Gordon suggests TV presenting is a bit like being PM....

Sitting stiffly on the Good Morning America sofa, Gordon Brown faced a curveball from a presenter Dianne Sawyer - who had clearly done minimal research for her 5 minute interview with the PM but still wanted to ask something different. It produced a somewhat head-scratching exchange.

GMA: "You were a television producer, television reporter," she said, as if he only quit Scottish TV yesterday rather than 1983. "How do you like the other side? Do you ever wish you were here (on this side of the camera)?"

GB: "I spent a little time as a television reporter, I was actually a university lecturer but I worked with Tony Blair in Parliament for 25 years and we worked very closely together on the environment and the economy and to be honest I think you've got a difficult job as a television producer. (laughs)

GMA (bemused): Harder than your job?

GB: "Our job is day to day, 24 hours and everthing else. But yours is a difficult job as well and I appreciate it."

Brown's stock conversation filler at the moment is to "thank you for your contribution". It doesn't always work.

Comments

[Cassilis]

Isn't 'Good Morning America' the US equivalent of GMTV?

If so, given Brown's previous enthusiasm for Fiona Philips to join his 'government of all the talents' he may indeed have a bizarre take on the merits and work ethic of breakfast TV presenters...