Jeremy Paxman is third BBC man to utter the C-word live on-air

London, Feb 2 (ANI): BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman has become the third person to say the C-word live on-air.

Paxman, 60, who made a comeback to BBC2's Newsnight following a two-month sabbatical, stunned viewers when he stumbled over the word "cuts" while talking about tax avoidance.

He had said the country had been occupied by thoughts of "what will the cuts do to us?"

"Supposing some of the people who ought to be paying taxes so the c**** - cuts - aren't so bad aren't actually doing so?" the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

"The tax authorities are apparently chasing many businesses for 15 billion pounds for what they believe to be unpaid tax," he stated.

Paxman had recently taken a break from Newsnight to film a history-themed documentary for the BBC.

The BBC did not apologise during the programme, but later issued a statement.

"This was an unfortunate slip of the tongue and we apologise for any offence caused," it stated. (ANI)