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Michael Gove’s embarrassing TV past

Footage emerges of a young Gove with David Baddiel in the television comedy A Stab in the Dark.

By George Eaton Published 09 July 2010 11:05

It hasn't been the best of weeks for Michael Gove, but, should it all become too much for the Education Secretary, he can always try his luck in TV again. TV? That's right, Gove was a regular alongside the comedian David Baddiel and Tracey MacLeod in the short-lived Channel 4 series A Stab in the Dark (think of it as a poor man's Brass Eye).

The show was so poorly received that Channel 4 executives reportedly went around wearing badges that read "I had nothing to do with A Stab in the Dark".

A friend has unearthed the only publicly available footage from the programme. Gove makes his appearance around the 6:30 mark. His interview with an "armed robber" is perhaps most notable for not containing a single decent gag.

Hat-tip: The Medium is Not Enough.

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3 comments

Salop_Ian's picture

Sun, 2010-07-11 18:45 — Salop_Ian

As I recall Michael Gove had just finished a stint as a reporter on the BBC1 politics programme 'On the Record' and so was a reasonably experienced TV broadcaster.
I saw a couple of the ‘A Stab in the Dark’ programmes. The only piece that has stuck in my memory – probably as I studied at the then Bristol Poly – is one by Gove ridiculing the polytechnics and FE colleges that had recently been conferred with University status by the government. As I remember there was a snobbish tone to comments about these not being ‘proper’ universities despite their adoption of the all the cap and gown academic trimmings. It would be a real pity if no recordings of this item by the current Secretary of State for Education now exist.

Dave C's picture

Fri, 2010-07-09 14:01 — Dave C (not verified)

"(think of it as a poor man's Brass Eye)."

Not really, it was more topical monologues and discussion, closer in spirit to That Was The Week That Was and other Sixties satire shows.

It was an experiment worth trying, though a failed one. As I remember it, the presenters lacked warmth and
flair.

There's quite a good piece on it here: http://www.tvcream.co.uk/?p=21621

jie4v7i14's picture

Sat, 2010-07-10 17:38 — jie4v7i14

Anyone remember that Lee and Herring show, on a Sunday lunchtime I think, the one with a bloke with an incredible small face on it or something? Whats 'er name was on it as well, I think.

that's it, found, "This Morning with Richard Not Judy". Was perfect to watch after coming home from church, maybe...

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