So, let’s see how the Archbishops of Banterbury, mother and daughter combo Flora Gill and Amber Rudd manage on their much-trailed radio show. One is a freelance journalist, while the other is a former Home Secretary who oversaw the Windrush scandal but doesn’t like to mention it.
Quick handbrake turn and now Flora is talking about grey areas around consent. She's actually good on this topic, but it feels decidedly odd to hear her talking about it on the radio while talking to... her mum.
It's also odd that Flora Gill just asked, "Do you know how many rape cases are reported to the police and result in a conviction." Amber Rudd was Home Secretary. She does not know the stat.
Next week's guest is Rory Stewart. I may tune in to see how that turns out, but on the strength of this week, I think that will be my last trip on this particular Banter Bus.
The Rudd/Gill show doesn't work. Listening to a mother and daughter going on and on and on about nudes is just odd. If you were sat behind them on the bus, you'd put your headphones in.
There have been some interesting points in their discussion with Ruby Rare, but this feels like a debate that has been conducted over and over and over again.
They're now relitigating the debate about women using nudity to sell things. Amber Rudd is taking the 2nd wave feminist position, Flora is arguing for the 3rd wave. I want a fourth drink.
Flora and Amber are now discussing sharing nudes. "I used to share lot of pun nudes... I'd draw a little blue bird around my boob and write 'blue tit'."
Amber Rudd: "As we come out of the pandemic, most of us are going to be quite cautious about going out... I think we should all be going out if we can to those restaurants and shops."
Flora Gill: "I can't believe you're already using this show as a party political broadcast..."
This show genuinely sounds like two retail chatbots gone wayward and just talking to each other.
The show is 1 hour long. It felt like 3.
Quick handbrake turn and now Flora is talking about grey areas around consent. She's actually good on this topic, but it feels decidedly odd to hear her talking about it on the radio while talking to... her mum.
It's also odd that Flora Gill just asked, "Do you know how many rape cases are reported to the police and result in a conviction." Amber Rudd was Home Secretary. She does not know the stat.
Flora is reminiscing about going to Le Caprice as a child. This is the kind of relatable stuff that gets people tuning in.
"Oh my gosh! I'm the first one who brought it up," says Amber Rudd after mentioning the word 'sex'. This coyness is mortifying.
Next week's guest is Rory Stewart. I may tune in to see how that turns out, but on the strength of this week, I think that will be my last trip on this particular Banter Bus.
The Rudd/Gill show doesn't work. Listening to a mother and daughter going on and on and on about nudes is just odd. If you were sat behind them on the bus, you'd put your headphones in.
Honestly, this is just broadcasting centrist/centre-right dinner party.
There have been some interesting points in their discussion with Ruby Rare, but this feels like a debate that has been conducted over and over and over again.
They are still talking about nudes.
They're now relitigating the debate about women using nudity to sell things. Amber Rudd is taking the 2nd wave feminist position, Flora is arguing for the 3rd wave. I want a fourth drink.
A bronze of Amber Rudd's bust is in AA Gill's second wife's house, which is awful.
Flora and Amber are now discussing sharing nudes. "I used to share lot of pun nudes... I'd draw a little blue bird around my boob and write 'blue tit'."
Now Flora is reminiscing about the lesbian kiss on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy stopped airing in its original run in 2003. Flora was 11.
Amber Rudd: "As we come out of the pandemic, most of us are going to be quite cautious about going out... I think we should all be going out if we can to those restaurants and shops."
Flora Gill: "I can't believe you're already using this show as a party political broadcast..."
This show genuinely sounds like two retail chatbots gone wayward and just talking to each other.
Amber Rudd just did an awful Scottish accent. If she was still in Parliament there would be an urgent question from the SNP about that.
Mere minutes in and Amber Rudd is quoting Keynes, while Flora pretends she doesn't know who Keynes is, despite being expensively educated.
"... with journalist Flora Gill and failed politician Amber Rudd."
"Or more like the Right Honourable Amber Rudd, and her nobody daughter Flora Gill."
"Right, taking that one to therapy..."
The banter is scripted and the format is... creaky. I think this will need a lot more fine-tuning.
The show is called Split Opinion, which really does feel like the working title didn't ever get much more 'working' done on it.