Former Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman has signed up to anchor Channel 4's General Election coverage next year.

The presenter, who stepped down from his regular presenting role in June after 25 years, has previously spent his entire working life at the BBC.

He said: "There are new and interesting questions to ask about the way we choose our governments. This should be fun."

The chief creative officer of Channel 4, Jay Hunt, said: "Jeremy is a compelling presenter and makes truly unmissable TV for those big political moments. His sense of mischief and danger make him a fantastic fit with Four."

Paxman, 64, continues to have a presence on BBC TV as host of the long-running quiz show University Challenge.

Channel 4's "alternative" election night coverage in 2010 drew critical acclaim and strong audiences and it claimed to have outperformed ITV's coverage.