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Post by tonyloco on Jun 18, 2018 10:38:58 GMT
Excuse my vanity, but I would definitely vote for the lovely Kirsty Young to replace David Dimbleby as host of Question Time when he steps down.
As you can see from my avatar, I was interviewed on TV by Kirsty a couple of years ago in my role as EMI Historian for a programme called Cue the Queen, about the monarch's annual Christmas broadcast. Not only was she extremely charming in person and made me feel very much at ease during the various retakes of the questions but she had also swatted up on the subject in a way that seriously impressed me.
She has already proved herself a national treasure on Desert Island Discs and I am sure that with her quiet authority and sharp intelligence she would be seriously good at hosting Question Time.
Go Kirsty!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 10:52:53 GMT
I agree. I'd be happy with either of TV's Kirtys to take over in fact; Wark or Young.
Or if not, Rick Edwards. Just because he's so pwetty.
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Post by dizzieblonde on Jun 18, 2018 11:12:27 GMT
Agreed - Kirsty is one of the very best journalists and presenters around today, and is the chair that the programme deserves, if they have any sense. Thank god Jeremy Vine has signed up to take over from the Matthew Wright show, otherwise I suspect he would have been the lead option, given he is for almost everything these days! Kirsty Wark is probably the other leading candidate - again, a monumentally talented journalist and presenter. I'd guess it's time for a female presenter though - sure it's 'PC', but there are a plethora of talented women, who could easily do this job.
I just hope whoever she is, she's ready to chuck unruly audience members out, as Dimbleby once did, or able to control insane panel members with firm rebukes! It really is the end of a (very) long era though - there's been a Dimbleby on the telly since TV started! I'm guessing this also means he won't be anchoring election nights - at nearly 80(!), those long, long nights are a bit much - they're a bit much for me and I'm decades younger! He retired from that once before, and got persuaded back. He might not be persuaded any longer - especially if no snap elections are called before the next scheduled general election in 2022.
I wonder if a New Year's honour will be on the cards now? The Dimbleby's were a bit out of favour with the royals, after Jonathan's book about Prince Charles, but there aren't many others to whom the reason 'services to broadcasting' are more deserving. He might also feel he can accept once retired, given I suspect he's adhered to a pretty strict, self-imposed sense of journalistic impartiality.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jun 18, 2018 11:13:05 GMT
I am sure it’ll go to someone in house at the BBC, but I would like to see someone like James O’Brien do this, I’m sure he could be more impartial than he is on the radio for a gig like this.
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Post by dizzieblonde on Jun 18, 2018 11:15:46 GMT
I am sure it’ll go to someone in house at the BBC, but I would like to see someone like James O’Brien do this, I’m sure he could be more impartial than he is on the radio for a gig like this. Doubt it!!  |
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Post by Jon on Jun 18, 2018 11:19:08 GMT
Bet Jeremy Vine’s kicking himself for taking the Wright Stuff gig.
I think either Kirsty would be fine but I think Huw Edwards would be good as well
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Post by sf on Jun 18, 2018 11:34:16 GMT
Kirsty Wark. Maybe Zeinab Badawi.
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Post by david on Jun 18, 2018 11:35:02 GMT
How about Nick Robinson or Paxman? Though I agree Kirsty Young would be a great choice in the role.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 18, 2018 11:40:17 GMT
Would Robert Preston come back from ITV ?
I do like Chris Mason but unsure if if he is established enough
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 18, 2018 11:43:04 GMT
I am sure it’ll go to someone in house at the BBC, but I would like to see someone like James O’Brien do this, I’m sure he could be more impartial than he is on the radio for a gig like this. He didn’t manage to retain any degree of impartiality when he covered on Newsnight which is presumably why he was dropped. Quite right too. Cannot abide him. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 11:45:09 GMT
I would also like to show support for Kirsty Young, but only once she's proved her mettle by persuading Kate Bush to come on Desert Island Discs. If she can sort that, she can sort anyone and anything...
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Post by Jan on Jun 18, 2018 12:40:57 GMT
I am sure it’ll go to someone in house at the BBC, but I would like to see someone like James O’Brien do this, I’m sure he could be more impartial than he is on the radio for a gig like this. O’Brien is currently banned from working for BBC News programming as a presenter due to his extremist and oft-repeated views on Brexit - that’s why you don’t see him on Newsnight any more. |
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 18, 2018 12:43:40 GMT
I'd be happy if they just ditched Question Time altogether!
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 18, 2018 12:46:33 GMT
The irony of BBC News not employing someone because of his biased views. I would have thought James O'Brien would have fitted right in!!!
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Post by Jan on Jun 18, 2018 12:53:11 GMT
The irony of BBC News not employing someone because of his biased views. I would have thought James O'Brien would have fitted right in!!! He would be unsuitable for QT anyway given his performance on his own shambolic and lamentably bad TV political discussion show on ITV (2015) where he involved the audience - it was like Jeremy Kyle without the DNA tests. |
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Post by crowblack on Jun 18, 2018 13:14:44 GMT
I saw Samira Ahmed tweet about wanting it - she'd be good. Radio 5's Nihal is impressive, too - good with interviewees and taking issue with some of their comments. And there's no need for the same chair week in week out.
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Post by david on Jun 18, 2018 13:43:21 GMT
For a completely left field option, how about the Chuckle Brothers?! I would love to see them discuss the key political issues of the week. Though I do agree with crowblack in that there is no need for the same chair week in week out. It works well on Have I Got News For You having a different presenter each week and I don't see why a similar format shouldn't work on QT. |
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Post by lynette on Jun 18, 2018 14:07:39 GMT
Nothing wrong with Kirsty and nice pic TONY. But they like a telly presence don’t they? So prob a gal we've seen like Emily Maitliss. We are all agreed someone who identifies as female, yes?
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Post by tmesis on Jun 18, 2018 14:20:48 GMT
I think Alan Carr or Keith Lemon would give it the necessary gravitas.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 14:27:57 GMT
It’s overdue for replacing, in fact I’d say that it has become part of the problem. Something which generates discussion rather than regurgitated talking points, something that requires statements to be justified, something that generates light rather than heat and is fact checked in real time. Something, above all, that doesn’t posit prejudice and grievance as a substitute for debate.
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Post by sf on Jun 18, 2018 14:36:00 GMT
O’Brien is currently banned from working for BBC News programming as a presenter due to his extremist and oft-repeated views on Brexit If we've devolved to a level where openly questioning government policy and expecting people to dissect and defend their arguments constitutes "extremism", we are in deep, deep trouble. That said, O'Brien wouldn't be my candidate of choice either, for reasons that have nothing to do with his political views on any subject. |
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Post by n1david on Jun 18, 2018 14:56:17 GMT
I am sure it’ll go to someone in house at the BBC, but I would like to see someone like James O’Brien do this, I’m sure he could be more impartial than he is on the radio for a gig like this. O’Brien is currently banned from working for BBC News programming as a presenter due to his extremist and oft-repeated views on Brexit - that’s why you don’t see him on Newsnight any more. He isn't banned, he was told that he'd have to tone down his other work in order to stay on a BBC News presenter, and he elected to retain his right to express his views freely rather than suppress them in order to keep the BBC gig. That's not quite the same as being "banned". In that respect he's no different to, say, Iain Dale on the other side of the political spectrum. And being anti-Brexit isn't really "extremist" when it was the view of 48% of the people that voted, although I accept it was a minority opinion at the time of the referendum. Anyway, I wouldn't want him to host Question Time either (and I don't listen to him on LBC, I find listening to people who either really support my views or really oppose my views a bit of a waste of time. I don't need my opinions backed up by a journalist, nor do I want them opposed by a journalist. I have this old-fashioned desire for facts, although *that* seems to be an extreme position these days) |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 18, 2018 15:29:26 GMT
Only one person for the job and that is Andrew Neil.
He wont get it of course as the job will go to a woman. How about Diane Abbott?
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Post by david on Jun 18, 2018 15:30:24 GMT
I would hate to see QT disappear from BBC1. I believe the programme still has an important role to play within the British political environment though I do think that QT does need to change its current format.
At present, while offering the public access to MP's to put their opinions and questions across and to try and hold them accountable for policy decisions, there have been too many times where the debate has been stiffled as the content has been reduced to playground taunts from the panelists, which has only served to be an extension of what is witnessed in Parliament at PMQs on a weekly basis. I would like to see greater access to the leaders of the parties. For example, there could be a leader only programme. I know this has been done at the EU Referendum and at General Election time, but by having regular appearances, hopefully the leaders may be held more accountable.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 15:57:53 GMT
I’d make it a round table debate with no more than a dozen members of the public. Only one issue per week with people on both sides with experience of, or professed interest in, that issue. This stops people trying to answer things they don’t know enough about and you won’t get the ‘playing to the gallery’ slanging matches and sloganeering that the politicians and audience engage in.
I’d also allow longer from filming to broadcast so that any false statements can be highlighted and challenged.
And no journalists answering questions.....
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