Jeremy Paxman’s dog Derek helps him cope with depression.
And the spaniel-Dalmatian crossbreed, a rescue pup, “makes me more benign”, says the University Challenge host.
Since quitting Newsnight, he has been writing a book, meaning he spends most of the day by himself.
Paxman says he is sometimes “overwhelmed” with depression, which he’s “always struggled with”.
He tells the Walking the Dog podcast: "Sometimes it gets you. Whatever stage in life you’re at, it gets you.
"It would be very easy for me to let it get me now, because I'm 70 and what’s to come is a lot shorter than what went before – and a lot less interesting.”
He has been on medication and had cognitive behavioural therapy for his depression but credits walking Derek three times a day with helping his mental health.
And he says he quit therapy after realising he had run out of topics to discuss.
He says: “I was desperately racking my brains for things I could bring to the table. It seemed a waste of time.”
Last year, Paxman baked ginger biscuits in the shape of Derek on The Great British Celebrity Bake Off – and has even trained in dog first aid in case he ever needs to resuscitate his pal.