John Sopel on The Politics Show - AWFUL!
klytamnestra
Posts: 1,398 Forum Member
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This could be an engaging show but for the utterly dreadful John Sopel. I tried watching again today, but his attempts at trying to be a Paxo make the show a complete farce. He was 'interviewing' Vince Cable, but all we got was his inability to listen, refusal to allow time for answers, and constant hectoring and badgering. He has quite a feminine voice, so this is all done in a high pitched and almost hysterical manner. He cant even sit in his seat properly!He drives me nuts!:mad:
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The producers must think it's ok to keep allowing it though.
I do like it when the interviewee asks the interviewer if they would like them to answer the question. Basically they are saying shut up or the viewer will get nothing out of this!
Apart from the smugness of the interviewer who thinks they have outclassed the interviewee.
A really bad guy for this was Tim Sebastian on Hardtalk. It was just quick fire interupting questions. I remember seeing several where if I was the guest I think I would have give him a smack in the mouth to shut him up!
I have been saying that for months - he whines like terrible two-year old who has just lost his dummy. He is an awful interviewer and we can't bear to watch this programme because of him. :mad:
It was really terrible, sometimes Vince got just three words out before Sopel shouted the next question at him!
Is this really what the BBC should be doing though? I thought they had a mission to inform? (apart from the fact it makes bad TV IMHO)
John Humphreys and Jonathan Dimbleby are just two other interviewers who practice the same 'art' to their detriment.
He even does it with 'normal' interviewees who you'd think should be treated with more respect (such as scientists/experts who are on to provide opinion on the latest earthquake or something).
He has a very abrasive style when he's talking to anyone.
The problem is that a lot of this type of aggressive interviewer like Paxo and John Humphreys etc. are so keen to stop the politician going off on a tangent and either (a) giving a party political broadcast or (b) rubbishing the opposition that they feel the need to constantly interrupt to keep on course. This then leads to a shouting match in which the viewer gets no information at all and just hears a god awful racket.
I preferred the Sir David Frost style but he was always accused of giving the interviewee an easy ride - perhaps there's a happy medium somewhere
Charlie Stayt (BBC Breakfast) is another one who likes the sound of his own voice - asks long and repetitive questions and then when the guest starts to reply cuts him/her off sharpish.Hopefully his role in the election coverage will be a minimal one.
I think the imminent Leaders Debates promise to be the most sanitised and controlled form of political questioning ever!!!!:D
Probably trying to avoid scenes like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2i6wTmhESk#t=2m10s
He was ok with Hague though.