Jon Snow: 'I do not think about sex every time I meet a woman'
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Version 0 of 1. Jon Snow wants to talk about sex. Specifically, the comment attributed to him last year that men think about sex every time they meet a woman for the first time. “I do not think about sex every time I meet a new woman. That’s absolute crap,” the Channel 4 News presenter told the new issue of Radio Times. Snow said he was “misreported” by the London Evening Standard, which quoted him as saying that “sex comes into every evaluation of a woman, there’s no doubt about it”. However, Snow told the Radio Times: “What I said was that every time a man meets a woman he hasn’t met before, the thought goes through his mind: ‘do I fancy her?’ That is a fact,” said Snow. “Is she attractive? Is she someone I would like to spend time with? Then that thought is parked and gone.” “Heavens,” added Snow. “What is the species? You’re a woman, I’m a man.” Related: Channel 4 News: 'It will always be the Jon Snow show' Snow, who has presented Channel 4 News for more than a quarter of a century, revealed the BBC once tried to poach him. Not for Newsnight, but to anchor BBC1’s lunchtime news, 20 years ago. “It wasn’t remotely difficult to turn down – it was an incredibly boring programme,” said Snow, who recently took skunk cannabis as part of Channel 4’s latest investigation into drugs. Snow said he was “thrilled” when Channel 4 asked Jeremy Paxman to front much of its general election coverage, including its proposed TV debate (a joint affair with Sky News, alongside Kay Burley). “I didn’t know about his appointment before it was announced but I wouldn’t expect to,” said Snow. “I admire old Paxo. I thought it was a real coup. I was thrilled. He is the very best thing that’s ever come along. We’re not mates, but we’re perfectly friendly. He’s part of the national iconography.” Related: Jeremy Paxman to front Channel 4’s general election coverage David Cameron and Ed Miliband were said to be not exactly bowled over by the prospect of Paxman taking charge of the Channel 4 debate, which will feature the two party leaders going head to head. “That doesn’t surprise me,” said Snow. “I wouldn’t say no to chairing the debate if they asked me, but I don’t expect to do it, and wouldn’t want to if they had removed Paxo. “Paxo will chair a much better programme than I could. He’s just jolly good at that. He has a better brain than me. He marshals the ideas and thoughts. He’s original, and he’s fun to watch. I can’t say I can claim any of those things.” Paxman memorably described himself as a “one-nation Tory”. So what about Snow, asked the listings magazine. “I’m very attracted to one-nation Tories, and admire them, but I wouldn’t say I am one. I’m certainly political. Mine are the politics of confusion. You’ll find me quite conservative on some things.” With a capital C? “No. I’ve voted for all the parties in my time. I voted for Steve Norris to be mayor of London. There! A Conservative. I thought it would be good to have a practical business head in the town hall.” But he can’t remember if he ever voted for Boris Johnson. Snow said Cameron wanted the debates “watered down. Politicians wouldn’t risk a real debate, but TV debates do serve a purpose. “They were watched by 20 million people last time, and they’ll be watched by as many this time if everyone participates. Viewers will love to see Ukip in play.” As for Paxman’s successor on Newsnight, Snow’s praise is of the feint variety. He said Paxman “got a bit bored” on the BBC2 show. “I’ve very high regard for Evan Davis. He’s certainly very good on the radio,” said Snow. “He’s going to need a bit of time to bed in at Newsnight.” |