Part 1: Hellos & Menu
Parts 2 & 3: Clegg: Ditch Tories, Win Votes?
We’ll get the ball rolling by asking: would Nick Clegg win back voters if he ditched his Tory chums? Support for the Lib Dems has more than halved since the election 18 months ago. Is it because Clegg looks happier these days at Big Dave’s side, than he did addressing his own party faithful yesterday? Would he lure back voters by ditching the Tories? Or now he’s made his coalition bed, should he lie in it and hope to sneak a few liberal policies through?
We’ll take plenty of calls on that before we get the rest of the headlines from Patrick.
Part 4: Today’s Papers
Part 5: What’s Wrong With Cage Fighting Kids?
Then: What’s wrong with cage fighting kids? Footage has emerged of a fight two weeks ago between two boys, aged eight and nine. Filmed at a social club in Lancashire, they’re cheered on by paying adults. Child cruelty charities are in uproar - but is it really that barbaric? We let youngsters compete in martial arts like judo with no complaint. They’re disciplined sports. So why not let kids fight?
Part 6: Viewers To Blame For X-Ploitation Tv?
After that: Are viewers to blame for exploitative reality TV? Fans of the X Factor are said to be outraged that widow Ceri Rees has been lampooned on the show on four separate occasions. But if you reality fans don’t want to see vulnerable people being ridiculed - why don’t you switch off? Cos those poor producers are just giving 11m viewers what they want, aren’t they?
Part 7: Why Don’t We Trust Teetotallers?
And finally: Why don’t we trust teetotallers? Patrick here’s an OJ drinker - and I have to admit, that makes me suspicious. And I’m sure I’m not alone. But with one in seven of us swearing off the sauce - what’s our beef with abstainers? Do we fear they’ll judge our drunken ways? Are we worried they won’t be up for a laugh? Or are we simply jealous they have the discipline we lack to make a healthy lifestyle choice?
Comments (9)
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over 1 year ago
Anon
Aaron, the dispicable fact about this event was not the fact it was in a cage, it's the fact that it was an adults event!! I agree the coverage WAS extensive, but there was a proffesional cage fighter on BBC Breakfast (and I agree with him) saying HE has been intimidated going into a crowd like that, so goodness only knows how the kids faired!?! To have alcohol on the premises, and who knows?? Illegal gambling? We all know it goes on! It WAS wrong, but the press as usual focused on ALL the wrong points! They had models holding up the round numbers for goodness sake!!!! Not exactly your local leisure centre
over 1 year ago
Aaron
Ben, with respect you need to learn something about amrtial arts and read the news articles properly. Tihs "cage fight" was not a bloody, no holds barred event it was kids engaging in a grappling contest. No different to what you'd see at any judo, jujitsu, or amateur wrestling competition. The fact its in a cage is the only reason this made news and the response has been incredibly depressing and uninformed.
over 1 year ago
Ben
I think Cage Fighting for kids is completely ludicrous. Seriously, why, what's the point of it even existing when it's morally exploitative.
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
This comment was removed by a moderator
over 1 year ago
Rosebery
I watch reality tele of a different sort - the Kardashians, BUT - HATE the X.FACTOR with a passion, not entirely sure y, but this is so like wrong it is stupid with this girl with special needs - um I think the X.Factor ought to be banned especially if the producers are responcibal. As for the papers and boots and Richard Madely i think that I agree with Julie that you should be able to get more than 1 packet of drugs from Boots especially if 40+ and no you are not going to kill yourself.
over 1 year ago
George, Glasgow
Hold your head up high? You should hang your head in shame!!! PS Nick, the country IS in trouble today!! TOMORROW and for a long time to come. Particularly if you carry on handing onto the billionaires coat-tails