Monday 4th November

There was a time I never missed this Sunday morning treat, and then for a while I kept missing it.  As often happens with presenters they go through a period of gathering fame, and then suddenly they are everywhere; it is if the BBC has to use them at every possible occasion.  Then all of a sudden Andrew had a stroke.  A bad one, and the fear was that he might never recover.  The show however went on with guest presenters.  But it was Andrew we missed, his careful probing interview technique, where by seeming to just let his subjects speak, but coming up with just the right awkward questions and without insulting or berating he really did get the best out of interviewees.

And now he is back, left hand conspicuously inactive, but his mind appears as bright as ever.  This week he had a brilliant mix; an honest and revealing interview with Elton John, David Milliband on the growing crisis in Syria nd the Middle East, and Steve Coogan on his new film Philomena, as well as an insightful and gentle talk about Levenson and press regulation with Maria Miller.  A clever and successful mix.  And with Andrew at the helm we felt we learnt something.  One tires so much of the Jeremy Paxman bullying, Andrew is much better, and one feels better informed.  Let us just hope he doesn’t overdo it again.