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John Humphries / Gordon Brown - last week on Today

28 replies

niceglasses · 19/05/2008 09:48

Just wondered if anyone caught J Humphries interview with G Brown think it was Thursday last week? Meant to ask you lot about it and never got online. Mainly about 10p tax debacle. But wondered what you all thought about Humphries style of interviewing. I thought it tipped into rude........

OP posts:
littlelapin · 19/05/2008 09:51

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DeeRiguer · 19/05/2008 10:16

he can be rude i suppose but the politicians never actually answer the questions which annoys me much more
i thought he was actually quite restrained with gordon brown last week

Threadwworm · 19/05/2008 10:18

I don't mind rudeness when it is in pursuit of a straight answer a la Paxman but the Hump just sounds off rudely to hear his own voice, he blunders in without having tried to understand the other person's comments. It is just an ego-trip for him.

Notquitegrownup · 19/05/2008 10:21

Yes, I heard it and switched it off because of how smug Humphries sounded. He really annoys me. Conflict for conflicts sake.

claricebeansmum · 19/05/2008 10:22

I also think John Humphries interrupts too much. He is getting ruder with old age. His questions used to be incisive and clever - not just rude old codger.

fishie · 19/05/2008 10:23

he got accused of being soft on gb and hard on cameron last month, he had to appear on 'feedback' and justify himself.

littlelapin · 19/05/2008 10:25

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DeeRiguer · 19/05/2008 10:25

so you all dont mind that our elected representatives dont answer any questions that are put to them, that they stall for time, know how long the interview will take and repeat party mantra ad infinitum til end of slot?

wierdos

vermilion · 19/05/2008 10:26

I heard him on feedback - he was unrepentant re the Cameron vs Brown bias accusation, responded well. It should still be on Listen Again

TheFallenMadonna · 19/05/2008 10:27

It's become all about him now I think. Nothing interesting comes out of his interviews any more - he just has to live up to his persona.

And on this occassion he was an arse.

claricebeansmum · 19/05/2008 10:27

Did you hear Evan and his muddle with alcohol units this morning? Poor popett

TheFallenMadonna · 19/05/2008 10:28

Ah LL - I rather like Alan Johnson. Even if he ignored my question on here

IorekByrnison · 19/05/2008 10:56

Agree with Threadwworm and Fallen Madonna about Humphries. I can't stand to listen to him any more - he just asks all the wrong questions in a pointlessly aggressive style, and none of us are any the wiser about the issue in hand.

Am v happy about Evan Davis though.

Notquitegrownup · 19/05/2008 11:00

DeeRigeur - I do mind it when the interviewer assumes that I am too stupid to hear what the interviewee is saying. Rigorous questioning is important. So is listening. I am capable of making my own mind up and responding through the ballot box. I don't need Humphries to do all my thinking for me.

littlelapin · 19/05/2008 11:04

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Notquitegrownup · 19/05/2008 11:09

Thank you, LL.

I'm not normally that assertive

littlelapin · 19/05/2008 11:11

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Threadwworm · 19/05/2008 11:12

What happened with dear little Evan's alcohol units? I missed that.

DeeRiguer · 19/05/2008 11:16

fair enough NQGU if that is how you feel but
i dont think they actually answer the questions though, and as we have to rely on interviewers to ask questions on our behalf (little or no direct contact with public such as hustings these days )
i for one do think those questions should be answered and if not they should be hassled until they do...

part of why he interrupts is that they go off on a tangent to repeat rehearsed mantra party line and dont get round to giving straight answer very often
hence when straight answer is given its a bit of a shock ( i heard the alan johnson one too and was quite taken aback)

DeeRiguer · 19/05/2008 11:20

i cant beleive that you guys get so upset with the interviewers and not their political subjects who dodge and weave til time up

i am no great fan of humphries for other reasons but not this, he's doing his job isnt he?
i think this is just a popular line to spout about jh these days

Notquitegrownup · 19/05/2008 11:23

I agree too DR - just think that Humphries crosses the line and gets in the way of the answers sometimes.

Although I do remember switching onto Radio 4 once to catch Neil Kinnock in mid flow saying "And ninethly, I think that . . ."

Now there was a man who could answer a question in detail!!

IorekByrnison · 19/05/2008 11:23

It's not the fact that he is aggressive that is the problem, it's the fact that he seems to use his aggressiveness to hide the fact that he's not asking the right questions, and not getting to the heart of the matter. So, no, I don't think he is doing his job.

littlelapin · 19/05/2008 11:27

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TheFallenMadonna · 19/05/2008 11:28

Of course I yell at the radio when politicians weasel their way out of answering questions. But I think there are better interviewing styles. I don't like Humphries becasue I don't feel I have learned anything new after he's finished. Other people do it better. And I don't hold that opinion because it is in some way fashionable

TheFallenMadonna · 19/05/2008 11:29

LOL at Kinnock

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