It seems certain commuters who saw the normally suave Newsnight presenter on London Bridge the other evening became concerned for his welfare.

Says our man on the spot: “He appeared somewhat distracted and was weaving his way among the crowds. Some bemused onlookers even whipped out their camera phones to take pictures of him. It seemed he could have been a bit worse for wear.”

At one stage, the tieless journalist gazed out at Tower Bridge, oblivious to the world around him, says our spy.

The onlooker said: “He was just staring at the river – he looked a bit miserable.”

Paxo, 58, has, it seems, been behaving a little eccentrically of late, reportedly showing his disapproval of celebrity photos in the BBC HQ hospitality room in White City by turning them round to face the wall.

Is he having a midlife crisis?

A spokesman for the presenter last night vehemently denied anything was amiss and said: “Jeremy was filming on the bridge that night with a film crew for his forthcoming BBC1 series Victorians, about Victorian art and culture.

“If he looked dishevelled, it was probably (because it was) the end of a long day’s filming for his navy linen suit!

“He is a total professional and if there was any swaying it was because it was a very windy evening out there.”