14.10.02
Anne
Robinson on Princess Diana in Radio Times
As
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ prepares to embark on its massive 'Great Britons' television
project, Anne Robinson, who hosts the first programme in the six-week
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ2 series that aims to find the most influential British person
of all time, reveals exclusively in next week's Radio Times that
she is dumbfounded by certain nominees already put forward by the
public.
Of
Diana, Princess of Wales' inclusion, Robinson says: "To regard
her as a great Briton seems to be absurd. It's interesting how easily
she manipulated public opinion. Every time her popularity dropped,
she hit another hospice. I cheered her at times because it was rather
wonderful to see her make a dog's dinner of the dignity of the royal
family."
"I
don't do royalty as a matter of principle, ever since the Duke of
Edinburgh asked me to help him give out the awards (Duke of Edinburgh
Awards) and I said I'd only do it if he came and did a couple of
Weakest Links." Not surprisingly, the Duke turned her down.
Asked
also about the lack of Asian or black Britons in the list, Robinson
replies: "You can't say how disgraceful it is that there are
so few blacks or Asians, without reminding everybody that it reflects
history."
More
than 30,000 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ viewers voted by phone and internet last year to
produce the top 100 list of their great Britons. High-profile supporters
of the individuals occupying the top ten places will now champion
their candidates in twice weekly hour-long programmes. Jeremy Clarkson
and Andrew Marr are just two of the personalities who will be trying
to persuade us that their Briton deserves to be voted number one.
The
exact identities of the ten individuals short-listed for overall
glory will be revealed by Robinson next Sunday and public voting
will continue throughout the series.
Robinson
assembled her own top ten especially for Radio Times. Her list,
which omits men and monarchs, sees Jane Austen, author of 'Pride
and Prejudice', take the top spot - with Margaret Thatcher coming
a close second. Other great Britons on Robinson's list include Enid
Blyton and Elizabeth David.
This interview is taken from the 19 -25 October issue of Radio
Times, on sale on Tuesday 15 October.
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