Midweakness
Sam Jones says it “should have been an anodyne roundtable chat between four guests with nothing in common but a product to plug”. Indeed, Midweek seems to me to be a criminal waste of talent every time — four people with interesting lives, who, in the hands of Libby Purves, are dumbed down to a point almost beyond belief. As Sam implies, it’s as if it’s intended to be anodyne.
I’ve never been sure if the problem is something woven into the format, or if it’s Libby Purves’s fault. But the spat from yesterday’s programme, which has made the news today, proves to me the fault lies squarely with the presenter. It included this exchange:
Darcus Howe: … since black offends Joan.
Joan Rivers: Wait. Just stop right now. Black does not offend me. How dare you. How dare you say that. Black offends me? You know nothing about me. How dare you.
Howe: The use of the term black offends you.
Rivers: The use of the term black offends me? Where the hell are you coming from? You have got such a chip on your shoulder. I don’t give a damn if you’re black or white. I couldn’t care less. It’s what the person is. Don’t you dare call me a racist. I don’t know you. I want an apology.
Libby Purves: I don’t think it was personal, Joan.
Not personal? Good god, woman, he used Joan Rivers’ name and then repeated his comment directly at her. It seems Libby Purves’s sole purpose to suck the energy out of any conceivable situation. I’ve no idea what she made of 9/11. Probably just a spot of bother overseas.
