The Paxman Interviews

[Luke]

I missed the first half, but Paxman is slaughtering Kennedy.

I think poor Chazzer is going to cry soon!

I think it's Howard and Blair in the next two days (I'll check the details).

Edit: Blair on Wednesday, Howard on Friday.

[Simmy]

ouch, looks painful

[pledge]

Was a good interview. Paxman is as good as ever. I really liked how he dropped some random policies missed from the manifesto such as about animals at the circus to keep him on his toes.

Did anyone see Paxman's weather forcasts on news night? They were repeated on HIGNFY.

[Bushby]

I hope someone releases all 3 on DVD, no-one does political interviews better.

[footle]

Kennedy was absolutely fucked over.

I hope Blair gets the same treatment (though his conference aren't allowed to vote on things like Iraq, let alone animals-in-circuses).

[Luke]

Did anyone see Paxman's weather forcasts on news night?  They were repeated on HIGNFY.

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I saw the one live, and the repeats on HIGNFY.

The one I saw was the best anyway though:

"And Tomorrow's Weather:..........Well It's April, what do you expect?!"

I Wonder how Blair and Howard will stand up to him, I think Kennedy is the softest of the three, and their policies are probably the least concrete (as, in reality, they're not going to win, so probably don't feel so much need for (or point to?) thinking everything through.

Good stuff. It'd be even better if Andrew Marr gave a summary of the interview at the end.

Just imagine if Paxman was an MP though, they'd be no more waffling shite in parliament then!

[Silent Runner]

I hope someone releases all 3 on DVD, no-one does political interviews better.

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I like Paxman but Jon Snow is a far better interviewer. He doesn’t have to resort to Paxmans aggressive, hectoring style and gets a lot more from his interviewees.

[russ]

I like Paxman but Jon Snow is a far better interviewer. He doesn’t have to resort to Paxmans aggressive, hectoring style and gets a lot more from his interviewees.

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John Humphries> Paxman > Snow

[Eighthours]

Paxman obliterated Kennedy and made him look a laughing stock. I loved the way he dissected the amusing contradictions in Lib Dem policy, to which Kennedy had no answer other than to clumsily evade the question. Straight talker, my arse!!

IMO.

Blair is a shrewd operator, I doubt he'll get much change out of him. Howard should be worried.

[Luke]

I like Paxman but Jon Snow is a far better interviewer. He doesn’t have to resort to Paxmans aggressive, hectoring style and gets a lot more from his interviewees.

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I'd agree on that. Did you catch Snow questioning Howard at the manifesto launch? - I only caught a glimpse of it, but he really unsettled him.

Humphries is great too.

[Paradigm]

Paxman obliterated Kennedy and made him look a laughing stock. I loved the way he dissected the amusing contradictions in Lib Dem policy, to which Kennedy had no answer other than to clumsily evade the question. Straight talker, my arse!!

IMO.

Blair is a shrewd operator, I doubt he'll get much change out of him. Howard should be worried.

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Jeremy Vine ripped Blair a new one the other day. Probably archived on Radio 2's site, you ought to find it. Vine is also great, having a great deal of Paxman's hello-at-your-contradiction style but none of the outright annoyingness. Having said that he did demolish Kennedy and it was very very funny, to the point of showing people who're voting Lib Dem because they dislike the other two parties that they're quite explicitly on the wrong track.

[Popo]

Bollocks, gutted I missed this, Paxman is a class act all the way.

[MrSpoon]

I like Paxman but Jon Snow is a far better interviewer. He doesn’t have to resort to Paxmans aggressive, hectoring style and gets a lot more from his interviewees.

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0/\0

Not letting someone finish their reply before shouting at them about something completely different does not make you intellectually superior to them, it makes you a cock.

Someone should start dissecting Paxman's questions in the same style, see how he likes it. He'd probably tell them to stop being a cock!

That said, he's still quite funny and the first one was good so I'll be watching the rest of them.

[Uncle Mike]

Bollocks, gutted I missed this, Paxman is a class act all the way.

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It's available from their web site. I love the BBC.

And I think Paxman does a very good interview on this occasion. Yes, he can sometimes be overbearing and combative, but not here. Here, he keeps himself civil, and does an excellent job of showing that someone who's basing his entire campaign around frankness and honesty isn't, in fact, capable of having a significantly more honest and open dialogue than anybody else.

[Rin]

It's available from their web site. I love the BBC.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vot...age/4457519.stm

Incredible.

[Meat]

Thanks for the link Rin

I've just watched it. I enjoy Paxman most of the time but thought this was quite poor, and not entirely his fault - the ammunition wasn't great. In terms of style, yes Kennedy may have appeared to get slaughtered, but in terms of real content, Paxman was overly aggressive and tried to force too many unwarrantedly leading and closed questions.

[futureshock]

In terms of style, yes Kennedy may have appeared to get slaughtered, but in terms of real content, Paxman was overly aggressive and tried to force too many unwarrantedly leading and closed questions.

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This.

And if he doesn't treat the others with the same lack of respect then there'll be hell to pay.

[Luke]

I've just watched it.  I enjoy Paxman most of the time but thought this was quite poor, and not entirely his fault - the ammunition wasn't great.  In terms of style, yes Kennedy may have appeared to get slaughtered, but in terms of real content, Paxman was overly aggressive and tried to force too many unwarrantedly leading and closed questions.

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I do agree with this to an extent, and Paxman is just a smug twat at times, but I really do wish Kennedy could just have come back and said, for example:

"Well, our plans will probably involve the building of 10 new windfarms, 7 of which we expect will be built off-shore".

or, even:

"Well, obviously we will need to build some new windfarms, most of which we hope to build off-shore; however, we don't yet know the full scale of this because it depends a lot on the size of the sites that we go with, and any advances in the efficiency of wind powered generators. We are also looking into other renewable energy sources, such as wave and tidal generators, and this needs to be factored in too. It is perfectly plausible though that we may open as many as 10 on-land windfarms"

But no, as usual, a politician was unable to answer a straight simple question.

OK, he was heading slowly towards similar answers, and did hint towards the fact he supported windfarms at times (and may even have got there without the interruptions), but please, politicians, just cut down on the sodding waffle and answer the damn questions, or state that you're not going to answer it, and say why!

A lot of the interview was clearly geared towards asking question that he knew Kennedy wouldn't or couldn't answer though, and in respect to that, I think Kennedy did pretty damn well.

[Professor Rob]

John Humphries> Paxman > Snow

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Eddie Mair > Paxman = Humphries > Snow

[Professor Rob]

I'd agree on that.  Did you catch Snow questioning Howard at the manifesto launch? - I only caught a glimpse of it, but he really unsettled him.

Humphries is great too.

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One John Humphries interview that really sticks in my mind was when he interviewed Adam Ingram (the Armed Forces Minister) about the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas of Iraq:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/...damingram.shtml

The transcript doesn't really capture the tone of it, unfortunately.

[amanset]

I'm watching it now (downloaded via UK Nova).

When did Paxman become a twat?

I used to like him as an interviewer, the way he didn't let people get away with shit, but now he's just being a cunt. He refuses to actually let the other guy talk, talking over him constantly. It just isn't an interview if you don't let the other guy actually say anything.

[Luke]

Paxman vs Blair - NOW!!!!

[Wickedkitten]

"Do you feel responsible for the death of Dr. David Kelley?"

silence

begin waffling

[Richard]

I think he came across fairly well to be honest.

[footle]

"Do you feel responsible for the death of Dr. David Kelley?"

silence

begin waffling

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This was the highlight. Even if it was a fairly unfair question.

Some of the other stuff didn't really hit and stick though - Blair is far too practiced at this kind of thing.

[superfunk]

That final moment as the credits went up where Paxman must have asked 'how was that then?' - Blair could barely stand to look at him

[Luke]

That final moment as the credits went up where Paxman must have asked 'how was that then?' - Blair could barely stand to look at him

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I missed that (checking the dinner), my girlfriend laughed though.

I thought Blair did pretty damn well really (the twat). He also sounded surprising coherent for a change. As my girlfriend said, he was talking in sentences and stuff, rather than having a minute's pause every two words.

I can't wait for Friday's - I wonder if he'll ask him that question again, just for old time's sake.

[Plissken]

Thought after a rough start on Iraq, Blair came out of it OK. He certainly stood his ground on the number of failed asylum seekers, when I thought Paxo was being unfair - the whole point is they have disappeared, how can you put numbers on it?

The Iraq stuff - Blair was visibly riled. He looked a bit evasive until that outburst about "I am Prime Minister, I have to make a decision and try to make it the right one" got him back on track.

Cannot wait for the Howard one.

[Comrade]

I don't think Paxman was being unfair. It's his job to be unfair. It's not a debate, it's an interview. None of the interviewees are meant to "win" these, it's all about who loses the least.

Incidentally, I also thought Blair came out pretty well.

[makkuwata]

I can't wait for Friday's - I wonder if he'll ask him that question again, just for old time's sake.

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He asked him last year at some point I think, though it was a much more relaxed setting and he just got a "Ho Ho, Jeremy you little rascal you" type response. Doubt Howard will be allowed to get away with that tactic again should it come up.