Adrian Chiles

[BishyBarnyBee]

AIBU to be quietly pleased to learn that Adrian Chiles did not, as a poster here once alleged, get his job as a guardian columnist because he is married to the Guardian Editor?

I learned tonight he was already writing the column, she came in to tell him he'd made her laugh, and they ended up getting married. That's quite cute, no?

I quite enjoy his bumbling along musings and his lockdown soda bread recipe was a work of genius. I was a bit disappointed to think he was another example of media nepotism so I was pleased to read this today:

www.theguardian.com/media/2024/oct/03/adrian-chiles-what-i-have-learned-from-five-years-of-oversharing

Aw how sweet I'm not a fan of his columns at all but that's cute

Yeah Seems like a nice person. Try not to worry about adhd

Try not to worry about ADHD?

I didn’t know about that MN allegation or that he was married to Katherine Viner but even if he was prior to having the column, the idea that would ‘only’ be due to nepotism is laughable - his writing is highly entertaining, which is more important than who he is married to. (That’s not directed at you OP). And loads of journalists are married to other journalists.

I only really get to enjoy him during the hand over with Elis James and john robins, and he's always good value

I think people think he was kept on because of his relationship, if not hired in the first place. But I quite like the columns even so!

Any chance of posting the soda bread recipe?

Only recently found out he was married to Jane Garvey before. Can’t imagine it.

I listen to him (not entirely voluntarily) on radio 5 sometimes and when he's interviewing he often sounds (imo) like he's talking quietly or almost conspiratorially to avoid being overheard!!

I like him but bloody hell, those Guardian articles must be so easy to write. I knew he didn't get that job due to his wife's influence - he's been around a long, long time.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/commentisfree/2020/apr/01/shoppers-hoard-yeast-solution-soda-bread

All the Nepobabies would argue that they are where they are because of their talent. And it's true, you don't succeed if you're not good at what you do. Brooklyn Beckham's very short photography career shows that.

So finding out someone got their job through nepotism doesn't necessarily mean I like or appreciate them less. But there will be many equally talented people who don't make it. And our society is less egalitarian than it's ever been. So I have always been a little bit disappointed when I realised that a Lawson, Coren or Rayner has a famous parent. And I had something of the same feeling when I read the Mumsnet allegation about Chiles and his wife.

But as @MounjaroUser says, he's been around for years, I think starting as a football commentator? He does a good everyman schtick without falling into the Tim Dowling vaguely pathetic man child vibe, I do usually enjoy his columns.

Thank you

He's a little boring imo but far from their worst columnist.

I think this was the original discussion I saw. They don't hold back!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4680159-to-be-surprised-to-learn-adrian-chiles-is-married-to-the-editor-of-the-guardian?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

I can only ever think of Stewart Lee’s description of him when I see or read anything by him.

Just looked it up. "Toby Jug of Urine?"

Nice.

I’ve always liked him.

I know him vaguely, as his mum used to live on the same road as my mum.

He's always been nice enough, sometimes see him when he's up here visiting when I'm walking the dogs.

I had no idea there were rumours of nepotism in the first place!

That was quite a funny article. Might try that recipe rather than the Mary B soda bread I was planning on making today.

I used to love the Jane Garvey/Fi Glover podcast, and from that it was clear that their marriage was about like you’d imagine.

Intrigued! What was it like? I love Jane Garvey!

Never knew he was married to the Editor. You learn something new every day.

She's so bloody miserable, though. I felt sorry for Adrian Chiles being married to her. She's always complaining about something.

It was great! I’m not sure where but if you can find the archive it’s well worth listening to. Called Fortunately.