It must be one of the BBC's cheapest news shows. Filmed with just two cameras, in an all black studio - evoking the Charlie Rose show from the USA - the BBC's Straight Talk is a thirty minute interrogation of a leading politician by Andrew Neil. At least it was. Unfortunately Straight Talk is to be axed.
We live in a media world where 'I'm sorry we've run out of time' and 'Please be very brief' are interviewers' most-used expressions. It is a great shame that an exception to this rushed interview format - where politicians have the opportunity to give more than soundbite answers - and where the interviewer has the opportunity to properly explore one or two issues - will be scrapped. This sort of extended interview format is exactly what a public service broadcaster should be providing.
My favourite edition will always be Andrew Neil's interrogation of Vince Cable. Because of the lengthy format, Neil had the opportunity to expose the Liberal Democrat as a serial flip-flopper. Guido likened it to slowly boiling a frog. Soundbite politicians can soon sleep a little more safely in their beds.
