Clive Anderson - Why?

[andy-hughes]

Why is Clive Anderson on TV, or as he is now, on the radio (Loose Ends on Radio 4)?

His interviewing style is just so annoying. He is either waiting for a chance to interject one of his 'amusing' bon mots, or he spends the rest of the interview going 'Yeah ...yeah ... yeah ...' at inopportune moments which manages to convey with one syllable that he neither understands or especially cares what is being said to him.

Surly the appropriate response of The Bee Gees to his boorish behaviour should have been a red light to the BBC, but no, he still keeps cropping up.

Given that to achieve any longevity of TV and radio you must either - be visually tolerable / have an attractive voice / have a depth of knowledge about your subject - or indeed any combination of them - why is Clive Anderson cluttering up the BBC output at al

[Mammar]

Oh Andy, I am so with you

[sunny-dave]

He must know where the bodies are buried ... no other conceivable reason for the irritating snag being given airtime ...

[DJHawkes]

he's not dead then?

[Mammar]

Do you think someone who works on 'Loose Ends' might be an AB'er and report back?

[douglas9401]

Horses for courses and each to their own I suppose.

Justin Webb and Ms Montague could join the dole queue any time they like as far as I'm concerned.

[ludwig]

I agree. He's obviously not interested in or even listening to what's being said, just always looking for a chance to make his next witticism.
An incredibly smug and irritating man. Probably a good lawyer, but please keep him off the telly.

[Answerprancer]

Barry Gibb's reactions to that infamous interview were entirely justified IMO - the guy is a prat and doesn't know when to stop.

[mikey4444]

Can't agree at all. I think he is urbane and he can be very funny. He is just right for Loose Ends. Of course, not a patch on Ned Sherrin....I miss him terribly.

[janbee]

Andy, I agree with you 100%. The man is well educated yet totally ignorant. He has no qualities whatsoever. His "humour" is non existent. He is totally disinterested in ALL the people he interviews but he thinks he's being funny.

[FredPuli43]

"Probably a good lawyer"? At the Bar he was exactly like he is now; quick-witted, able to draw people out, and a disarmingly dangerous questioner. He practised in criminal law.