Jeremy Paxman and The British Empire.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....s-Queen-Victoria.html

Did anyone watch the first episode of The History of the British Empire wrote and presented by Jeremy Paxman, last night BBC 1?

Well I have never seen such a Left-wing view presented by an equally Left-Wing person such as Paxman, on the equally Left-Wing BBC.

When he asked one Indian person if the British were beneficial to India, the person replied "yes the British did much good" Paxman, obviously waiting for the British to be slagged off, was so surprised by such an answer that replied, "you do know you are not being political correct", don't you?

I know that many things were done, in our quest for an Empire,that we are not proud of these days, but the same could be said for all those other nation's empire quests.

What we do not need are for such persons as Paxman forever beating our backs, so as to make us continuously apologise.

Rant over, cannot wait for what he as got prepared for us in the next episodes.

[alan-r]

i thought it was superb programme, well presented and i cant wait for the next one

[Canary42]

Continuosly apologise ? I hadn't noticed.

[mccfluff]

i really enjoyed it. i did wonder what you would make of it

[deggers316]

your not a fan of paxman then...
I am....

[craft1948]

I'm not getting involved here but in no way is Paxman politically unbiased.

[anotheoldgit]

mccfluff

/// i really enjoyed it. i did wonder what you would make of it ///

You should be enjoying your TV moments, not thinking of me.

[FredPuli43]

The reply "You do know you are not being politically correct" was in the fine tradition of British humour , aog.

[mccfluff]

lol :-)

[shaneystar2]

I like JP .He says what he thinks .He's not a party political person .I think his remark was a bit tongue in cheek .
He's a bit contraversial....but we can't have that can we....oh dear no .
Whatever would nanny think :)

[sunny-dave]

I think fluff probably has a hand crocheted sampler above the TV saying "What would AoG think of this"

[Zeuhl]

<<When he asked one Indian person if the British were beneficial to India, the person replied "yes the British did much good" Paxman, obviously waiting for the British to be slagged off, was so surprised by such an answer that replied, "you do know you are not being political correct", don't you?>>

I think it's a tad naive to think an interview like that would hold surprises for the interviewer.

A lot of preparation by researchers and production staff precede the enormous job of getting Paxman and crew in front of interviewee.

Paxman would have known perfectly well the line the lady was going to take in response to his questions and therefore how his line of questioning would then develop.

I didn't see this programme but I expect Paxman was just playing with the various preconceived notions of 'Empire' including the prevalent (and in my personal opinion erroneous) notion that it was an entirely 'bad thing'.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have included the lady's view in the film or used it in the Trailers (which I have seen)
.

[islasmum]

I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to next week's episode.

[andy-hughes]

His point about Britain being unable to stop going to war in foreign countries because it hankers after its lost empire certainly struck a chord with me.

[andrew1707]

Perhaps this programme only appeared to be so very left wing because of your position on the right?