Or how about Bonnie Prince Charlie when he was on the run? I can't imagine that one would have got very far with Genghis Khan, Stalin, or Hitler, and if you did, you'd be unlikely to get your tape out in one piece. I suppose we could have invited them into the studio, though...

Is it true that the only reason you asked Michael Howard that question about sacking the head of the prison service 14 times was because the next item had fallen through?
Lizzie Scott, Huntingdon

It's a long story, but it is true that the next item in the show wasn't ready, so a voice in my ear said, "You've got more time – continue with this for a while". I felt he hadn't answered the question on the previous six or seven times I'd asked it, so I thought I might as well carry on.

Do you plan to publish your diaries? Have you read any of the recent crop?
Dick Schofield, Nottingham

I'm a terrible diarist. I start one, but never get more than a few days into it before something more interesting comes along. I haven't read the latest Benn, Clark or Currie, but I enjoyed Clark's first volume, and Benn's diaries of the Sixties are absorbing.

I'm considering a career in politics. Will I end up depressed and depraved at the end of it all, wondering whether I've achieved anything? Or might I be able to do some good?
Ben Ewing, by e-mail

Of all the people I interviewed for The Political Animal, very few ended up "depressed and depraved". At least constituency work allows decent MPs to look back on their life and see that they sorted out someone's housing problems, or whatever: most of us have little in the public sphere we can see as accomplishments. There are other things that would put me off a career in party politics, but, God knows, we need good people going into Parliament, so if you can stand it, give it a go.
Where is Osama bin Laden?

Harry Worth, Wells

Not telling.

If you could do one interview again, which would it be?
Rebecca Hastings, by e-mail

The interview exists in the moment, it either works then or doesn't.

You clearly don't think much of many politicians? Is it depressing being a parasite feeding off their failings?
Brigid Doughty, Belfast

It's not true that I don't think much of them. I get frustrated with some of them, I admit. And it's also true that almost all journalism is parasitic. I don't have politicians as friends, but given a choice between spending an evening with a roomful of politicians and a roomful of "celebrities", I'd prefer the politicians. But then, I'd rather spend the evening with a roomful of proctologists, too.

As a teacher, it strikes me that you could have been a challenging student. Did you answer back and get yourself into trouble?
Stina Smith, Kidderminster

Need you ask?

Have you ever considered a political career? I think you'd make rather a good independent MP.
Celia Armstrong, Hove

I've no idea whether I'd be any good or not. The sad truth is, though, that Parliament is in the grip of the party machines.

Do you consider yourself a Yorkshireman?
Nicholas E Gough, Swindon

I've always been proud that I come from a Yorkshire family, but I don't live there, and I get bored with professional Yorkshiremen. Like most of us nowadays, I don't feel I particularly belong to any part of England.

We're all aware how evasive politicians can be, but surely that is no reason to be as offensive as you appear to be. Is it a cultivated act?
Peter Winnall, Sheffield

No, I'm afraid it comes naturally.

'The Political Animal – An Anatomy' is published next week by Michael Joseph, £20