The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

The celebs fight back

Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan - this was the week the celebrities went to war on the tabloids

By Sophie Elmhirst Published 09 July 2011 11:57

Perhaps it was the moment that Hugh Grant brushed off on Jon Gaunt's attempt to bring up Divine Brown on Question Time. Or Steve Coogan's opening gambit to Paul McMullan on Newsnight last night: "You are a walking PR disaster for the tabloids... you come across as a risible individual." Either way, this was the week the hacked and famous got their spectacular revenge.

Grant, an old hand at the story after his report for the New Statesman, and multiple media appearances since, kept his cool on Question Time, winning round the audience with the ease of an actor who had fumbled his way expertly through a series of heartwarming Richard Curtis films. By the end of the programme, the massed ranks of Twitter were calling for him to elected a real-life, Love Actually-style Prime Minister, complete with a Martine McCutcheon love interest.

Coogan, on the other hand - his head framed by a cloud of unruly hair - was overcome with fury, shouting down the increasingly absurd McMullan, who seemed to crumple into his chair. McMullan had the unfortunate nervous smirk of a man collapsing under questioning (note, at about 29 mins and 20 seconds in, the almost tragic little sigh he emits after Coogan's latest battering), but even the smirk couldn't hold out as Coogan repeatedly told him that he was "morally bankrupt". (Coogan had problems of his own: his anger was such that he had to keep spelling out the swearwords he couldn't say on air: BS, S-H-I-T, and so on).

This won't be a popular assessment of what is already a legendary encounter, but I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for McMullan by the end, as Emily Maitlis rightly observed that he seemed a "tortured soul" and Coogan mocked the fact that McMullan kept being "wheeled out because no one else could be bothered". You could almost smell his desperation as he suggested that celebrities like Grant were jumping on the back of the story because they hadn't made a film for a few years. Grant, I presume, was watching at home, laughing his head off.

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20 comments

Sun, 2011-07-10 19:15 — mohip (not verified)

Hmmm, after re-watching entire episode, I can see Coogan has gone full circle, and is now appearing in a real life The Day Today as the Morally Outraged Celebrity losing his rag at rat-like evil hack...

only now with post modern commentary by Will Self.

Sun, 2011-07-10 20:42 — jkjkjkjj

=http://www.abcneed.com=

Sun, 2011-07-10 22:23 — james (not verified)

Its clear that most people will sympathise with Mcmullan. He's an honest journalist who exposes honest stories and sometimes crosses a line in seek to make something more transparent. He's also not obsessed with money like bankers as Coogan accused. Journalism is well paid at the top but nothing compared to other professions like law and banking.

Mcmullan is just a slightly dodgy guy who to his credit is honest. He's not an evil person as celebrities like to claim. Most level headed people would see that bankers and politicians who lie and commit fraud to get rich are far worse than a guy who goes a bit to far in trying to find the truth in something

Sun, 2011-07-10 22:25 — Freeman2

I'd be interested to hear a bit more about Coogan boasting in the green room about the number of houses he'd bought this year. Presumably when he was having a laugh with McMullen before the performance.

Sun, 2011-07-10 22:52 — mediumal57

james -"goes a bit far to find the truth in something?"

What planet are you on mate? If Coogan was being exposed for something really serious he'd done wrong or something, I might agree with your assessment of McMullen. He's just a prurient little tittle-tattling muck raker. None of his defence of his trade cut much ice with me. And he deserved to attacked for his supercillious contemptible attitude.

Wed, 2011-07-13 23:58 — Ivan Miletitch

McMullan is a sh*t digger and in the process became a piece of sh*t himself , end of. If he ends up serving time (hasn't he already?)...good, if he never works again in the industry...good (incidentally >> JMac, it is not justice, it is retribution, almost as good!). Mc Mullan was never a JOURNALIST to start with, calling him & his accomplices that is an insult to the profession!

Sat, 2011-07-09 17:03 — A Wilson (not verified)

Yes,I feel both Coogan and Greg Dyke were justifiably angered by McMullans rather astonishing and utterly shameless admission that hacking was ok and 'rather fun',- considering the recent revelations he seemed oblivious to the implications of the actions of NOTW in this matter as well as the depth of public feeling - he ( McMullen ) really did seem to fit the clichéd portrayal of the gutter-level hack in his overall attitude and seeming contempt ( or was it just professional jealousy for people with actual talent?) for both his co-interviewees.
I also couldn't help feeling that there were several moments when Steve Coogan was on the point of morphing into his Alan Partridge alter-ego when his temper flared up, or was that just my imagination?
Either way, it made for some riveting TV.

Sat, 2011-07-09 17:14 — JMac

McMullan came across as pathetic, envious and self-loathing. If you felt sorry for him, check out the story of Jennifer Elliot, a drug addict whom McMullan admitted that he hounded until she committed suicide.
Just occasionally, amoral vermin get something approaching the humiliation they deserve. This was McMullan's turn. It's called justice and there's no need for any sympathy.

Sat, 2011-07-09 17:37 — greenmurphy (not verified)

gee - is there ANYTHING more important than phone hacking and celebs?

here are ten stories that are ALL more important - right now.

http://www.sodiumhaze.org/?p=655

Tue, 2011-07-12 15:35 — Arthur O'Connor

Maitlis - as always - lovely. Coogan like a scruff. McMullen unimpressive.

Sat, 2011-07-09 20:01 — English Electric (not verified)

It was brilliant TV. Strangely, I was left with a grudging admiration for McMullan. He withstood a withering assault from Coogan. He even landed a couple of (low) blows himself.

Sat, 2011-07-09 20:39 — Lady J (not verified)

I was in agreement with Coogan until he was asked how he felt about Cameron,s closeness to the Murdoch gang and employing Coulson. In fact he was asked twice but he refused to comment on Cameron. This makes a nonsense of his accusation that no one was brave enough to call out News International.

Well Coogan, when are you going to call out Cameron or are you also waiting to be given a job to silence you?

Sat, 2011-07-09 20:50 — Julian2

Lady J says 'Well Coogan, when are you going to call out Cameron or are you also waiting to be given a job to silence you?'
You're a cynic I see, just like that McMullen bloke. Pathetic. Or are you McMullen himself?

Sat, 2011-07-09 20:58 — Martin D (not verified)

Good stuff from McMullan - celebrities are role-models and because so many people in our society look up to them, their behaviour needs regulating too.

Scummy journalists do that job particularly well.

Sat, 2011-07-09 21:15 — hugh markey (not verified)

With a matinee idol and a comedian in the cast of players we find it difficult to make up our minds. Is this a love story or a comedy?
Now McMullan is perfect for the malign character. He can wear the black hat. That way we'll know where we are.
Of course there's no doubt that Hugh Grant could pull of a latter-day Cary Grant role and Coogan could always fit in, even write the script, we suppose. But McMullan? More Hammer House of Horrors, don't you think? And Becky - with that pre-Raphaelite mane. Gotta be Gothic. Now who can we get for the monster? Pretty obvious we'd have thought. And extras! Yes, Tory cannon-fodder! What a blood fest!

Video Nasty

Tue, 2011-07-12 18:23 — Graham Griffiths (not verified)

Actually I was a bit disappointed at the way Coogan handled it. He could have left Mcmullen to dig his own hole for a bit longer to show what an obnoxious creep he is. However, both Coogan and Dyke were so wound up by his first, preposterous comments that they dived straight in and it ended with McMullen and Coogan simply shouting each other down.

Sat, 2011-07-09 22:52 — clare jordan (not verified)

celebs fight back? i dont blame them, they have been on the receiving end of a free for all for years. carry on i say.

Sat, 2011-07-09 23:30 — hayneman

I had previously rather admired McMullen fo rhaving the guts to go public on his part in the whole disgusting hacking saga. But the Newsnight interview showed him to be a flailing, self-righteous pathetic figure. He kept describing himself as a journalist but was nothing of the kind - just a pathetic, prurient, envious little sh*t.

Sun, 2011-07-10 03:16 — hjhjhjhh

==http://www.abcneed.com==

Sun, 2011-07-10 17:36 — Dan H (not verified)

One of the most exhilarating pieces of TV I've seen - visceral, live and wonderfully unexpected. Credit to the BBC and Emily Maitlis for opening up the debate in this way and Greg Dyke certainly played his part, but Steve Coogan's all-out onslaught will
live long in the memory - controlled incandescence at its finest. Just watching McMullan slowly fry himself in the glare of the studio lights while Coogan waited to pounce was enjoyable enough, but then bang!
"walking PR disaster...risible individual...Hitler was kind to dogs" Coogan's bullet words are still bouncing round my brain. It's just a shame that a bigger fish (James Murdoch perhaps) couldn't or wouldn't go head to head with Coogan, Hugh Grant or any other tabloid victim.