SERGEANT _JOHN As the election reaches fever pitch, ITN's political editor is in his element, although he admits he might be overdosing.Just as well then that he's got a comedic side to keep him - and us - sane ...

"I stopped calling Blair 'Tony' when he became PM"

As we proceed towards election day, this?' I had a fantasy I'd be left on a desert island and have to ITV Election 200 Thursday ITV pummelled by humbug, tawdry gimmicks, reinvent everything, so I did a lot of science and was obsessed and some idealism, there are few more to quite an alarming extent thinking I'd have to know how the amiable and authoritative guides than the slightly dishevelled, petrol engine works, and so on. I'd love not to have been like wispy-haired 56-year-old who started his career as a stand-up that, but it's a neurosis. My father [a parson] was an obsessive comedian, spent 30 years with the BBC, and is now ITN's politi- in a different way, an intellectual who learnt 30 languages. I cal editor, on screen daily during the campaign between eight asked him in my early twenties, 'Dad, have you been a suc- in the morning and 10.30 at night. "It's a great buzz moment cess?' and he replied, 'Of course. Because I'm your father,' for all of us," he says, admitting he retains undiminished which was neat because it works on so many different levels: enthusiasm and a heroic - some might say naive or self-serving either, 'Don't ask me that, you cheeky bugger,' or 'If you ques- - lack of cynicism, even though this is the ninth election he tion me, you question yourself.' He was a clever man, but has covered. "It worries me. Shouldn't I be cynical, or bored? nice, a great figure in my life. I have a brother who was an Why am I so excited by running about? Perhaps it's a personal actor and is now a builder and a sister who's a social worker." problem and I should be interviewed in silhouette - 'I find His two sons, with his wife of 32 years, Mary, a journalist who myself overdosing on elections. Please help.' became a teacher, have followed him into TV. He treads the tricky line of political reporting His own career was less precise. At Oxford he with panache and impartiality, swatting aside gained a second-class degree in PPE (philoso- crass attempts by party managers to "soften" phy, politics and economics), was a leading light his approach in their favour. "It offends me in revues and contemplated going into theatre. more than if someone tries to After with Diana at the anything spin 1* 1 acting Quick Edinburgh me a line they know I'll ignore. I always think Festival, chose him for his sketch less of the person. The public is amused by show On the Margin (which won a comedy of politicians trying to manipulate them, so the the year award in 1967). He was surprised to be chances of silliness and excess are very great, chosen ahead of Oxford Revue contemporary which is part of the fun. Normally politics is Michael Palin, but recently, he adds, "I heard a followed by a few million, and the joy now is recording, and realised I came across strongly. you get 20 million. It's like saying, 'I have a train I had a presence on stage that was quite con- set... oh, you're interested in train sets, too.' trolled. It helps in the job now. If there's may- I'm made weary by people saying how boring it hem behind you and you have to put difficult is. The idea that life will be the same the day after argument into context, the pitfalls are huge. the election as before is simply not true. It never It's like being on stage, and you couldn't do it if is. Our system is wonderfully imprecise and you had no theatrical background." although it's a foregone conclusion, as much as Eventually he decided that journalism pro- anything ever is, that Labour will win, imagine the sensation vided more potential than acting, "but it was a close-run thing. if their lead is just 26 seats - 'Blair scrapes home in election When you're young you want to feel you can get to the top and debacle.' If the Tories win it will be a historic breakthrough." I knew the competition in comedy was brilliant. I watched Impenetrable minutiae and preoccupations of the chatter- people I knew, like Jonathan Miller, John Fortune, Alan j ing class that haunt elections are mother's milk to him, a self- Bennett, whom I revere as some of the truly great men of our : confessed obsessive. "I had an alarming degree of curiosity as times, and saw the turmoil they went through. We were revue I a child, and came into the world thinking, 'What the hell is artists, funny and irreverent, but I wondered what I'd do when [�

�I stopped being a charming, funny ask the hardest questions in the most young man and become middle- polite way. I want to unnerve them as aged. It's like being in a pop group. If much as possible. The older you get, Tony Blair had done better with Ugly the more they put up with it. Younger Rumours, where would he be now?" correspondents ask an earnest ques- He failed to be accepted as a BBC tion with a flushed face, and find trainee. "I made the mistake of themselves dismissed, which is being honest and saying I'd like to A unfair, but one of the joys of political work in many areas. It was naive. Jj\ reporting is no one is killed or suffers I should have restricted myself to violence by whatever throw at them. an interest in internal security "I stopped calling Blair 'Tony' systems." The Liverpool Post when he became Prime Minister. It's and Echo gave him a job as a sub- not brilliant, because we've known editor for three years, before he joined each other a long time, but it's one way the BBC in 1970 as a radio reporter, of staying aloof. If you support one covering conflicts in Vietnam, side you shouldn't do my job. It's also Cyprus and Ireland. He became wrong for political reporters to go into chief political correspondent in 1988 politics. I would never do that because and was very upset when John Cole I inhabit a different cultural space retired as political editor and he was and wouldn't be any good because I passed over in favour of Robin see too many sides of a situation. I Oakley, formerly of . He probably have power, reluctantly, to cauterised the rivalry with wit. When influence events. It's not real power Oakley "dried" on a live transmission, in the sense I can say, 'I don't like that he commiserated, "Don't worry. It's fellow Prescott - finish him.' But if a almost happened to all of us." government gets into a silly tangle, I "We worked together for seven can point out they're inconsistent." years. I made it clear we couldn't row, He disagrees with Jeremy Paxman's so we had a non-aggression pact. supposed attitude to political inter- Robin was a gent, incredibly nice views - 'Why is this bastard lying to to me. I liked him as a person, me?' "It was a mistake to say that. The but not the position I was in, joy of our life is these 'bastards' are not which was unfair. I don'twant to lying all the time. Sometimes they're turn this into a moan because the guilty of omission, or desperately trying BBC gave me fantastic opportu- to put a gloss on their affairs, but the is a nities and nurtured me. They W idea they're mendacious counsel realised early on I was a survivor of despair. If they're that bad, we and they worried, 'Don't encour- shouldn't report their activities. We age the blighter. He'll think he's at the most serious level, but can't should report them to the police." good, and become overblown.' They ^^^^^^^ writing a deal with a recorded show. But what about spin doctors, and were probably right. Once reporters perspective paper. There was a "There's a terrible snobbery in, attempts to influence which photo believe they're important, they're dead sense of, 'Yes, no, maybe we should and about, TV. When I said I was opportunities are provided for bul- meat, unemployable. The best give do this, my indecision is final - but it's appearing with on letins? "There's always tension, but I an air of incompetence, so people your fault ifitgoes wrong.' One has to Christmas Eve a couple of years ago wish the phrase 'spin doctor' hadn't - help them. Surely you realise that? remember George Orwell hadn't one of the best things I did that year been invented. It's exciting to think of "Lots of administrators like to think been to Russia when he wrote 1984, -friends said, 'John, what will you do clinical figures controlling us, whereas my sort of work is trivial because they but he had worked for the BBC." next?' as if a gent like me is too classy often what you see is someone desper- hate the truth that the best jobs in The image of dry political reporter to appear with him." The lure of per- ately trying to explain the inexplicable. broadcasting go to those who make disappeared overnight after he gave a formance continued - Call My Bluff, "This Government has had a lot of programmes. John Birt, who was much dazzling performance on Have 1 Got Room 10 1 - and he was in discussions presentational disasters, which is sur- grander than any other director- News for You. "My comedy may have to present when prising when we're told how brilliant general I knew, tried to reverse this been a revelation to some, but not to he left for ITN in June last year. their spin doctors are, and yet they truth � talk about the emperor not my friends." In fact he was refused After one of his first appearances, can't stop digging when they're in a wearing clothes - and pretend man- permission to appear. "I was sent an the Prime Minister told him, "I find fix. We have fun at each other's agers, who have the most boring jobs, e-mail saying, 'No,' but there's confu- it difficult to get used to you on the expense. If I'm attacked by Alastair are more important by giving them sion about whether or not it arrived otlier channel." With that sort of Campbell [the Prime Minister's ; huge salaries. They did deliberate and in time. I have a copy. It will go in my bland familiarity, I wonder if it's hard press secretary], I return the attack tremendous damage to creative skills. memoirs, and I might name the exec- to avoid being too friendly. "The immediately, no matter how tired or "If you were successful in the old utive responsible. It was offensive - truth is it's difficult. We know the fed up I am, making certain to every- � BBCyou mightbecome chief political the idea that I can appear live during characters and a lot of private gossip one listening that it's not acceptable." correspondent, whereas in the new an election campaign, being fair and in our little village. There's a danger has starred in one you'd be in charge of a task force honest about issues affecting people of getting too close, but I always try to his two favourite scoops. He secured the first interview she gave as Prime was gripped. We had 1 3 million view- thing in our culture that makes it dif- hols. I thought itwas outrageous." Minister when, as a radio reporter, he ers. When you get a great political ficult for a grand figure like a news- Surely he doesn't include the was in Conservative Central Office story the audience goes off the charts." caster to ask obvious questions like, saintly Sir Trevor McDonald in this at 3am on 5 May 1979. "I was at the Likewise, it probably goes off for a don't understand. Can you explain?', encomium? "No. The ITN people back of the crowd and realised I des- drink during repetitive and 'Where is Kosovo?' or 'Why?' They're are broadly in agreement with what I perately needed to get to her, so I am saying. The best correspondents went on all fours at fantastic are in the field. That's their job. The speed through this sea of legs, best newsreaders are in the studio." popped up in front of her with a He hopes to stay a long time. "I microphone and she was happy might be felled tomorrow, or fall ill to talk. That was terrific fun, but quickly, but reporting British politics if I did it now I'd look odd." is important and I want to be there for In 1990 he reported live from as long as I can. I'd much prefer to the British Embassy in when stand in the rain on the pavement it was announced that Margaret than be pacing the inner sanctum. Thatcher, who was visiting, had That's the romance, to which I'm still failed to win the leadership ballot. wedded after 30 years." He really does He announced she was not expect- mean it, grand trouper that he is. 0 ed to appear before the cameras at Overleaf: Who gets your vote? � the very moment viewers saw her frequently pompous "two-way" con- so terrified of being made to look walking towards him from behind. versations between correspondent stupid, so it's clever-dick stuff, and a "A brilliant piece of television. and newscaster, frequently repeating Socratic dialogue will not travel on The scene demonstrated she was what has already been said, or asking television. You lose millions of view- past her sell-by date and an impossi- unanswerable questions such as, ers for no reason other than your own ble flaw had gripped her crumbling 'What's the next surprising thing that's feeling of intellectual superiority. regime. It almost certainly hastened going to happen at Westminster?' or, "One colleague wanted to use the NEXT WEEK her downfall. I look a bit absurd, with 'What's in the mind of Mikhail word [French in pourboire for 'tip'] NIGELLA LAWSON the element of 'She's Gorbachev?', both of which he has the middle of a He pantomime two-way. may "I'm not a domestic goddess, but I like behind you', but the whole nation had. "But generally there's some- assume we're all off to France for our home rather than party life"

THURSDAY

Today's Choices

phones, ready to telephone the results. Of course, all of this effort might be an irrelevance, because we have been told time and again during the course of this campaign how sick to death we are of electioneering. Well, maybe, but this is still one of those wonderful nights when television truly comes into its own by showing us a democracy at work. Andrew Marr's questionnaire: pl6; Andrew Duncan interviews John Sergeant: p28; Who gets your vote: p32. Alison Graham The West Wing 11.05pm C4

It's now common practice to end a drama series with a cliffhanger but if any scriptwriters need pointers as to how to make it really effective, watch the series finale of The West Wing tonight. Written by creator Aaron Sorkin, it's both tantalising and exciting. There's a hint of what's to come in the pre-title sequence, which sees President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) enjoying a Q�A session with students in Virginia. He's relaxed about it, even if his White House entourage are their usual edgy selves, and it goes well, with the Jolly voting weather: the time has come for the electorate to turn out in force to elect a new government crowd warming to his apparent honesty and humour. As the entourage leave the General Election tomorrow. As you'd expect, they are early morning. The BBC's coverage of building, Gina - who is guarding the both boasting their unassailability. ITV national and local election results, they president's daughter Zoey (delightfully 9.55pm BBC1/ 9.55pm ITV is shouting about having a "specially tell us, "will be the most code-named "Bookbag" for this built set on two floors at ITV's comprehensive, providing results as occasion) - senses something is wrong. Tonight is the night when the two big headquarters". Their election-night they happen with 80 outside broadcast When it comes, the final scene is networks, BBC and ITV, engage in programme, hosted by Jonathan units covering 120 key constituencies". over so quickly it leaves you breathless the long-awaited battle to see who can Dimbleby, will be "the most ambitious It's worth noting that both networks' as well as wondering which characters woo viewers by being the biggest, the ever undertaken by ITV and ITN". results coverage relies on a huge and will survive. E4 viewers are lucky. It looks best and the fastest with their election Over on BBC Jonathan's brother largely unsung army of local "stringers" as if they only have to wait until next coverage, and who can keep their David will be steering Vote 2001 - the who wait patiently at vote counts, their Tuesday to see the start of series two. audiences until the wee small hours of Verdict through the night and into the fingers hovering over their mobile Jane Rackham and the best of the rest I Pick of the films

A British Legend - the Search Chandler's estranged father! Whatever Mutiny on the Bounty **** BBC2 Clark Gable's Christian for Bluebird 9.00pm BBC1 they said, it worked because here she is 1.05pm to Charles On 4 January 1967, Donald Campbell as the cross-dressing Bing Sr found by squares up Laughton's Bligh. Clueless **** was killed while attempting to break a soon-to-be-married Chandler in a 9.00pm BBC2 AmyHeckerling's the world water speed record in his Las Vegas nightclub. It's a far cry from satire-cum-parody of teen America. Bluebird jet hydroplane. His remains playing Mrs Robinson in The Graduate. Tootsle **** were never discovered and the wreck of Politicians Behaving Badly 1.05am C4 Cross-dressing comedy the Bluebird lay undisturbed in the 11.05pm C5 John Prescott's recent drama starring Dustin Hoffman. depths of Coniston Water. In March punch-throwing incident pales into SATELLITE/CABLE/DIGITAL this an was made to raise when to the year attempt insignificance compared Ed Wood ***** the a team of divers and fisticuffs in this wreckage by political thoroughly 8.00pm Film Four Tim Burton's loving led Bill Smith. This shown as salvage experts by enjoyable documentary being and funny homage to the fifties director. the inside of an antidote to the more serious election documentary gives story Fight Club "Tin the meticulously planned project. programming. Watch open-mouthed as Premier Provocative business. 10.00pm Sky Friends 9.00pm E4 You can't help brawls break out in the Italian, Korean, then politics is a funny What satirical drama with Brad Pitt. how the of this Turkish and Indian It's not can about the wife of the wondering producers parliaments. you say Tory Kes ***** show Kathleen Turner all there's the attention- MP accused of racism in 1992? Her approached fights, though - 11.00pm Carlton Cinema Early Ken about in this You antics of an over-refreshed Boris rant to delivered appearing episode. see, grabbing doorstep journalists Loach drama of a teenager who finds while a basket on her they wanted Turner, who has played Yeltsin and an uninhibited La Cicciolina, wearing shopping solace from cruel reality in a baby kestrel. some fairly sexy roles in the past, to play and a smattering of sex and scandal. But head is extraordinary. Jane Rackham THURSDAY OTHER REGIONS BBCI BBC2

I ANGLIA 6.00am as Cartton Underwater team Vicki Butler-Henderson 12.30pm News; Regional News; Weather Followed by Angila Air Watch leader Bill Smith presents more 1.00 Shortland Street in vehicle critiques and New Zealand medical drama serial. emerges triumph Followed by Regional Weather with a legendary boat news in another 1.30 as Carlton A British Legend - edition of the vital 2.30 the Search for Kevin gets a nasty shock when he pays motoring magazine Molly a visit. Alma invites all of her closest Bluebird 9.00pm Top Gear 8.30pm friends to a dinner party. 3.00 as Cartton 5.35 Wheel of Fortune 6.00 BBC News 6.00 The New Adventures of Superman Followed by Anglla Air Watch Regional Weather PM With . Including a weather summary. (S)(W) 216 PM The Rival. Lois and Clarke confront a newspaper publisher means to 279674 6.00 as Cartton 6.30 Regional news magazine Detailson Monday (5) (W)668 who uses dangerous get scoops. (R) (S) 7.30 Vintage and Veteran 6.45 the This week, Juliet Morris visits Followed by Weather with Michael Fish. (S)(W) Buffy Vampire Slayer The Pack. a to the zoo, some of the Southampton to meet members of the 7.00 Holiday Swaps During trip Sunnydale British Powerboat Trust. radical Military meets the Shord family from south Wales, High pupils undergo personality changes. 8.00 as Cartton Rptd tomorrow 12.40am (R)(S)(W) WEBSITE:www..co.uk/cult 577533 who are partial to Romany-style caravanning, and the CARLTON CENTRAL Coopers from Lancashire, who enjoy activity holidays, and 7.30 Homeground 6.00am as Cartton swaps around their holiday plans. Wraggs to Riches. Ray and Barbara Wragg won more than Shortland Street 1.00pm Series producer Pete Lawrence; Executive producer Mark Hill (S) (W) 5216 seven million pounds on the lottery. So far they've given New Zealand medical drama serial. five million of their fortune. This meets Cartton 7.30EastEnders away programme 1.30 as the who believe that is better than 2.30 of the Country Natalie becomes convinced that Barry is having an affair. couple giving receiving. Producer Paul Greenan (S) WEBSITE: ww.bbc.co.uk/homeground 194 Susan George visits the county that was Sharon confronts Ross about his secret phone calls. home to 's most celebrated rural 8.00 Back to the Floor and was also the for William Barry Evans poet, stage Frankie Girl. bras and sex the Conqueror's most challenging Ashley Cotton Fitzgerald Working Naughty knickers, frilly toys confrontation. Lisa Shaw Garry Hobbs Ricky Groves await Ann Summers'chief executive Jacqueline Gold as Todd 3.00 News; Regional News; Weather Carty she spends a week working at the factory in . Jamie Jack Ryder Kat Slater Followed by Lifeline Producer Kelly Webb-Lamb;Series producer Hugh Dehn (R) (S) (W) 6378 3.20 as Cartton Sonia Jackson Jim Branning 7.30 Wild About Food Robbie .fackson 8.30 Top Gear Chef Aaron Patterson takes to the Steve McFadden PatEvans Another edition of the car high Butcher motoring magazine, featuring seas to produce three seafood dishes. Peggy news and road-tests of the latest models. With Jason 8.00 as Cartton Ross Fletcher Che Walker Derek Martin Melanie Owen Barlow, Vicki Butler-Henderson and Tiff Needell. MERIDIAN Beppe di Marco Michael Greco Dr Trueman Nicholas R Bailey Producer John Wilcox; Series producer Richard Pearson (S) (W) 8113 6.00am as Cartton Lynne Slater Elaine Lordan Joanna Hazel Ellerby 9.00 Clueless **** Claire Wendy Baxter 1.00pm Lunchtlme Uve on Meridian Comedy updating Jane Austen's Emma to the present-day. New daily magazine show. Written by Susan Boyd; Producer Emma Turner; Director Andy Hay on BBC Choice at Cher and her best friend Dionne are 16 and are in Followed by Regional Weather Repeated 10pm (S) (W) 552 always 1.30 as Cartton WEBSITE:www.bbc.co.uk/ vogue. But everything changes when Tai, a new student, 2.30 Coronation Street 8.00 Airport arrives. She is, in a word, "clueless", and Cher decides to Kevin gets a nasty shock when he pays Continuing the new run of the Heathrow-based docusoap. give her a makeover. Widescreen. Review page 48. Molly a visit. Alma invites all of her closest friends to a dinner Trouble-shooter Karen Jones is confronted by 400 Cher Alicia Silverstone Murray Donald Adeosun Faison party. Dionne Dash Amber Elisa Donovan 3.00 News; Regional News; Weather stranded passengers needing a place to sleep in Terminal Stacey Josh Paul Rudd Travis Breckin Followed by Crimestoppera and a over names leads to full of Meyer 3, mix-up a jet Tai Brittany Murphy Elton Jeremy Sisto 7.30 RMgerlders an elusive First in new series in which Nick holidaymakers seeking passenger. Director Amy Heckerling (1995.12) (S) (W) 8194 four-part Producer Salim Series Michael 8736 Knowles the South's historic Salam; producer Houldey (S) (W) explores WEBSITE:www.bbc.co.uk/airport 10.30 Room 101 ridgeways by classic motorcycle, Comedian Phill offers his worst which archaeological and historic 8.30 This Is Your Life Jupitus up nightmares, uncovering include cat lovers and fast to Paul Merton treasures along the way. Today he is on As their familyand friends wait in the wings, another celebrity food, forjudgement. the . the red-book treatment from Michael Director Geraldine Dowd; Producer Richard Wilson (R) (S) (W) 78668 8.00 as Cartton gets surprise Aspel. Producer Sue Green; Series producer Jack Crawshaw (S) (W) 5741 11.00 World Amateur Boxing Championships Actionfrom the first with Mark in Belfast. 9.00 A British Legend - the Search for Bluebird semi-finals, Bright continues tomorrow at 12 740484 Donald Campbell died when his boat crashed at 300mph Coverage midnight. on Lake Coniston, Cumbria. For 34 years the crash 11.5010x10: New Directors remained shrouded in mystery, as the wreck of Bluebird The Worst Jewish Football Team in the World. The under- lay submerged in the depths of the lake. This documentary 13s Broughton B football team consistently lose 23-0. follows diver BillSmith's four-yearquest to find the remains. Yetthey analyse their games like seasoned TVpundits. Producer Mike Rossiter; Executive producer BillGrift (S) (W) 450378 Series producer Jeremy Howe; Director Gary Ogin (R) (S) (W) 559484 9.55 Vote 2001 - the Verdict 12.00 1 Was the Cigarette Girl As BBC1 joins forces with BBCNews 24 to bring through- An award-winning short drama about a love-struck teenager the-night coverage of the general election news and results, and the arrogant, self-obsessed object of her affections. David Dimbleby sets the scene for the night to come. At Aine Nuala O'Neill Sean/Egghead Michael Condron 10.00 there's the BBCNews from Michael followed Tim Andrew Scott Angeline Caroline Kerr Buerk, Niamh Ellen McCartan the and the Weather with Michael Fish. Mary by Regional News, Written by Lana Citron Then at 10.35 it's back to David Dimbleby as he returns Producer Emma Richardson; Director Peter Kavanagh (S) 4762953 to anchor the senior MPs and programme, interviewing 12.15 The Forgotten Army Ashort drama about an old with the BBC who are linking up correspondents reporting AM soldier who now faces a new enemy in the urban jungle. from 120 constituencies around the key country. Mr Peters Bill Dean Dr Doyle Joe Standerline Jeremy Paxman willbe gauging reaction from politicians Claire Wilkes Joy Blakeman Young girl Erica Smith and pundits in the studio, while willbe meeting Writer/DirectorEric Christiansen; Producer Sol Papadopoulos (S) (W)4752576 a cross-section of the electorate, and discussing their Followed by Holiday Weather (W) with both winners and losers. Meanwhile Peter voting 12.30 BBC Learning Zone Repeats are not indicated. Snow willbe on hand with his swingometer and an array of Open Science 12.30 Hollywood Science (W) 7148866 12.45 new graphics to explain what the results mean. There are Background Brief 1.00 Final Frontier 9403156 1.35 What Have also reports from Anna Ford, Huw Edwards, Michael the Sixties Ever Done for Us? 6373750 1.45 Background Brief Buerk and and from 6393514 2.00 The Cretaceous Greenhouse World (S) 9091866 George Alagiah, analysis polling 2.50 Ever Wondered? 7866972 3.00 A Clean Getaway! 34311 experts Tony King and Alison Park. Ends 6.00am. Curriculum Development 3.30 Literacy: The Write Way (ptl) 92408 Director Rob Hopkin; Editor Alexandra Henderson (S) (W) 71498804 Languages 4.00 How to Learn a Language 83595 CONTACTDETAILS: viewers can comment by e-mailing [email protected] Working In Sport and Leisure 5.00 TV 5 Communication and WEBSITE:www.bbc.co.uk/vote2001 Study Skills 41717 Andrew Marr's questionnaire: page 17; Who gets your vote? How Open University 6.00 Designing a Lift (S) 74866 6.30 The the channels are covering the election: page 32 Rainbow Ends 7.00am. (S) (W) 29243