Andrew Neill

[maggiebee]

So ... Because Andrew Neil is giving up being on This Week this summer the BBC have decided they can't replace someone as 'skilled' as him. REALLY!? I'm sure there are many skilled and up to date young reporters who would be up for the job and might actually challenge some points of view. It would be really good to have the programme updated in these difficult times when lives are being controlled and manipulated. .. or did they only look for an other old fogey to replace him ..... I'm guessing going by their usual form that would be the case sadly.

[woofgang]

perhaps they think its a good point at which to dump the program? maybe its not that popular.

[-Talbot-]

All the yung uns have been indoctrinated...they can't replace Neil.

[murraymints]

agree with Woofy....a good escape clause

[Khandro]

Neil, is one of the few best, he doesn't suffer fools of either the right or the left. The programme is spoilt though by the stupid attempts by contributors to be 'funny', if they want to do sketches they should employ a comedy writer, not leave it to the contributors themselves, which is often purely embarrassing, such as Miranda on her ship this week, which was just rambling and very unfunny.

[naomi24]

There's no substitute for experience.

[murraymints]

quite a character, have met him on social dos.... he was a friend's boss when at the Times..she was the Diary editor...

[Peter Pedant]

at my employment - you know proper stuff
when someone was irreplaceable
( esp when he had been saying that he will lead the search for the irreplaceable him)
he went
and we put our boots against the door to prevent him coming back, lock the windows
and gasped - - - thank god he was irreplaceable ....

[Peter Pedant]

he was an enfant terrible in the seventies
you know young but mouthy and lacking in experience
time to go now ....

[ein mal alt wien was neue - wittgenstein
there was a time that Old Vienna was New]

[maggiebee]

That's fine Naomi, but how do younger people gain experience if not given the chance?
As one of my old bosses said "The cemetery is full of people who thought they were indispensable." Or maybe in this case it's the BBC who think he is indispensable?

[naomi24]

maggiebee, Young people are given a chance. Andrew Neil was young once but he had to learn the ropes before being entrusted to ably chair serious programmes.

[woofgang]

What PP said about irreplaceable. When I left my last job and people were saying (meaning well I think......) that I would be hard to replace I said but you don't want another me....I have done what a me could do and my time is over....now you want different.

[agchristie]

I am a believer of the phrase:- 'if you are good enough,you are young enough'.

The trouble is,and as Naomi mentions,there is no substitute for experience.

Broadcasting in general is subject to meddling by programme producers who have to have quotas of 'women or black people,etc.

Look at the messing around of R2 these days....

It's all about what is 'hip'.Sport is another area.Too many seasoned commentators replaced by poor replacements who just because they have been a success in their sport it is considered a given that they are decent broadcasters and more often than not they just aren't....

[jno]

the Sunday Times was a leading voice in HIV-Aids denialism when he was editor, an argument eagerly taken up in South Africa, in particular, where a great many lives could have been saved.

[maggiebee]

//Andrew Neil was young once but he had to learn the ropes before being entrusted to ably chair serious programmes//
I totally agree Naomi. If that is the case then where are all the younger broadcasters who have "learned the ropes". Surely there is someone who could step into his shoes?

[Peter Pedant]

// the Sunday Times was a leading voice in HIV-Aids denialism when he was editor,//

really?

I remember the other bit when Thabo Mbeki denied it as a white colonial doo-dah and his Health Minister said I godda good recipe of herbs I sell out the back door ....

no no really - herbs were the cure for the non-disease

[Peter Pedant]

well william pitt was 24 when he became prime minister

( said to be his first ministry post - but it wasnt - he had been chancellor for three months the year previously)

[Peter Pedant]

Andrew Neill as a stalwart anchorman
o tempora o mores !