Tumultuous TV
Monday, May 22, 2017 at 18:57 
Until this morning the funniest thing I had seen on television this year was the 'monkey' episode of Peter Kay's Car Share.
But that was before I watched Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid, a man from the National Obesity Forum, and Chris Snowdon.
But first, a declaration of interest.
On Saturday afternoon I got a call from Five Live Breakfast. The researcher asked whether our Free Society campaign was still active because they wanted someone to comment on calls for a ban on eating junk food on buses and trains.
By coincidence I had literally just read the story in the Daily Mail but I had to confess that (a) The Free Society has been in hibernation for several years, and (b) I wasn't an expert on obesity but, if I had to, I could say a few words on the subject.
Anyway it was clear my knowledge on the subject was limited so I suggested they contact my erstwhile colleague Rob Lyons (Action on Consumer Choice and author of Panic On A Plate) or Chris Snowdon, head of the IEA's Lifestyle Economics Unit.
A hour or so later I got an email to say they were going to use Chris on Sunday morning.
I didn't hear that interview but when I saw Chris tweet that he was going to be discussing the same issue on Good Morning Britain today I had to watch.
It didn't disappoint.
Chris's fellow guest was Tam Fry from the National Obesity Forum and, well, you just have to watch the whole thing.
It certainly brightened up my morning.
To watch the full 'debate' click on the image above.
Funnily enough I sat next to Tam Fry on The Big Questions (BBC1) a few weeks ago. We had a brief chat in the Green Room and he seemed pleasant enough, albeit a little pompous.
I'd love to know what happened after the on-air 'debate', when the two guests returned to the Green Room. Perhaps Chris will tell us.
Update: On second viewing it takes longer to warm up than I remember. In fact it's a fairly straightforward debate until, unexpectedly, the comedy kicks in. Worth waiting for, though.
Reader Comments (2)
Mr Fry was a bit subdued after the recording. Shell shocked, even. There was definitely a lack of joined up thinking in bringing up curries while pretending to be bothered by smelly hot food.
The lifestyle controllers are showing their themselves for the loons they are.