HIGNFY

[hc4361]

I've been waiting for comments from the more erudite ABers than myself and I'm surprised there are none about last night's show.

Very well done, in very difficult circumstances, I thought, but one 'joke' from the host in particular was in breathtakingly poor taste, I thought.

I don't blame Claire Balding, I know she is just reading a script, but I think I would have refused to.

[ELVIS68]

What was it?

[thenry]

Clare Bawling is now doing religion on Radio 2. She is replacing the choir boy - Walking in the Air !

[Maydup]

I thought she dealt with the Jimmy Saville topic really well. What was it you found distasteful?

[hc4361]

The Abu Twin Towers joke

[horseshoes]

It made me and Mr Horseshoes gasp....but it WAS funny in an awful sort of way.

[excelsior-1]

i missed it on purpose.
i wait for the extended version monday night.

[hc4361]

I can't think of a better person to host that episode than Claire

[Lie-in King]

On the whole, I thought Clare Balding handled a difficult show well & agree that "joke" was dire, as reflected by the silent response of the audience.

I'll be watching the extended version on Monday night to see what's covered in the extra 15 minutes.

[hc4361]

I'll be watching Monday too

[hc4361]

I'm glad it wasn't a politician, comedian or news person that hosted it. It would have been very awkward indeed.

[horseshoes]

So will I. Ian Hislop was brilliant I thought.

[hc4361]

He was! Merton took a back seat this week, he knew his brand of wit would be misplaced.

[hc4361]

Ultra privileged? She may have been born in to a 'good' family and had a top class education but she has worked solidly, she is an expert in her field and not had it easy every step of the way.

I suppose she should have become a lady who lunches, doing nothing much except pampering herself.

[zebo]

I've mentioned this elsewhere, I thought Hislop's take on the Savile situation was the most considered and concise one I've heard, especially as he pointed out the role of the print media and websites who "knew" what Savile was up to but ignored it. Hislop's facial expression when the clip of JS on the show was priceless, both at the time of the recording and on Friday night. I think he's developing into one of the best TV broadcasters we have, love his current programme on British reserve.

[hc4361]

I agree! Hislop is very much his own man. Very much a product of 'the establishment' he has no hesitation in saying exactly what he the thinks of the establishment and anybody else.
Intelligent, witty and scathing without being bitchy.
Perfect foil for Merton in the series.

[ladybirder]

Careful, you'll be calling him a national treasure in a minute:-)

I agree, he always has something interesting to say about most things.

[China Doll]

I agree, I also thought Ian Hislop gave one of the most articulate and well thought out presentations of the Jimmy Savile allegations. He managed to say what I thought (think??) much better than I could have!

The Abu Towers joke didn't bother me at all.. well other than I just didn't think it was funny but not because I found it particularly distasteful or anything. I can see why you and others did though.

[jno]

I didn't see it but from reading it, it wasn't really a joke at all, was it? Just saloon-bar vitriol.

[China Doll]

Which are you on about jno, Abu or Jimmy Savile comments? The Jimmy Savile stuff was actually dealt with really well I thought. I wondered if it might get ignored.