Mark Thompson takes his Paxman punishment

BBC2's Newsnight turned into "When Jeremy met Mark" last night as Jeremy Paxman did his best to skewer the BBC director general, Mark Thompson. Despite some memorable gurning, Paxo didn't quite hit the mark. But he scored an easy hit by asking Thommo if he knew what was on BBC4 last night. No, admitted the DG, but he did know what was on BBC1. So Paxo reminded him: "It starts with the news, a repeat of a documentary, Skippy: Australia's First Superstar, a repeat no less, Paws, Claws and Videotape, a clips show about famous animals, a bought-in film, Skippy: Australia's First Superstar again, Paws Claws and Videotape repeated, Storyville, a repeated documentary, then Paws, Claws and Videotape again but with subtitles." Thommo was briefly wrongfooted, saying Radio 4 when he meant BBC4. The giggle you can hear in the background belongs to Kelvin MacKenzie, we think, part of a panel who later discussed the BBC. MacKenzie is currently asking famous people to pose for pictures with him to appear in his Sun column. No word on whether he asked Thompson. Paxo/Thompson began seven minutes into last night's programme. As the DG waited to be interrogated – 40 seconds in – he clearly didn't know which face to pull. Serious? No, try a smile. Maybe a little laugh? No, wrong, back to serious again! So many emotions, so little time....