"Literally unthinkable, isn't it?"

Spitting image (of Kevin Bishop pulling a face)

Well, I gave Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back a go. 

I'd have preferred to be watching a BBC mockumentary called Ed Miliband: The Bacon Sandwich-Eating Years or a 'sharp satire' called Libdemania! but, this being the BBC, neither of those were ever likely to have been thought of let alone commissioned (unlike this!)

I don't want to bash the main actor (Kevin Bishop) but I nearly gave up after 30 seconds when it struck me that he seemed to be (badly) impersonating Harry Enfield impersonating a politician (on Harry and Paul), but I persisted and gave it another 20 minutes before finally - and very decisively - striking the 'off' button. 

Had I thought about it (and not had company at the time) I might have cheered myself up by shouting "SHUT UP!!!" at the TV whilst so doing, in the manner of St.Major Williams from It Ain't Half Hot Mum - Nigel's preferred viewing, well at least according to the writers of this show. 

Nigel also orders pints of Crusader, Goose Green, White Cliffs and Agincourt beer. And his voters are racist. Etc. 

It wasn't the political bias that made me switch off though. It was because it really wasn't funny. I did laugh once though, to be fair. (I know. I was shocked too. It came right out of the blue. And, weirdly, it was at the word 'cancer'). But once really isn't anywhere near enough. 

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The rushed nature of the show is noted by David over at The Conservative Woman:

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John Humphrys interviewing a UKIP politician

In that TCW post (also posted at News-watch) David also includes a transcript of a 1999 interview with Nigel Farage by John Humphrys. 

I really would urge you to read it in full. It shows Nigel being wholly consistent over time, and John H being just as consistent (in his manner of questioning towards UKIP). 

Among Humph's questions are the following:

• Does it worry you that you have been singled out for praise - you particularly, incidentally - by the British National Party in their newsletter, Spearhead?
• But of course it can’t happen can it [leaving the EU]? I mean the fact is that we are tied by innumerable treaties and it is literally unthinkable, isn’t it?
• (interrupts) well I think in legal terms you know the turmoil that would be created [if we left the EU] is just, well it’s just extraordinary... (voice tails off) turmoil...

The first was the template for countless similar questions from John H and other Today/BBC interviewers for the next 17 years (and counting). The second and third show just how ingrained and open pro-EU thinking was at the BBC at the time. (It became less open for a while, but is now back in full cry again). 

"Literally unthinkable, isn't it?" Now that is funny!!

Strictly Come Mocking

In other news, the BBC is about to make a one-off 'mockumentary' about a well-known political figure who has recently retired from the scene. 

The actor portraying the aforesaid politician calls him "a gift for parody".

Ah, how I'm looking forward to What a Balls Up! - a hilarious spoof on the fall and rise of Ed Balls, one minute losing his seat in the 2015 general election, the next reappearing (like a tangoing phoenix) on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. 

The Radio Times is reporting that the show will include an angle which focuses on his marriage to pixie-like failed Labour leadership candidate Yvette Cooper. 

If only...and of course not. 

In reality, it's all about Nigel Farage. Apparently, they are going to make him part-Basil Fawlty, part-Enoch Powell (and you can guess where that's going to go).

And yes, alas, apparently his wife really will be brought into the mockery too.

Which other well-known politician would the BBC do this to? 

Astonishingly, reports even say "If the episode is a success it could be given the green light to be turned into a full series".

Just imagine that with your 'BBC impartiality' hats on!

Unsuspecting readers might still be hoping that this is a merely a bit of very black satire on our part, but, unfortunately, it isn't. The BBC really are intending to do this.

The BBC are truly beyond parody.