Winston Churchill defended as broadcaster Paxman calls him a 'ruthless egotist'

Britain's war leader and well regarded former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill's reputation and legacy has been vigorously defended after British broadcaster Jeremy Paxman labelled him an unelectable, ruthless egotist.

Paxman's comments came ahead of a BBC documentary he is presenting marking the 50th anniversary of Churchill's death, which falls on Saturday.

"Any rounded assessment of Winston Churchill's life has to acknowledge that he was a ruthless egotist, a chancer, and a charlatan at times," Paxman told the Radio Times. "Would he be electable now? I fear not."

There was little enthusiasm for Paxman's remarks at the official launch of Churchill 2015, an international celebration of Churchill's life and legacy, this week.

Asked about Paxman's remarks the historian Sir David Cannadine said: "I am rather a fan of Jeremy's and I'm quite a fan of Churchill but I don't feel that it advances discussion of Churchill. It seems to me not helpful. I look forward to telling Jeremy that."

Churchill's granddaughter Emma Soames said Paxman was wrong to say Churchill would be unelectable today. "Churchill's virtues were so great. In the same way that (London mayor) Boris Johnson is very popular I think Churchill would be popular because he had an amazing gift of the gab and a genuine commitment to ordinary people.