The BBC "fawns"over the royal family, says BBC presenter Paxman

Jeremy Paxman, a presenter of the BBC TV show Newsnight, said that Queen Elizabeth and her family brought out "the worst aspects" of the BBC, a government owned TV and radio broadcaster in the UK.

Paxman recalled an "absurd" memo that was sent to all BBC news departments urging female presenters to wear a "black shawl" in the event of the Queen Mother dying.

During preparations for her death he also said there was a stock of grey suits, white shirts and black ties that kept in a cupboard for the male presenters.

"We were not allowed to deviate from a particular format. This involved the presenter saying, 'It is with deep regret that the BBC announces the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother," he said.

"At this point solemn music would be played, pictures would be shown of a flag at half mast, there would be chocolate box pictures of the Queen Mother's life. It was unclear whether the BBC was announcing this as a piece of news or in its capacity as mourner in chief."

In the event, the BBC was criticised after the presenter Peter Sissons announced the death of the Queen Mother in a burgundy rather than a black tie.

Paxman was speaking on BBC Radio 4's The Palace and the Beeb, to be aired later this week. He said the BBC was unsure whether to "celebrate" or report big royal events such as Queen Elizabeth's golden jubilee celebrations and the marriage Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles.

"While the BBC does report royal matters pretty straightforwardly, as it should, there is still a fawning taste, a fawning sense to the tone of voice it adopts when dealing with the heir to throne and his family," he said.