Eddie Mair dismisses reports he is to replace Jeremy Paxman

Broadcaster Eddie Mair has dismissed reports that he could be in line for Jeremy Paxman’s Newsnight job following his gruelling inquisition of Boris Johnson.

The London Mayor’s prospects of leading the Tory Party were said to have taken a knock following the interview, when the politician had to deny being a “nasty piece of work”.

Mair’s performance, while standing in on The Andrew Marr Show, has sparked suggestions that he could take over as lead anchor on BBC2 programme Newsnight.

But the Dundee-educated broadcaster, 47, who hosts PM on Radio 4, dismissed the speculation and said that he was happy enough with his own job.

The Scottish presenter, who occasionally presents Newsnight and was praised for his performance fronting the programme in the wake of its Jimmy Savile fiasco, insisted that he was not interested in being the new Paxman, John Humphrys or Andrew Marr.

“As for all the hullabaloo… For the record, I don’t want Jeremy’s job.

The mayor was grilled over his “integrity”, including suggestions he had lied about having an affair.