Michael Portillo

[PaulOfHorsham]

Am I, then, the only one here who watches Great British Railway Journeys and was startled, as well as pleasantly surprised, to see one of the group in conversation with Mr. P this evening?

[Aqualung]

Am I, then, the only one here who watches Great British Railway Journeys and was startled, as well as pleasantly surprised, to see one of the group in conversation with Mr. P this evening?


Was that the one where he went to a Labour Club in Nelson where they could tell he was a Tory because he hadn't paid for his tea? I couldn't stand MP as a politician but he's won me over as a TV presenter with his appalling lack of taste in clothing and his willingness to take on anything even if it makes him look like a complete tit. I still don't always agree with him on the late Thursday politics show but at least I'm prepared to listen rather than just hurl the TV through the window.

[AlanH]

Am I, then, the only one here who watches Great British Railway Journeys and was startled, as well as pleasantly surprised, to see one of the group in conversation with Mr. P this evening?

Great to see our top Midlands reviewer on the Birmingham to Stoke edition having a good five minute chat with Mr. P :notworthy:

[PaulOfHorsham]

Of course, I'd hoped the conversation would end with Portillo saying, "Thanks, Soup. Now; where can I get a decent pint of MILD round here?".

[Quinno]

Soup soup soup!

[bcfczuluarmy]

Having never met him was he the one in the church in Great Wyrley/Landywood?

[Mobyduck]

Having never met him was he the one in the church in Great Wyrley/Landywood?

Yes.

[Tris39]

Was that the one where he went to a Labour Club in Nelson where they could tell he was a Tory because he hadn't paid for his tea? I couldn't stand MP as a politician but he's won me over as a TV presenter with his appalling lack of taste in clothing and his willingness to take on anything even if it makes him look like a complete tit. I still don't always agree with him on the late Thursday politics show but at least I'm prepared to listen rather than just hurl the TV through the window.

I'm not sure if I trust his railway programmes. I saw an episode where he exited Machynlleth railway station then stayed the night at The George III Hotel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/70577/) . The next morning he left the pub and got back on the train at Machynlleth, despite it being an hour's journey - with a change - from Barmouth, the pub's closest station.

[Aqualung]

I'm not sure if I trust his railway programmes. I saw an episode where he exited Machynlleth railway station then stayed the night at The George III Hotel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/70577/) . The next morning he left the pub and got back on the train at Machynlleth, despite it being an hour's journey - with a change - from Barmouth, the pub's closest station.

I didn't see that episode but wondered if that Hotel was mentioned by name as it's quite a famous place. Morfa Mawddach is actually the nearest station and is sited at the old junction of the Coast line and the one to Dolgellau and Bala. It was an important station then rather than the little used halt that seems to occasionally serve the odd walker. I've noticed on other episodes that the journey described isn't always consistent.

[Tris39]

I didn't see that episode but wondered if that Hotel was mentioned by name as it's quite a famous place. Morfa Mawddach is actually the nearest station and is sited at the old junction of the Coast line and the one to Dolgellau and Bala. It was an important station then rather than the little used halt that seems to occasionally serve the odd walker. I've noticed on other episodes that the journey described isn't always consistent.

Interesting. My mate lives directly opposite the pub over the estuary. Perhaps Morfa Mawddach is nearer but less convenient on the London via Birmingham route as my mate always picks me up from Barmouth. Beautiful location though, and a walk along the disused railway line (now footpath with signals) to Barmouth is excellent; so is the stunning view from the mountain of the pub which I took with my crummy iPhone 4.

[NickDavies]

I'm not sure if I trust his railway programmes. I saw an episode where he exited Machynlleth railway station then stayed the night at The George III Hotel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/70577/) . The next morning he left the pub and got back on the train at Machynlleth, despite it being an hour's journey - with a change - from Barmouth, the pub's closest station.

I expect the film crew had things like cars and vans and everyone stayed in the same hotel the whole time it took to make the show. They might well have had to do a train ride more than once if some dickhead ruined a shot by being being noisy or pushing past, as they do.

[Aqualung]

Interesting. My mate lives directly opposite the pub over the estuary. Perhaps Morfa Mawddach is nearer but less convenient on the London via Birmingham route as my mate always picks me up from Barmouth. Beautiful location though, and a walk along the disused railway line (now footpath with signals) to Barmouth is excellent; so is the stunning view from the mountain of the pub which I took with my crummy iPhone 4.

You would never call Morfa Mawddach "convenient" but if you were heading for Penmenpool on foot or by bicycle you would definitely go there. The four platforms and doube lines on both routes are long gone and there is now just a short platform with a crude hut on it, rather like Llanbedr further North where the hut disappeared in a storm some years ago!
The station was originally known as Barmouth Junction.
The Mawddach estuary is superb on the odd occasion when it stops raining.

[Gann]

Sorry late to this one as I have been away on vacation but I too have met Mr Portillo, as he was my local MP and it wasn't a good experience.
Along with Steve Norris he is one of the few people where I have been compelled to count my fingers after shaking his hand..

In fact he pissed his constituents off so much that I am not ashamed to say I was one of the many who voted him out of Enfield North and as such put an end to his political career....

And agree he has made a much better travel correspondent than he would have ever made a Prime Minister, which I firmly believe is something he should return to Enfield North and thank us for !!!

[Farway]

Sorry late to this one as I have been away on vacation but I too have met Mr Portillo, as he was my local MP and it wasn't a good experience.
Along with Steve Norris he is one of the few people where I have been compelled to count my fingers after shaking his hand..

In fact he pissed his constituents off so much that I am not ashamed to say I was one of the many who voted him out of Enfield North and as such put an end to his political career....

And agree he has made a much better travel correspondent than he would have ever made a Prime Minister, which I firmly believe is something he should return to Enfield North and thank us for !!!

Thanks enough in the look on his face when result was declared

[Tris39]

Thanks enough in the look on his face when result was declared


Indeed: '97, the look on Portaloo's face when he 'Twigged' that he'd lost - priceless.

[Aqualung]

Thanks enough in the look on his face when result was declared


It was the highlight of that election night! As far as I'm concerned he's redeemed himself with his railway programmes.

[sheffield hatter]

As far as I'm concerned he's redeemed himself with his railway programmes.

I've only seen the one that was the subject of this thread, and all I can say is that it reminds me why I hardly ever watch TV.

[Gann]

when he 'Twigged' that he'd lost

Very good..... Like what you did there !!

[bcfczuluarmy]

My dad has stopped watching his TV programs so as former BR staff member there may be something in the opinion of MP that turns people off now.

[sheffield hatter]

... there may be something in the opinion of MP that turns people off now.

I've got a theory that all the train interior shots are done on the same train, maybe going up and down the same line on a carriage they've booked out. (The absence of screaming kids is one giveaway; and the horrible Manc that I came across last week who called me a dickhead just because he was sitting in the bicycle space, where I wanted to put my bike.) He's got the script for the whole series, so all he has to do is remember it's the "red jacket, blue trousers" for episode 1, "yellow jacket, green trousers" for 2, etc. Then they drive thje shole production crew to the appropriate station and film him walking along a platform in bright sunshine as a train pulls out. Again, the absence of screaming kids and that annoying cyclist (or the bloke calling him a dickhead) are a giveaway.

The other thing that annoys me (not just Michael Portillo) is when all non-fictional prpogrammes have this fictionalised narrative. I mean when they film at location A, then location B, then location C, then it's "meanwhile back at location A". When you know damn well they've only sent a film crew and reporter to location A one time and one time only. No one has gone "back" there. Now feature writers in the Guardian (and who knows, perhaps other newspapers too) are doing the same. Even if they've done telephone interviews, or just emailed a few friends, and friends of friends, there's always a "meanwhile back at location A". Give us a break!

[Aqualung]

I've got a theory that all the train interior shots are done on the same train, maybe going up and down the same line on a carriage they've booked out. (The absence of screaming kids is one giveaway; and the horrible Manc that I came across last week who called me a dickhead just because he was sitting in the bicycle space, where I wanted to put my bike.) He's got the script for the whole series, so all he has to do is remember it's the "red jacket, blue trousers" for episode 1, "yellow jacket, green trousers" for 2, etc. Then they drive thje shole production crew to the appropriate station and film him walking along a platform in bright sunshine as a train pulls out. Again, the absence of screaming kids and that annoying cyclist (or the bloke calling him a dickhead) are a giveaway.

The other thing that annoys me (not just Michael Portillo) is when all non-fictional prpogrammes have this fictionalised narrative. I mean when they film at location A, then location B, then location C, then it's "meanwhile back at location A". When you know damn well they've only sent a film crew and reporter to location A one time and one time only. No one has gone "back" there. Now feature writers in the Guardian (and who knows, perhaps other newspapers too) are doing the same. Even if they've done telephone interviews, or just emailed a few friends, and friends of friends, there's always a "meanwhile back at location A". Give us a break!

I suspect that the content is completely out of MP's hands., Your other comments are simply a reflection on the way TV programmes are edited today (on all channels). They start up with a "coming up" section which us repeated in any commercial breaks. This is all done to save money as it's basically repeat material within an original programme.

[NickDavies]

I've got a theory that all the train interior shots are done on the same train, maybe going up and down the same line on a carriage they've booked out.

Depends whether you think it's an account of a train ride or a history of that railway. It's billed as the former but is really the latter.

[Tris39]

I've got a theory that all the train interior shots are done on the same train, maybe going up and down the same line on a carriage they've booked out. (The absence of screaming kids is one giveaway; and the horrible Manc that I came across last week who called me a dickhead just because he was sitting in the bicycle space, where I wanted to put my bike.) He's got the script for the whole series, so all he has to do is remember it's the "red jacket, blue trousers" for episode 1, "yellow jacket, green trousers" for 2, etc. Then they drive thje shole production crew to the appropriate station and film him walking along a platform in bright sunshine as a train pulls out. Again, the absence of screaming kids and that annoying cyclist (or the bloke calling him a dickhead) are a giveaway.

The other thing that annoys me (not just Michael Portillo) is when all non-fictional prpogrammes have this fictionalised narrative. I mean when they film at location A, then location B, then location C, then it's "meanwhile back at location A". When you know damn well they've only sent a film crew and reporter to location A one time and one time only. No one has gone "back" there. Now feature writers in the Guardian (and who knows, perhaps other newspapers too) are doing the same. Even if they've done telephone interviews, or just emailed a few friends, and friends of friends, there's always a "meanwhile back at location A". Give us a break!

Yes. The clothing does it for me - why does he insist on dressing like Rupert Bear's big sister?

TV is all made up - The Apprentice: apparently the 'boardroom' is a film studio at Shepperton or the like and the 'secretary' is an actress; when the phone 'rings', it's an archive track added later; she just says 'You may go in now' on cue. The taxi's departure scenes are all filmed on the same day - the taxi simply reverses and the next candidate gets in. And apparently Sugar fires the candidate after consultation with the producers. And does anyone possibly believe that he hasn't seen the contestants' business plans in advance? There's no way he's going to sack someone with a brilliant business plan. I doubt they spend any time in the Apprentice House either, except on the day before a task; how can they take time out from their jobs? And how on earth do they survive with just the contents of a tiny wheelie suitcase? I pack light and I fill one of these for just a weekend away.

[NickDavies]

I doubt they spend any time in the Apprentice House either, except on the day before a task; how can they take time out from their jobs? And how on earth do they survive with just the contents of a tiny wheelie suitcase? I pack light and I fill one of these for just a weekend away.

There's an account here of what happens. They are away all the time and paid a fee meant to cover loss of earnings. The wheely thing is explained too.


https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-07-11/revealed-secrets-of-the-apprentice/

[oldboots]

...

TV is all made up - The Apprentice: apparently the 'boardroom' is a film studio at Shepperton or the like and the 'secretary' is an actress; when the phone 'rings', it's an archive track added later; she just says 'You may go in now' on cue. The taxi's departure scenes are all filmed on the same day - the taxi simply reverses and the next candidate gets in. And apparently Sugar fires the candidate after consultation with the producers. And does anyone possibly believe that he hasn't seen the contestants' business plans in advance? There's no way he's going to sack someone with a brilliant business plan. I doubt they spend any time in the Apprentice House either, except on the day before a task; how can they take time out from their jobs? And how on earth do they survive with just the contents of a tiny wheelie suitcase? I pack light and I fill one of these for just a weekend away.




There's an account here of what happens. They are away all the time and paid a fee meant to cover loss of earnings. The wheely thing is explained too.


https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2011-07-11/revealed-secrets-of-the-apprentice/


Ah the magic of television. It appears fortunate that I've never seen this programme, oddly I'm mainly with Will on the subject of the Idiot's Lantern; although I do sometimes like Mr Portaloos stuff on trains, less so his potted histories.