All entries for Tuesday 10 May 2005

On Eddie Mair

Writing about web page http://www.radioawards.org/winners05/win05.htm

I swore to myself I wouldn't blog when I got back, and just produce an OHT for my GCSE class tomorrow, but I couldn't resist.
Tonight, the Radio 4 broadcaster Eddie Mair won the Sony Gold Award for News Journalist of the Year. And quite rightly.
Nearly everything he says or does is radio at its finest. He perfectly balances serious discussion and detailed questioning with sharp wit and intellectual refinement.
Today, on PM, Radio 4's afternoon news programme, he introduced the main stroy with this line (or somethig similar):
"Tonight, the knives are out for Mr Blair…." A standard phrase, you think, and then:
"...But some MPs come out to praise him" (Cue Jack Straw calling him a genius)
At once, Mair sets out the story – The labour party is divided over Blair – whilst subtly alluding to Julius Ceasar. Simple, subtle and intellectual.

At times, he's just downright silly/cheeky/funny whilst fronting one of the flagship R4 programmes. A couple of weeks ago, he signed off from Friday's programme thus:
"Dan Damon will be here tomorrow at 5…
…Assuming there's any news"

: 10 May 2005 00:45 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem