Gloria Hunniford slams Jonathan Ross for 'lewd' sex talks with guests on TV chat show
Updated 09:22am on 2 Jul 2008
Veteran TV presenter Gloria Hunniford has attacked Jonathan Ross for constantly talking about sex with his guests.
Hunniford, 68, said Ross was not interested in holding a conversation with those who appeared on his show.
She said that instead the presenter only wanted to show off his lewd wit and talk about his guests' sex lives.
Radio and TV presenter Gloria Hunniford has slammed Jonathan Ross for his remarks on his BBC show Friday night with Jonathan Ross, claiming that he talks about his guest's sex lives to show off his lewd wit
Ross, who earns £18m for presenting Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, has irked numerous guests for delving into their private lives.
When David Cameron appeared on the programme in 2006 Ross caused a storm when he asked if the Conservative leader had ever had sexual fantasies about Margaret Thatcher when he was a boy.
Gweneth Paltrow on Jonathan Ross's show in May, where the presenter said he would like to have sex with her
Former Tory minister Lord Tebbit branded Ross 'obscene' and although more than 250 people complained to media regulator Ofcom no formal action was taken.
Earlier this year, Ross told actress Gwyneth Paltrow: 'If you want to have sex I will phone my wife and if she gives me permission, I will f*** you. You're clearly gagging for it.'
And in March he spoke at length with Private Benjamin star Goldie Hawn, 62, on her sex life with actor husband Kurt Russell, 57.
Hunniford, who has interviewed dozens of celebrities during her career, said: 'I do get a bit annoyed with some of the new chat shows.'
'Take Jonathan Ross. I like his show but he uses his guests as a tool for his own humour, whereas Parky would try to learn about them.
'That's the type of interview I like best. If you have a major Hollywood star as a guest, you want to hear about them rather than just talking about sex all the time.'
Hunniford, a former host of The Heaven and Earth Show, Open House and Sunday Sunday, is not the first to bewail the decline in standards on TV chat shows.
Last year, Sir Michael Parkinson aimed a barb at Ross and Charlotte Church.
Parkinson, whose own career ended in December, said: "Mine's the last of the classic interview based chat shows. The rest now are just comedy shows. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not what I do. So this is it. I'm done."
Hunniford made her comments to TV Times magazine.
Reader views (5)
If you don't like him, don't watch his show. His guests know what to expect. If they don't, they (or their people) should do some research and request to review "back" shows before agreeing to appear. At the end of the day they're on his show for publicity. They're in it as much for themselves as he is. We have a choice folks - it's not compulsory viewing. If people switch him off, the Beeb won't renew his contract. Fact of the matter is, he must be hitting his audience targets so there are people out there who enjoy the show.
- Bill, France, 03/07/2008 14:12
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Jonathan Ross is fantastic - a truly witty and intelligent man. All his guests (most of which are real A listers I hasten to add) have an amazing time on his show and in turn it makes for fantastic viewing. Gloria Hunniford and Parkinson? Mover over Grandma and Grandad, there's a reason you're complaining and that's because your shows were axed - the viewers want Wossy!
- Cw, London, 03/07/2008 13:20
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Every Saturday morning after the great Brian Matthews show, we have the habit of turning this idiot off, what on earth does the BBC see in him, he can't even speak proper English for starters. Thank the World Service for the fact that he is not on the service. At least some sense in the BBC. A dreadful man and thank God we live abroad from this complete rubbish!
- Steve Evans, Malta, 02/07/2008 21:05
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I long ago gave up watching Jonathan Ross on TV. His talk show is a total embarrassment to watch, with the host trying to outdo himself each week on how lewd and provocative he can be, and by the end of the 'interview' you're no nearer finding out anything about the guest. £18m down the drain by the BBC.
- Paul Wilson, London, UK, 02/07/2008 10:20
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I wholeheartedly agree with Gloria - Ross is just in it for himself.
- Suzanne, surrey, 02/07/2008 09:02
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