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Join UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers as he sits down with Stephen Sackur, the iconic host of BBC’s HARDtalk, to discuss the shocking closure of the long-running show after nearly three decades.
Sackur shares his personal story, reveals how the decision unfolded, and reflects on the highs and lows of his time grilling the world’s most powerful figures. From unforgettable moments to the toughest interviews, he opens up about the best and worst of HARDtalk. Plus, Sackur weighs in on the future of journalism and the BBC in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Watch the full interview above.
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SubscribeI wrote BBC to register how Mr. Sackur was hardly fair or neutral in his questioning of an Israeli guest…especially when he didn’t get the answers his leading questions were intended to receive. And this isn’t just Sackur….BBC is rightly investigated for its reporting. So he got the sack.
Because the ABC plays the BBC World Service overnight, and because I don’t sleep well, I have listened to countless hours of Hardtalk. But in the past couple of years I generally turn it off. Stephen is a little too in love with his aggressive interviewing and interrupting people. It’s very hard listening.
I wonder if Hardtalk expired because we’ve been over-exposed to aggressive and never-ending argumentation in the media, and in society. I think we’re a bit tired of it. About a week ago I listened to a whole Hardtalk for the sheer pleasure of hearing Stephen be absolutely outclassed by a nice, smart interviewee – a person I’d never heard of, Reid Hoffman, who apparently invented Linkedin.
I’d also disagree with Stephen about the BBC (and the ABC) – I listen to a lot of media and they definitely have a worldview: liberal, progressive, centre-left, educated-elite etc. LIke anything else, when you know what you’re going to get, over and over again, it becomes boring.
I don’t know if I’d necessarily view Mr. Sackur as left-leaning or institutionalized by the BBC, but he is clearly being diplomatic when he discusses his former employer. No doubt he has plenty of possible career opportunities left and he doesn’t want to alienate anyone. That’s why interviews like this don’t amount to much. The interviewee has too much to lose by being openly critical of his former employer.
Never heard of this guy, or his show. BBC has little reputation to preserve in my mind when it comes to cultural and political topics. I have been a listener of In Our Time recordings, and I listen to some investigative series that are available online. But I have never lived in England and most BBC TV is unavailable outside of its borders.
So you don’t know the programme in question, listen to only a little BBC output but have big opinions about. How very contemporary!
I’m going to be, um, “lazy, crude and just wrong”: you’ll guys reap what you sow. With Prostectic Vogon Jeltz I’m inclined to pronounce:
“I don’t know, apathetic bloody BBC lifers who let the organisation atrophy instead of fighting as it’s values changed. I’ve no sympathy at all.”
I am glad to see this supercilious arrogant anchor get the boot. At last this man gets his comeuppance. What cheek to state he ” listened carefully”. He interrupted with disdain.