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Original poster

Nicolas Witchell

104 replies

catzrulz · 08/09/2022 19:36

Just watching BBC1, I think it looks like NW is going to cry.
I know the RF (Charles particularly) don't like him, but he's followed the late Queen for years and must be feeling upset.

OP posts:
Reallyreallyborednow · 08/09/2022 20:27

Is he actually obsessed and sycophantic or just well aware that it's his job on the line if he doesn't appear so? I mean, they've got him boxed into the royal correspondent role, what else is he supposed to do?

if I had a job where I had to work for a family, say I was an agency nanny, and I kept getting sent to that family even though I knew they actively disliked me, fairly sure I’d ask pretty quickly for a different assignment.

i don’t get why he’s been hanging in there for years, as “royal correspondent”, having to talk like he knows them intimately and knows what’s going on with their lives.

why hasn’t the BBC binned him off for someone the RF like and may let in to their lives a little? Why has he so stubbornly stuck with it when he could have asked for a different correspondent position.

Livelovebehappy · 08/09/2022 20:27

Crunchymum · 08/09/2022 20:11

Why does Charles hate him?

We don’t know why he dislikes him, but many years ago during an interview\photoshoot when Charles was skiing, Nicholas was there, and a mike picked up Charles calling him a ‘ghastly man’.

YourLipsMyLipsApocalypse · 08/09/2022 20:31

Reallyreallyborednow · 08/09/2022 20:27

Is he actually obsessed and sycophantic or just well aware that it's his job on the line if he doesn't appear so? I mean, they've got him boxed into the royal correspondent role, what else is he supposed to do?

if I had a job where I had to work for a family, say I was an agency nanny, and I kept getting sent to that family even though I knew they actively disliked me, fairly sure I’d ask pretty quickly for a different assignment.

i don’t get why he’s been hanging in there for years, as “royal correspondent”, having to talk like he knows them intimately and knows what’s going on with their lives.

why hasn’t the BBC binned him off for someone the RF like and may let in to their lives a little? Why has he so stubbornly stuck with it when he could have asked for a different correspondent position.

For the same reason most people try to keep their jobs - money!

billysmallnuts · 08/09/2022 20:33

.

Nicolas Witchell
ImAvingOops · 08/09/2022 20:39

I'd rather do almost any job than be royal correspondent if I was NW, after that public humiliation from Charles. He should have more pride than to keep on!

YourLipsMyLipsApocalypse · 08/09/2022 20:42

Yeah he should have resigned and lived in poverty. For the sake of his dignity.

Romeiswheretheheartis · 08/09/2022 20:43

He said something earlier like 'Well I suppose we'll have to get used to it' talking about Charles becoming King, with such a look of distaste on his face. I don't imagine he'll be continuing as Royal correspondent!

FourChimneys · 08/09/2022 20:49

He has an incredibly annoying voice.

Notplayingball · 08/09/2022 20:52

NewYorkLassie · 08/09/2022 20:15

It’s literally his job!

Show quote history

Argh, it's not odd at all. It is his job!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/09/2022 20:54

Notplayingball · 08/09/2022 20:52

Argh, it's not odd at all. It is his job!

Show quote history

I think the tears had something to do with the phrase actually being

'It was his job'.

Reallyreallyborednow · 08/09/2022 20:57

Yeah he should have resigned and lived in poverty. For the sake of his dignity

he is a journalist and worked for the BBC in a variety of roles between 1976 and 1998. It’s not like he was only qualified for “royal correspondent” and it was that or unemployment. He could have easily gone back to the newsdesk or another assignment. Why stick out as RC for over 20 years?

“In 1998, Witchell became a royal and diplomatic correspondent. In 2002, his obituary of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, recorded before her death but screened following the announcement, was reportedly not well received at Buckingham Palace, as it mentioned her lovers and "copious" consumption of whisky.[8]

Witchell provoked royal displeasure again in 2005. At a press conference at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters, Witchell asked Charles, Prince of Wales, how he and his sons were feeling about his forthcoming marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. After a response from his son Prince William, the Prince of Wales said under his breath, and referring to Witchell: "These bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is."[9] The BBC defended their reporter saying: "He is one of our finest. His question was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances".[9]”

Sally99 · 08/09/2022 20:59

He said earlier that he's nearly 70!
With all due respect to him, you'd think it might be time he retired

Alltheholidays · 08/09/2022 21:01

Odious little prick. Can’t stand huw edwards either!

JenniferBarkley · 08/09/2022 21:02

Show some kindness to the poor man - presumably he has to go shut himself in the pyramid now.

VladmirsPoutine · 08/09/2022 21:11

He's such a sycophant, yet the royals dislike him. I find him most odd. I think he'd still pursue the royals even if he quit his job. It's become his entire identity.

Septemberslooming · 08/09/2022 21:11

Wordwatcher · 08/09/2022 20:09

I didn’t find him an odious sycophantic man. Quite the opposite. He’s doing a job.

Totally agree, how would I know if he's a sycophant or any of the other insults piled on him. He's doing a job and doing it well

Jux · 08/09/2022 21:15

Reallyreallyborednow · 08/09/2022 20:57

Yeah he should have resigned and lived in poverty. For the sake of his dignity

he is a journalist and worked for the BBC in a variety of roles between 1976 and 1998. It’s not like he was only qualified for “royal correspondent” and it was that or unemployment. He could have easily gone back to the newsdesk or another assignment. Why stick out as RC for over 20 years?

“In 1998, Witchell became a royal and diplomatic correspondent. In 2002, his obituary of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, recorded before her death but screened following the announcement, was reportedly not well received at Buckingham Palace, as it mentioned her lovers and "copious" consumption of whisky.[8]

Witchell provoked royal displeasure again in 2005. At a press conference at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters, Witchell asked Charles, Prince of Wales, how he and his sons were feeling about his forthcoming marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. After a response from his son Prince William, the Prince of Wales said under his breath, and referring to Witchell: "These bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is."[9] The BBC defended their reporter saying: "He is one of our finest. His question was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances".[9]”

Exactly. I remember that shake up when he became RC. People were saying it was that job or none for him they had to replace the previous RC and I got the impression that for NW it was that or nothing. IIRC, it had been a very unlikely pairing, him and the RF.

RedRec · 08/09/2022 21:25

I have been quite impressed with Nicholas Witchell today. But Clive Myrie seemed to have forgotten how to speak and was bumbling and hesitating. Most unlike him.

jaundicedoutlook · 08/09/2022 21:31

Been watching BBC as well and Clive Myrie, as pointed out above, has been pretty incoherent, bumbling, and generally not on the mark. As for NW, there is something I can’t quite put my finger on that gives me a bit of a shudder. It probably will be time, after the next few weeks, for him to hang up his sconce, or whatever it is they give royal correspondents…

ImPickleRickSpartacus · 08/09/2022 21:31

Does Charles have the power to fire him?

YourLipsMyLipsApocalypse · 08/09/2022 21:38

It's obviously not his choice to be the RF guy! What journalist would want to spend their life as an unquestioning monarchist mouthpiece?

ShaunaTheSheep · 08/09/2022 21:39

Huw Edwards and NW were on air all afternoon., doing a sterling job of reporting not very much at all. Clive Myrie briefly appeared and was obviously out of his comfort zone. Huw Edwards swiftly returned to show how him how it's done.

ImAvingOops · 08/09/2022 21:41

YourLipsMyLipsApocalypse · 08/09/2022 20:42

Yeah he should have resigned and lived in poverty. For the sake of his dignity.

There are more than two choices here! Lots of people have managed not to be royal correspondent and not live in poverty. It's not like there aren't any other news outlets or different careers.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/09/2022 21:41

YourLipsMyLipsApocalypse · 08/09/2022 21:38

It's obviously not his choice to be the RF guy! What journalist would want to spend their life as an unquestioning monarchist mouthpiece?

It's not indentured labour, Lips.

DorritLittle · 08/09/2022 21:45

How is he a sycophant if the RF don't like him because he asked them awkwad questions? He's been a serious journalist for years. Presumably the RC job just suits him. I remember him on the Six O'Clock news. I expect has some pretty good stories to tell.