Anyone else sick of Victoria Coren Michell slagging off Roald Dahl on ONLY CONNECT?

[Pottingplants]

Just that - anytime a question has anything to do with Roald Dahl Victoria is doing her best to put the boot in (it has happened at least 4 times now). I think if she dislikes him so much she should not have any questions which are to do with Dahl. I am surprised she is allowed to do this TBH.

(realised I misspelt Mitchell but can't edit it!)

He was a racist bastard.
Wind your neck in.

I understand her point entirely. I don't think he's the only person she's highlighted, over the years.

But why is she so enraptured with Michael Portillo?
<attempt at lightening the mood>

He was notoriously antisemitic even for his time.

I don't care at all about an artist or author being a good person. I don't need to read a biography of the bricklayer who constructed my house to decide if I want to live in it, and I don't need to do so for authors either.

No one is saying we can't appreciate his books. But it's good to discuss with children that people are flawed! Even famous people.
I listen to Michael Jackson's music. I watch Roman Polanski's films. I will read Roald Dahl's books.
I would struggle to enjoy something made with hate in mind, I find Fagan problematic!

I think his anti-semitic views were toxic enough to merit him being taken to task for them, but on the other hand if she really is doing this as relentlessly as the OP suggests then I'd say that a quiz show isn't really the place for it. Particularly if he comes up as an author (rather than as an individual modelling bad behaviour and thought).
Any number of fiction writers were vile people who did and believed vile things. If you can't include their books in a parlour game without feeling twisted up by this, leave them out altogther.
Having said this, I do like VCM. I remember when she got stick on MN years ago for something she said, and she came on to a thread to apologise (as I recall - perhaps I dreamed this.) Lovely woman.

A better question is who isn’t enraptured with Michael Portilllo. He’s the smoothest man I know.

This thread is not about DB, and his long, overdue apology to Jason Lee. The point I am making is people are always so quick to say, if this was said about a black person etc, etc. For one, that is a load of nonsense, there are scant consequences, if any, for people that do say offensive things about black people. Stop dragging black people into discussions, that are not even about them.

I mean, why would a Jewish woman feel particularly sensitive about antisemitism at the moment? Could it be the huge rise in antisemitic attacks and crimes? The increase in Holocaust minimising and outright denial?

I find VCM elitist, false and quite annoying generally, however all that is forgiven when I watch her play poker. The woman is a genius on the poker table.

As a Jewish woman it amuses me. I like the off the cuff way she calls it out every time without it being a big deal and I am all for calling out anti semitism every single time until it’s taken as seriously as other forms of bigotry. Love VCM too!

I can't imagine reading someones autobiography as evidence that they're a good person. They wrote it. Of course they think theyre a good person.

VCM lays the boot in to loads of people on OC. Weird how you've chosen the antisemite to defend.

Not sick of it at all. Well done VCM. (I bet she's a mumsnet user...)

Lots of Nazis risked their lives in the war too.

Being in the armed forces doesn't make you an inherently good person. Having a job which is traditionally associated with bravery doesn't mean you can't be a thoroughly nasty individual.

I've never felt the same about Victoria since she used her platform to support Roman Polanski

I agree with her on Dahl but disagree on other subjects and I get a bit fed up with her using a quiz show to platform her proselytizing.

Yes, I can't get on board with the love for the Michael Portillo. But the rest? Why not.

@LadyKenya I completely understand your frustration and it was wrong of me to make that parallel. You're right that there isn't justice for anyone who is the victim of racism. Racists are rarely 'cancelled'. Trump can be re-elected. Clarkson keeps earning more money. Farage is relentless.

Look up the Roald Dahl charity org which is the good Roald Dahl legacy is doing now. It saved my child’s life.

Good on her for doing this.

I think she’s brilliant.

@Edsspecialsauce Thank you for acknowledging my frustration, I appreciate that.

Roald Dahl was an antisemitic bigot, but I love his books.
Just as I like Michael Jackson's music even though he was (likely) a nonce, and the John Peel sessions are still brilliant even though John Peel married a child.
And Roman Polanski's films are great, even though he's dodgy af.

I don't mind VCM casually slagging off Road Dahl or anyone else; she's not calling on the world to "cancel" his books. And I say this as someone who generally can't stand VCM.

Since you say that, I’m sure you’ll love Mein Kampf

I noticed that too, she’s done it maybe 3 times now. I understand why she does and she does try to do it “with humour” but I agree that she should keep it off OC.
There are lots of questions about all sorts of people and things and I’ve never heard her have asides about anyone or anything else. Just Roald Dahl, it’s peculiar.
if she was saying about others, oh he’s a sexist or oh she’s a racist or oh what an idiot then it would seem fairer. I also would completely give up watching the show as although I like VC I’m not interested in her opinion about famous people!

She’s not doing it relentlessly but then again if the op said vcm has made four comments about Dahl that wouldn’t be such the story! She as far as I can remember doesn’t slag his books off.

Did you watch her in taskmaster? I got the opposite vibe there, someone who would not have been in any mean girls / popular girls clique! She says about not fitting in at her school with the elegant non Jewish girls.