HE’S best known as the ferocious Newsnight interviewer who had politicians quaking, but Jeremy Paxman showed a softer side when he visited Cricklade while filming a documentary on the Thames.

It is part of a series on British rivers exploring their history, traditions and wildlife and Cricklade residents are eagerly awaiting the March 26 episode when they hope to see Paxo learning about the nationally important North Meadow nature reserve.

Managed by the Court Leet, the site is famed for its annual display of snake’s head fritillaries and has been looked after in the same way for hundreds of years.

High Bailiff Clive Smith said researchers from Tern TV contacted them last summer.

“They were looking for different angles that hadn’t been seen or done before in documentaries about rivers before,” he told the Advertiser.

“They were keen to know something about North Meadow and how it was managed and they were keen that Jeremy should come along and be involved.”

“We were preparing for the cattle to come onto the meadow so we got him to help us put up some electric fencing.”

It was one of the hottest days of the year and the members of the Court Leet were smartly dressed with their uniform ties. Jeremy, on the other hand, was casually dressed in jeans, ready to muck in.

As well as filming the work on the meadow, the crew had a peek at a meeting of the Manorial Court and took some shots from the top of St Sampson’s Church tower.

Mr Smith was interviewed by Jeremy, who has given the likes of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, ex-newspaper publisher and convicted fraudster Conrad Black and BNP leader Nick Griffin a thorough grilling.

But he said: “He was a very pleasant man, very professional.”

They chatted about the court of the court in the management of the ancient meadow as well as the heritage and wildlife.

“He is a very straightforward kind of guy,” he said. “He knew what he was talking about and he was obviously very well informed.”

He added: “Whether or not we make it into the final documentary goodness only knows, but we are looking forward to it, particularly if it shows the work of the Court Leet because that is something not many people are aware of.”

The series covers four of the UK’s best known rivers, the Tweed, The Mersey, The Severn and the Thames, as well as the communities and landscape that have been shaped by them.

Tune in on March 26 to see the Thames episode.

Meanwhile Cricklade’s famous fritillaries are getting ready to bloom next month. They can be seen until June.