It looks like Loose Women! Viewers’ verdict on BBC’s all-female panel for new politics show
PERHAPS considered by BBC chiefs to be a little old fashioned, the heavyweight Daily Politics show was sent off over summer to reinvent itself for the social media era.
But when it emerged in its new form as Politics Live yesterday, it provoked a strong reaction among some viewers by featuring an all-women line-up.
Presenter Jo Coburn appeared with MPs Amber Rudd and Emily Thornberry, as well as newspaper journalists Camilla Tominey and Anushka Asthana and BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg. John Swift wrote on Twitter: ‘Just watching Politics Live, is it trying to compete with Loose Women?’
Other viewers also compared it to the ITV women’s interest show, with Norah Ward tweeting: ‘Whoever muzzled Jo Coburn and decided on a Loose Women type format and table should be sacked.’
Paul Kime wrote: ‘I was looking forward to Politics Live. Somewhat of a gender imbalance. I wonder what would be said if there had been five male guests?’
Miss Coburn’s former Daily Politics cohost Andrew Neil will present the show one day a week, on Wednesdays.
BBC bosses say the programme has drawn inspiration from US chat shows and will focus more on social media interaction with viewers.
Not all reaction to yesterday’s relaunch was negative. BBC Newsnight’s policy editor Chris Cook tweeted: ‘Very striking (and welcome) switching on Politics Live to see a panel of six women.’
Fellow Twitter user Taylor Heyman added: ‘Something really special about seeing an all-female panel discussing politics.’
Rob Burley, BBC live political programmes editor, hit back at critics, tweeting: ‘I have literally zero shame about an all women panel. Our best line-up was all female. If you have a problem with that, you have a problem.’