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vernonk - // The answer is because he’s a brilliant journalist/interviewer - one of the finest at the BBC. Though he was suspended by the Beeb in recent years as you’ll be able to discover by googling. //
I have listened to many episodes of Front Row, and other contributions from Mr Lawson, and obviously we are hearing completely different things when we listen. I don't find his interviews at all out of the ordinary.
// You’d have thought good looks and a good voice would also be vital assets for MUSIC stars, but the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Rod Stewart etc do not appear to be blessed with either yet they are immensely successful. I’m a massive Dylan fan...and I love watching and listening to Mark Lawson’s outstanding TV interviews. //
Your comparison is completely off beam.
Journalists are conduits, they convey information or comment on facts, or present a platform for people of interest to convey their thoughts and views. The journalist doing his or her job properly is the antithesis of a 'famous' person, they are there to facilitate, not to be noticed.
Any popular musician, including all that you have mentioned, are popular entirely because of the singularity of their work, and their unique way of presenting it - they are the point of the presentation.
So your comparison is about as wide of the mark as it is possible to be.
We'll agree to differ about Mr Lawson.