Odd, I Thought, That Andrew Marr

[Paigntonian]

had the PM in the studio this morning and referred to him as 'Boris'. Can't imagine that he previously referred to Margaret, Tony, Gordon, Dave or Teresa.

[jno]

good point. Very matey, isn't it. I assume Boris doesn't mind, since he clearly wants to be everybody's mate. Just like Churchill (not).

[Paigntonian]

jno: Taken. I find it odd. It would seem to me that the BBC should at least attempt to be impartial and this over-familiarity seems to me to be rather unprofessional.

[lankeela]

I thought Andrew Marr was very rude anyway, constantly butting in and talking over him. Seems to be the way reporters/interviewers do things these days - rude and inconsiderate.

[Sunk]

Maybe Marr refers to his guests how they prefer to be addressed.
If it was disrespectful, Boris should put him right and say he must be titled “Prime Minister”.

I suspect the people watching were calling him something else that wouldn’t get through the AB filter.

[Mamyalynne]

It's to be hoped that two grown men have an agreement about how they address each other.

[Paigntonian]

Mammyalynne: Perhaps you're right. Maybe they discuss beforehand how the guest would like to be addressed.

[ichkeria]

I don't find it odd, in the sense that everyone seems to call him that.
Personally, I don't like it. I would imagine Johnson does quite like it. It's cheerful, and upbeat, even when it maybe isn't meant to sound that way.
It's the soubriquet of the clown: remember Angle Eagle's reaction when he was appointed Foreign Secretary? She burst out laughing.
It implies that his friends love him and his enemies fundamentally don't take him seriously. I dare say he's happy with that. It feels like a bit of a let-off to me.

[Paigntonian]

ich: You could well be right. I'm sure Boris wants to think that others see him as 'a bloke'.

[douglas9401]

Maybe a nod to their journalism days, cameraderie and all that?

[Peter Pedant]

// It's to be hoped that two grown men have an agreement about how they address each other.//

there is a funny money P sketch about that....
and a less funny Peter Ustinov - interviewer doesnt get his Russian accent right

1940s it was Mr Churchill and Herr Hitler BUT people did their churchill impressions in the air raid shelters in affectionate respect.
I reproved an oldster 1970 for lack of respect and he said - o no we all did it to amuse and in affectionate respect ( Beaches speech )

so times change

Macmillan I dont recall Mr MacMillan attracting respctful looks

and Harold Wilson - my father nearly had a convulsion when he saw Wilson wish the england footie team good luck on top of the slops.

[Peter Pedant]

// Maybe a nod to their journalism days, cameraderie and all that?//
no frame linguistics

by defining the word list ( er idiolect I think ) and dress code
you are influencing or defining the level and terms of the discussion.

overton window and all that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

trump accepting the proud boys as an relevant political group etc

[jno]

maybe, Mamya, but I'd prefer it if the BBC had its own rules about how to address people - "Mr Johnson" would be fine - and stuck to them.

[Mamyalynne]

Fair enough Jno, maybe I am too easy going - was the content any good?

[Hopkirk]

I wonder what he called "call me Dave"

[Paigntonian]

MY view is perhaps old-fashioned but I think on TV a Prime Minister should be addressed, first, as Prime Minister and subsequently as 'Mr' or 'Mrs'. That is the convention that most newspapers have used for fifty years.

[Sunk]

I agree Paigntonian,

‘Prime Minister’ is respectful.
Jounalists and politicians should not be seen to be ‘matey’ even if they are first name terms in real life. To the audience it should be portrayed as one professional addressing another.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps they are old friends. Boris used to be a journalist of sorts.

[jno]

I'm not mad on using job titles as a term of address: "When do you expect delivery, Works Manager?" "Are you looking forward to the Sri Lanka tour, Wicketkeeper?" Mr/Mrs/Ms plus a surname seems properly courteous.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I would assume they get asked how they would like to be addressed at the same time they get a copy of the questions they will be asked.