Frost slams tough-talking interviewers

Last updated at 13:20 28 April 2005


Sir David Frost has criticised the aggressive interviewing technique of some of his colleagues.

The veteran interviewer, whose current show Breakfast with Frost is about to come to an end, said an aggressive style was a "disservice".

His comments, in today's Broadcast magazine, follow criticism that abrasive questioning was undermining public debate.

Frost said: "In general, there is more of the hostile, aggro-questioning than there was but it's not always remotely productive."

Frost refused to name names, but added: "In fact, it's a disservice.

"If you can relax someone but still ask testing questions, then you can get much further.

"It's all about the testing quality and the intellect of the question, not the style."

'Open up not shut up'

The 66-year-old, whose new programmes include the Frost Interviews for the BBC and Greatest Sporting Legends on Sky added: "You have to get people to open up, not shut up."

His comments come after Jon Snow called for an end to "cynical" interviews.

The Channel 4 News presenter said earlier this month: "Lack of deference has gone too far on British television."

Referring to Newsnight anchor Jeremy Paxman's technique, Snow said: "I don't think we are very deferential on television any more. Paxo has seen to that. We could do with a bit more of it (deference)."

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