Watching the Alan Johnston coverage this morning made me jump out of bed in a rage. Mrs F-C was quite taken aback. It was BBC Breakfast, fast becoming the poor man's GMTV. Johnston's parents, after speaking eloquently and at length about their son's return, were asked by a desperate female journalist, who all the time was shouting over Mr J's answers 'Margaret! Margaret!' - 'How do you feel?'.
It's obvious how she feels. But the reporter probably wanted to see her dissolve in tears of relief of having her son home. That's great TV right? But she didn't. Instead she said: 'I'm devastated. I cannae stand the cunt. They should have thrown away the key'. Of course she didn't, but supposing she had? It's the only answer to such a silly question.
Though it's all marvellous we can talk about our feelings now - and believe you me, I'm all for it - when it's blindingly obvious how someone feels do we really need to ask? Won't they just tell you how they feel, if they want to?
As a journalist I've had to ask this question many times myself. Sometimes it's appropriate, sometimes not. But it's become more than just a question now, it's a direct request to bare all.
I was watching reports of the flooding in Yorkshire the other day, and inevitably the first question was 'how do you feel?' to some poor washed-out pensioner who's lost everything. He played ball too, annoyingly, shedding a tear. It's just what they want: tears and heartache. In this post-Diana world of breaking down at the drop of a hat it's pushed for by reporters who want people to lay bare their souls on national TV.
And the disturbing thing is there is no shortage of takers. The world is awash with crocodile tears. I blame Jimmy Nail.
Basically it's an intrusive, stupid question, and must be banned forthwith.
