Friday, August 25, 2006

Rawnsley & Catherwood to Replace Dimbleby


Two of the finest manes names in broadcasting are to take over the ITV Sunday morning politics slot recently vacated by Jonathan Dimbleby. Andrew Rawnsley, who currently presents Radio 4's Westminster Hour, will be joined on the sofa by News at Ten presenter Andrea Catherwood. I'm not sure what Catherwood's political broadcasting background is but it seems she wants to do something different. I hope this show is restored to the 1pm timeslot. 10.30am is simply too early and a ridiculous time for a terrestrial channel political show. No wonder the Dimbleby viewing figures dropped to a mere 350,000.

20 comments:

Theo Spark said...

Sod her political credentials, she's hot!

Anonymous said...

Never heard of her. Average looking.

Rawnsley used to be promising. Now he's up his own ar*e too much, and definitely new Labour. Also average looking.

The Sunday slots are a nice little earner for dodgy commentators but they haven't been 'cutting edge' for years. Not since the early 'The Record's'. But we had to put up with that buffoon Cole.

Anonymous said...

Theo Spark,Iam not so sure our host shares your sentiments...however its refreshing to note you can be charming as well as humourous!

stalin's gran said...

If you are not sure about her political broadcasting background, Iain, why is Anthea Catherwood one of the finest names in political broadcasting? Or are you just writing rubbish?

Iain Dale said...

Stalin, the latter, obviously. Thanks for pointing out my schoolboy error. Now corrected.

Anonymous said...

What a splendidly mad pic of the over-coiffed Rawnsley!

David Todd said...

Andrea's from Northern Ireland she'll be Gr8! :-)

AnyonebutBlair said...

Rawnsley went to school at Rugby with an old friend of mine...at school he was called Urko after the same-named ape in "Planet of the Apes" (the 70's TV show) given his square jawed visage. Looing up Urko on the web yields more Rawnsley like smilarities:
Urko:
Attitude: obedient
Combat skills: 90% - Extremely dangerous
Intelligence: 15% - Intelligence of a grapefruit plant
Physical attractiveness: 1% - Repulsive

Politaholic said...

Rawnsley, Portillo, and Melvyn Bragg: triplets aren't they?

Anonymous said...

If 1030am is too early, what time should Sunday AM be shifted to?

Anonymous said...

Fancy hair styles really aren't on for men of his age...what is he like?

Scipio said...

I still miss the other guy that Rawnsley did that Channel 4 show with - the one that died (poor old guy - can't remember his name). He was a great commentator - and apparently very witty. He did a spoof election night special on Blackadder - which is a great comedy moment. HIs daughter was at University with me, and all I can remeber about her was that she liked a drink and had the most amazing singing voice.

What was his name people????? It will bug me now!

Scipio said...

Got it - Vincent something-or-other!! God, i'm going senile already.

Anonymous said...

said
Vincent Hanna

Anonymous said...

Catherwood is much better looking than Dimbleby and I'd much rather listen to her quizzing the westminster wazzucks...

Anonymous said...

His face scares me, I think he belongs on the radio. And Fruning Graplecard, I don't think you have any authority over "who does politics" with a moniker like that.

Johnny Norfolk said...

I am not sure about Catherwood but I think Rawnsley is left leaning.

When ARE we going to get some right wing balance on the BBC. I dont think the Tory party care, they should complain about it but I never hear them.

Peter from Putney said...

Anyone else think Rawnsley appears to have aged 10 years over the past 2?

Anonymous said...

If the Tory party was planing the future destruction of the BBC as a public funded broadcaster, they would have to be insane to tell the BBC, and therefore anyone with a mouth about it. David Cameron would at least like a chance of being PM.

The BBC has every reason to believe it can activly influence not only public opinion but also the outcome of democratic elections, and most importantly what any British government does in power.

The BBCs pubic funding has prevailed when many many other industries public funding has not. Such is the power of the television media.

The BBC is commited to the preservation of any type of authoritarian socialist government, Labour Lib/Dem or even Tory.

The BBCs now obvious anti-free market bias, indicates to me the BBC believes it is fighting for its very exsistance. Letts hope this is so, and they lose soon.

Anonymous said...

This commentary on the BBC is fascinating, but the show is on ITV!