June 4th 2024.
The recent ITV debate between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer has caused quite a stir among viewers. Despite covering important topics such as taxes, the NHS, and immigration, many watching at home were more concerned with the chaos that ensued during the debate. Newsreader Julie Etchingham was in charge of moderating the event, but some viewers felt that she was unable to maintain control as one leader continuously spoke over the other.
One viewer, Alexandra, expressed her frustration by tweeting, "Why bother having Julie Etchingham mediating when she allows RS to talk over her and KS and then let him ask the questions? Poor show." Another viewer, Dean, added, "Julie Etchingham needs to let Starmer pick up on points. Allowing Sunak to talk over and interrupt and make points but not Starmer." Tim also seethed, "Switching off now as you cannot control Sunak. Pathetic and shambolic."
Cath, another viewer, criticized Etchingham's handling of the debate, saying, "A dreadful format and you were not in control. You let Sunak talk over you and Starmer all the time." Tom also weighed in, writing, "Maybe let Starmer answer and stop Sunak shouting over him. Just a thought." Suzanne added, "You're doing a terrible job of this. You're letting Sunak speak over Starmer and then cut Starmer off! Appalling job."
Even TV personality Carol Vorderman chimed in, urging Etchingham to take control of the situation. Unfortunately, it seemed that the newsreader was unable to handle the two politicians as they continuously spoke over each other. Viewers took to social media to express their frustration, with Joseph Maguire tweeting, "Julie Etchingham well out of her depth, car crash from ITV." Simone Gordon also added, "@ITV SORT IT OUT JULIE ETCHINGHAM- YOURE GIVING TOO MUCH AIR TIME TO SUNAK."
Despite the criticism, Etchingham did try to maintain order by giving a "gentle reminder" to the politicians to not speak over each other. She also asked them to lower their voices at one point, and later erupted when they continued to talk over each other. Sir Keir even had to ask, "Can I get a word in edgeways?" as the debate became increasingly chaotic.
While some viewers defended Etchingham and acknowledged the difficulty of moderating such a heated debate, others felt that she was not the right person for the job. One viewer, Nicola, tweeted, "You aren't giving Kier the opportunity to answer questions fully! Your [sic] allowing the PM Julie to talk over you and disrespect you. Not the right presenter for the job, it's infuriating to watch."
Overall, the ITV debate between Sunak and Starmer was a heated and chaotic event, with viewers at home feeling frustrated with the lack of control. The Agency has reached out to ITV for comment on the matter. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, the entertainment team at The Agency would love to hear from you. You can contact them by emailing, calling, or visiting their Submit Stuff page.
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