Not another lockdown podcast
By the time you read this our dear leader Boris Johnson may have announced further lockdown measures, following the inevitable rise of Covid-19 over Christmas. Whether or not these capture the “spirit of March” that opposition leader Keir Starmer called for, things will be getting worse before they get better.
Many of you will have exhausted new hobbies over 2020, discovering that your lack of achievement cannot be attributed to a lack of time. As Joel Golby wrote lately in the Guardian, “If a global pandemic can’t force me to ‘get into yoga’, nothing will.”
Unfortunately not everyone is as idle as Golby. One troubling trend of the initial lockdown was the temptation of people to start podcasts. As the co-host of an established and unpopular podcast it caused me great distress to see these novices surpass me so easily.
Admittedly some of the newcomers have relevant experience. Louis Theroux has produced a few acceptable documentaries, for example. His podcast Grounded is thus predictably and infuriatingly good, although oddly indulgent in the constant references to Theroux’s reputation, especially his habit of making subjects look stupid.
Theroux perfected the chummy manner common to podcasts before the format was a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Many clebs begin podcasts by interviewing their mates, but Theroux’s gift is to build easy rapport with whoever he speaks to.
Less convincing is Jeremy Paxman’s similar effort, despite his long experience in conventional interviews. Actually I suspect his experience is the problem, since Paxman is as aggressive in The Lock In as he used to be with lying bastard politicians. When deployed against people as amiable as Michael Palin the effect is jarring.
Possibly Paxman has misunderstood podcasting’s main attraction: freedom from radio scheduling allows interviewees to relax, stretch out and reveal themselves at their leisure. Shouting at them tends to undermine this.
The friendly style of podcasting does however create the risk of love-ins. From what I’ve read about Archewell Audio, the new podcast from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the new venture is as vapid, mawkish and self-indulgent as you’d expect. In line with the couple’s much-publicised wish to withdraw from public life I shall not be listening.
Given that the next few months are likely to see us cooped up in a wintery lockdown, some of you may be tempted to launch your own podcasts. Frankly I do not welcome the competition, but if you insist then Theroux’s is the model to follow.
I wrote about the Brexit deal last week, the effects of which are likely to be sidelined as we struggle further with the pandemic. In even more daring brinkmanship, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar drafted its own deal with Spain mere hours before the deadline for a hard Brexit.
The constitutional arrangements of Britain’s remaining empire are an even more niche interest than the United Kingdom’s own constitution. However, I think Gibraltar is a good example of our lopsided governing arrangements, and evidence of how our relationship with the European Union is likely to become more bespoke over time.
Attracting slightly less attention than Gibraltar these days are the Liberal Democrats, although that may be a kindness given their condition. Offered the chance to vote against the hard Brexit it has warned us against for so long, the party decided to posture by opposing the Conservatives’ deal.
Although there is a market for hardcore remain voters, I’m sceptical such a strategy will have wide appeal. As Starmer has drawn a line for Labour under the Brexit debate it seems he agrees with me.
Less agreement is to be found on the final Right Dishonourable podcast of 2020, where we flag the biggest blunderers, opportunists and dishonourable politicos from the past year. If you’ve not already listened, please do.
January is often slandered as the most depressing month, but competition has been fierce of late. Hopefully these emails will provide some reprieve. If you’re enjoying them please consider forwarding them to a friend, if only to distract them from starting another lockdown podcast.
Jimmy