I really miss Diane!

Posted 28 Nov 2010 by Walaa Idris

Diane Abbott

Surprisingly since Diane Abbott stood for the Labour Party leadership this summer and her subsequent appointment as shadow minster This Week became a dull sleep inducing end of the parliamentary week programme. Every Thursday night after Question Times, I used to effortlessly stay up and without fail watch the whole show weekly. However, since Ms Abbott’s departure I lost count of the number of times I turned off and never even bothered to catch up on iPlayer. These days I easily switch off after Michael’s [Portillo] moment of week and don’t think twice about the rest.

And here’s why? Although I like Portillo who was my MP up to May 2005 when, in my opinion rather prematurely, he stood down from front line politics – however, I still think without Diane, the programme is not such a big hit (sorry Michael).

Portillo is a charming and remarkable commentator but as a non elected member of any party he is one of many political journalist and pundits who we see and hear day in and day out on various shows and media programmes. But as an elected MP, Diane Abbott brought a mystic to the sofa and gave the show a unique twist, an exposé feel – as an insider telling and sharing with the viewers what the backbenchers thought and said in private and behind the scenes was and always will be intriguing. Add to that, being a rebel every week with Diane on the sofa we wondered in anticipation what now!

There was also the Itchy and Scratchy chemistry and the rapport the two had with each other their closeness was so endearing and natural. In six month and a host of potential lefties later no one even came close to replacing Diane, as for the body language, it’s too stiff and formal. All the contestants were either too self aware Diane didn’t care how she came across, or controlled and measured in what they said she always called as it is – but most of all none of them is as hilarious as Ms Abbott.

Could Diane’s departure be the death of This Week!?

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4 comment(s)

@mancman10

@mancman10
28 Nov, 12:38

I totally agree, Her titbits from the commons were great watching, The show is dying now, I can’t remember one this series that’s made me think ‘oh that was worth staying up for’. Also question time is really struggling. How many times do the same people keep going on? Kelvin Mackenzie, David Willetts etc etc, its boring, SORT IT OUT BBC!

Walaa

Walaa
29 Nov, 00:35

Agree with you on both accounts, QT is becoming a chore to watch too. Hope the BBC sorts it soon or they are doomed.

Edward Green

Edward Green
30 Nov, 16:03

I wholeheartedly agree Walaa. I think very highly of Michael Portillo as a political commentator and TV “personage”, but This Week is so much the poorer without Diane Abbott. Is there any chance she may come back to it?

Walaa

Walaa
30 Nov, 16:18

Sadly Edward, as long as she is a frontbencher she will not comeback to This Week!

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