In less 'progressive' times, the programme was such a simple affair. It generally involved a well-known entertainer, or figure in the UK public eye, being invited along to talk a little about themselves. Ideally they would be half-decent raconteurs, and their stories would offer some light-hearted relief from some of the daily grind.
Not anymore. Perish the thought.
The trend of the last few years is to often invite along someone that the general public almost certainly won't have heard of. Many won't even be British. The guest will usually be a member of the London metropolitan liberal 'progressive' set. Priority seems to given to persons of an ethnic minority, or someone who represents a gender/sexual/religious agenda that will enable the ticking of that all-important 'Diversity' box.
The chance of a guest who represents a 'Traditional Britain' outlook appearing on the programme is about as likely as the 'Our Girl' BBC drama character having a white working-class boyfriend from her home community.
And so to today's 'entertainment'.
A woman who I estimate 99.99% of the UK public haven't heard of has been having a chat with the presenter about Female Genital Mutilation. I wonder how many times the programme's creator Roy Plomley raised that subject with the Frankie Howerds and Kenneth McKellars in days of yore?
Curiously, the conversation didn't address in any serious detail why this pernicious and repellent crime has become synonymous with, and such a blight on Modern Progressive Britain.
Perhaps they are simply waiting for a well-informed future guest (maybe Jimmy Clitheroe?) to expound on this malign aspect of everyday life in Britain?
Times have changed, alun. You can even see certain Coronation Street actors performing pornographic acts on the net, whilst at one time the likes of Violet Carson, who played Ena Sharples, played the piano for the old folks in her spare time.
Times have changed, alun. You can even see certain Coronation Street actors performing pornographic acts on the net, whilst at one time the likes of Violet Carson, who played Ena Sharples, played the piano for the old folks in her spare time.
Edna Adan Ismail (Somali: Edna Aadan Ismaaciil or Adna Aadan Ismaaciil) (born September 8, 1937) is the former Foreign Minister of Somaliland Republic[1] She held this office from 2003 until 2006, and had previously served as Somaliland's Minister of Family Welfare and Social Development. She is the director and founder of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Hargeisa and an activist and pioneer in the struggle for the abolition of female genital mutilation. She is also President of the Organization for Victims of Torture.[2]
This is the lady interviewed.Edna Adan Ismail (Somali: Edna Aadan Ismaaciil or Adna Aadan Ismaaciil) (born September 8, 1937) is the former Foreign Minister of Somaliland Republic[1] She held this office from 2003 until 2006, and had previously serve