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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Where is Nicholas Witchell?

146 replies

VirtueClapper83 · 14/09/2022 16:07

I can’t be the only one wondering where the BBC’s royal correspondent has got to these days. He’s not been heard from since the day they announced the queens death. Not that I miss the man, but surely he has the easiest job at the beeb.

OP posts:
VestaTilley · 14/09/2022 20:38

@DogInATent @UrsulaPandress @lizziesiddal79 thank you for the best laugh I’ve had since Curious Iguana’s brilliant Twitter thread on The Queue.

Iwishmynamewassheilah · 14/09/2022 20:38

He was on TV yesterday

StoneofDestiny · 14/09/2022 20:39

Like all these 'royal correspondents' or 'royal experts' he's most likely disappeared up the backside of one of the Royals

ShinyMe · 14/09/2022 20:41

I'm old enough to remember when he sat on the lesbians live on air...

He's been on loads over the last few days OP, I can't see how you've missed it.

Mrsjayy · 14/09/2022 20:57

ShinyMe · 14/09/2022 20:41

I'm old enough to remember when he sat on the lesbians live on air...

He's been on loads over the last few days OP, I can't see how you've missed it.

Urm what ! why was he sitting on lesbians

alwaystrainers · 14/09/2022 21:02

I can't stand him either. Charles was right

Bobbybobbins · 14/09/2022 21:03

This thread 😆

NewBootsAndRanty · 14/09/2022 21:08

Mrsjayy · 14/09/2022 20:57

Urm what ! why was he sitting on lesbians

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-44212046

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 14/09/2022 21:11

Mrsjayy · 14/09/2022 20:57

Urm what ! why was he sitting on lesbians

To be fair, the lesbians started it..

KingCharlespen · 14/09/2022 21:16

To be fair to him he asked (in bbc terms) a fairly daring question about how the boys felt regarding the pending wedding to Camilla. That's pretty good journalism in the circumstances.
I'd forgotten about Nicholas Witchell sitting on the intruder to the news studio all those years ago.

AnyFucker · 14/09/2022 21:25

He’s gone back to playing Mr Burns on The Simpsons

PersonaNonGarter · 14/09/2022 21:27

lizziesiddal79 · 14/09/2022 16:44

Reminds me of Uriah Heep.

Yes, so definitely.

WarmChocolateFudgeCake · 14/09/2022 21:31

I've seen him on the BBC more than once since she died and I've barely watched any of it.

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 21:32

What's wrong with Nicholas? Have I missed something? I always quite liked him! :) (Braces myself to hear what he's really like and feel sad :( )

tobee · 14/09/2022 21:32

I find some of these responses to this very odd. If a political correspondent was disliked by the pm would you expect them to resign? There's no difference to the job. People either seem to think he should be more obsequious or that he's too obsequious. Just because he's royal correspondent doesn't mean he should just report all the lovely bits. Or vice versa.

Also I would say that, while he's not on a par with a correspondent on the front line of a war, it's an extremely difficult job. Especially at the moment as there's a lot to fill.

Personally I'm not bothered by him.

Do people hate him because he's ginger?

Helendee · 14/09/2022 21:34

Poor bloke! Does he really deserve all the character assassination?
I don’t get the vitriol to be honest.

antelopevalley · 14/09/2022 21:35

@tobee some people seem to hate him simply because Charles does not like him. It is a very odd response.
The man is simply doing his job. And it is illegal to sack someone just because someone does not like them.

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 21:35

OMG!!! I've had a lightbulb moment! Ginger and hated by Charles - is he Harry's dad? (I always thought it was the other ginger guy but I've been wrong all these years!!!?

x2boys · 14/09/2022 21:37

tobee · 14/09/2022 21:32

I find some of these responses to this very odd. If a political correspondent was disliked by the pm would you expect them to resign? There's no difference to the job. People either seem to think he should be more obsequious or that he's too obsequious. Just because he's royal correspondent doesn't mean he should just report all the lovely bits. Or vice versa.

Also I would say that, while he's not on a par with a correspondent on the front line of a war, it's an extremely difficult job. Especially at the moment as there's a lot to fill.

Personally I'm not bothered by him.

Do people hate him because he's ginger?

Your the one whose mentioned his hair colour🙄he is obsequious and sanctimonious which s why I find him very irritating nothing to do with his hair colour .

sunnyhen · 14/09/2022 21:38

Years and years ago I listened to commentators discuss him (can’t even remember if it was tv or radio) and the point they made about Nicolas W has stuck in my head for years.

It was this:

Apparently he was a mainstream broadcast journalist but was ushered to specialise in being royal correspondent because his bosses feared about his ability to be robust when doing interviews, for example with politicians etc. They felt he’d not be able to cope with counter challenges and would have a propensity to go red and be embarrassed etc. So, being royal correspondent is ideal as rarely interview anyone. Just commentate instead.

This makes sense to me. How about you ?

Scrambler4 · 14/09/2022 21:39

I can’t bear to listen to him. He makes it up as he goes along and speaks as though he lives with the Royal family and knows exactly what they’ll be thinking and feeling. When the first announcement was made that day saying there were serious concerns about the Queen’s health I said Wittering Witchell will be rolled out any minute by the BBC.

He sat and waffled on all afternoon. At one point he even diagnosed the Queen’s “mobility issues” as gout. I hope he doesn’t show face again this week.

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 21:39

sunnyhen · 14/09/2022 21:38

Years and years ago I listened to commentators discuss him (can’t even remember if it was tv or radio) and the point they made about Nicolas W has stuck in my head for years.

It was this:

Apparently he was a mainstream broadcast journalist but was ushered to specialise in being royal correspondent because his bosses feared about his ability to be robust when doing interviews, for example with politicians etc. They felt he’d not be able to cope with counter challenges and would have a propensity to go red and be embarrassed etc. So, being royal correspondent is ideal as rarely interview anyone. Just commentate instead.

This makes sense to me. How about you ?

Ahhh, that kind of makes me like the guy :)

x2boys · 14/09/2022 21:40

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 21:35

OMG!!! I've had a lightbulb moment! Ginger and hated by Charles - is he Harry's dad? (I always thought it was the other ginger guy but I've been wrong all these years!!!?

You know half of Diana,s family were ginger right??
Seriously Harry is the image of Prince/ King Charles other then their hair colour

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 21:41

x2boys · 14/09/2022 21:40

You know half of Diana,s family were ginger right??
Seriously Harry is the image of Prince/ King Charles other then their hair colour

(I was joking! However... you never know! 🤔)

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 21:42

Harry is the image of Prince/ King Charles other then their hair colour
**
I don't think so at all! :)