Matt Chorley’s aggressive interview with Boris yesterday on 5 Live has raised a few eyebrows. The BBC’s newest hire (and its snippiest critic) got into a tired shouting match with Boris yesterday about whether the former PM is a “liar.” Chorley wouldn’t let Boris answer his own snarky questions…
Chorley admitted in a newsletter sent out later that viewers were not happy with his interview style:
“The reaction to the interview was divided almost equally – I was too shouty, he was too shouty, I wouldn’t let him speak, he wouldn’t answer the questions. But as always, everyone has a view.”
When an interviewer says the reaction to their interview was equally mixed – that means it was terrible. To top it off Chorley spent the rest of the day retweeting the odd random punter who said he did well. Is the BBC regretting its latest hire yet?
Matt Chorley is making waves in his new role presenting BBC 5 Live. His first interview with Prime Minister Starmer unearthed the explosive story that Keir’s daughter was getting a Siberian kitten, and today he was discussing the ins and outs of the benefits of Labour’s new Renters’ Rights Bill. Chorley brought on the director of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey to heap praise on the new policy. Though the top hack forgot to mention the rest of Twomey’s resume…
Twomey stood as the Labour candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in Warwickshire in 2021. He’s also a long-standing member of the Labour Homelessness Campaign. No surprise that the activist was so supportive of Labour’s plan, then…
Matt Chorley has announced that after eight years at The Times, he’ll be joining BBC Radio 5Live – something of which he “could never have dreamt”. Guido had a look at some of his comments on his new employer over the years. They aren’t exactly ringing endorsements…
Chorley blasts “BBC bias” as well as bashing the fact it uses its “huge market influence to squeeze small indies out“. He also slams the BBC entering the podcast industry: “Is this another market that the taxpayer-funded BBC should try to dominate?”. Meanwhile he notes how the BBC misuses the phrase “has been told” when they are merely confirming someone else’s scoop. Something he’s not unknown to do himself…
If the rest of BBC personnel is anything to go by, Chorley will have no need to worry about keeping his opinions to himself…
Guido hears LBC are expecting to make the final decision on their new Political Editor some time this week. Theo Usherwood stood down in April, so it’s been a long, three-month process to find a replacement. Interviews were held over the last couple of weeks. The rumoured shortlist includes Tortoise’s Cat Neilan, LBC’s Ben Kentish, Sun’s Natasha Clark, Sky’s Tamara Cohen, and Times Radio’s Matt Chorley…
Matt Chorley talking to Angela Rayner about his favourite cocktails:
“I had a brain haemorrhage once…”
Explains everything.
As Alex Wickham approaches the end of his time as Playbook editor, one gets the sense that his SW1 diplomacy skills are beginning to fade. This morning Patrick Maguire – editor of The Times Red Box – received a glowing endorsement for his rival morning newsletter from Matt Chorley, including the less-than-subtle dig that it’s “unencumbered by being too close to No10.”
If you're not reading @patrickkmaguire's Red Box every morning, you're missing out.
— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) May 20, 2022
Concise, smart, funny, unencumbered by being too close to No10.
It's so good, the FT have launched a carbon copy of it
Latest one: https://t.co/HFpSffgx7D
Subscribe https://t.co/9X3raNDYWa pic.twitter.com/IbNZNyeD27
A dig Wiki couldn’t take lying down…
another tweet! You’re obsessed. Certainly makes a difference from all your texts begging to go into my runners and riders. Is that cos you’re desperate for a different job or to still appear relevant?
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) May 20, 2022
Chorley walked straight into Wiki’s trap, however, denying ever asking to be included in a runners and rider’s list. Thankfully Alex had the receipts…
thanks and all the best pic.twitter.com/6S1jbrXctn
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) May 20, 2022
Guido’s surprised to see Matt Chorley severing ties with Politico in this way – as co-conspirators will be aware he was considered a prime front runner to replace Wiki, as per Guido’s runners and riders list. Alas it wasn’t to be…
