No problem with quizzing politicians – but let’s tone down the aggression

Brendan Gisby is dismayed by the Rottweiler approach adopted by rude and surly TV presenters

AHIGHLY unsettling phenomenon has been sweeping through our television news programmes of late. The phenomenon may have been inspired by the behaviour of that rude dreep, Jeremy Paxman. Or its origins may go back even further to the bad- tempered, dismissive approach of the singularly curmudgeonly Robin Day, he of the ridiculously oversized, spotted bow tie.

I’m referring, of course, to the aggressive interview, particularly of politicians.

The Jeremy Paxman style of interview – attack like a Rottweiler from the off, never let up, and then when your victim is bleeding and defeated smile sweetly and say thank you – seems to have spread to all the news presenters. Even that cloying, homely Fiona Bruce is at it.

At least some politicians knew how to deal with it. Recently I caught the tail- end of the BBC’S Hardtalk ( the ominous uppercase letters are the BBC’S, not mine), billed as in- depth interviews with hard- hitting questions and sensitive topics being covered.

It was a cosy, self- congratulato - ry chat over lunch between the main presenters of Hardtalk, who were reminiscing on memorable interviews they had conducted.

One smug fellow recalled the time he interviewed the late Mo Mowlam when she was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. It seems the bold, brave Mo kicked him under the table when he pressed her to answer a particularly sensitive question.