THERE'S only three things on television which raise my blood pressure; Vernon Kay, Loose Women and GMTV.
Now I'm not normally one to pass comment on fellow journos but in the case of the latter I'm prepared to make an exception.
This is the programme which gets some of the most important people in the country on the sofa (like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - obviously not at the same time) and asks them really probing questions like...err... "So, what's it like to be a dad?"
This morning's show took the biscuit. Their top story was about fortnightly rubbish collections and how councils may end up charging to take extra bags away.
They say it could be a key local election issue with voting day just a week away now.
Just goes to prove how much notice they take about issues north of Watford Gap because the Advertiser had that story around 12 months ago.
Anyway, they got Ben Bradshaw, Minister For Bin Bags (not his real title, obviously), on the sofa to quiz him about the scheme.
Mr Bradshaw's opening gambit was. I quote: "I think it's really good we're debating but but we need to use the right words. The collections aren't fortnightly, they're alternative."
At that point, most hacks would butt in and say: "So tell me then, how often in terms of weeks will my recycled stuff get collected."
But no, he managed to get away with that and many more..
So here's a tip (no pun intended), if you're going to get a government minister on your programme - whoever you are - I expect there to be blood on the carpet after you're finished. If he smiles at the end, you've lost and you should hang your heads in shame.
That's why ministers of a certain seniority won't go near the likes of the Today programme and Newsnight but are happy to cosy up to Richard and Judy.
Imagine if they took my advice. I can see the headlines now:
THE DAY GMTV TURNED NASTY
PM mauled by Penny Smith in heated debate
I don't know why but the words "pigs" and "fly" have just sprang to mind...
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