Are you sitting comfortably? My near miss with the "pro-fat chair"
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 13:30 Further to Chris Snowdon's amusing post about his thwarted appearance on Newsnight, I have my own near miss to report.
Yesterday morning the production team behind Channel 4's Ten O'Clock Live contacted my colleague Tom Miers, editor of The Free Society. They wanted to know if he could recommend someone (preferably female) to take part in a debate about drinking and obesity on tonight's programme.
Tom rang me and I suggested Josie Appleton of the Manifesto Club or writer and broadcaster Suzy Dean (neither of whom is obese, I should add quickly). However both are libertarians who campaign against excessive government intervention.
I thought no more of it. Then, at around 5.30, I received an email. It read:
Dear Simon,
I wondered if you might be available tomorrow evening, Wednesday 28th March, for a debate chaired by David Mitchell – in the other chair is Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me fame. Or be able to help me find the best person to sit on the pro-fat chair.
The debate last ten minutes, we record in front of live audience at BBC TVC, W12 between 10-11pm and ask guests to arrive approx. 9.30pm - We are discussing the Alcohol tax and the potential fat tax – Health and the Nanny State
This is the area of questions we’ll be looking at:
To what extent is our government responsible for our health?
The government have recently increased the price of a unit of alcohol to 40p. Do you think that’s a good idea?
Two thirds of Britons are now classed as overweight, and weight-related disease is on the increase, costing the NHS and therefore the taxpayer money. Do you agree this is a problem?
What if anything should the government be doing about it?
Education in schools on healthy eating? Ban junk food ads on kids’ TV?
Taking overweight kids into care (this has been done)?
Giving poor people vouchers for healthy foods?
Creating a ‘fat tax’ on sugary or fatty foods?
Was it right to ban smoking adverts on TV and outlaw smoking in public places?
I apologise for the late notice of this request – being a topical show, we are always sending irritatingly late requests.
I did think twice before replying (I'm not a fan of the show although I do like David Mitchell) but you can't turn down these opportunities so after a moment's hesitation I replied:
Yes, I'd be happy to do this. I could do it wearing my Free Society hat although I'd be happy to be introduced as director of Forest as well.
Half an hour later I received another email:
Hi there Simon,
Thanks for getting back to me. I shall need a conversation before we can go further ... It would be great to catch up in the morning unless you’re around now till 7-ish. Otherwise we can talk in the morning. Although, I may have filled the spot by then.
At 6.50 I rang the number given. It went straight to voicemail so I left a message to say that I could definitely do it and I was available to have a chat then or in the morning.
Sadly I won't be meeting the wonderful David Mitchell (or Charlie Brooker, Lauren Laverne or Jimmy Carr) because at 7.15 I received another message, this time to say that my services were no longer required. They have hired someone else to sit in the "pro-fat chair".
I wonder who it is?
Update: I won't reveal their names but I now know three other people who were asked to fill the "fat chair". One was stood down at ten o'clock last night. I will watch the programme tonight if only to see who they did choose.
Reader Comments (6)
"The government have recently increased the price of a unit of alcohol to 40p."
When did that happen?
Disgraceful!!!!!!
It's pure and simple discrimination against slim people.
I wonder if they got cold feet as soon as you mentioned 'Forest'?
My guess is they raked up some wannabe health 'expert' just out of detox who has just lost 3 stone since he/she gave up fags, drink, fizzy drinks, salt, sugar, chocolate, meat, bread, potatoes, cheese, cream, sauces, ice cream . . . . .
And now just eats nuts and berries.
Just look whats its done for Angelina Jolie!
Intriguing that they had that little item about tobacco ads and the smoking ban at the end. They are usually at great pains to avoid the undeniable correlation between high obesity and low smoking rates. Or do you think that was just a little tempter to get you to say, yes, Simon?
From what I can work out there is a pecking order of guests, starting out at the A list and working your way down. The researchers and producer get on the case and the more famous you are the less likely you are to return a call immediately or your agent has to relay the message.
I have got the impression that when I get on the TV or radio a large number of people are unavailable and I am their desperate, last stop!. There are a couple of regional BBC Radio stations that seem to like me though.