Classic Tuckerian spin putting it back on the interviewer like that

Campbell even spinning a review of In The Loop to make himself look better. Insane.

"God Kermode, your hands are massive!"
Ollie Reeder, The Thick of It Season 3

"Did I ever swear in front of George bush?"

I'm sorry but that's brilliant

It's beautiful to watch a master at work. Never interview a Spin Doctor.

Love him or hate him, Alistair Campbell is a very smart man, the way he dissected Kermode's opinions on politics was articulate, sublime and ruthless.

Actually I agree with Campbell and did so before watching this video. Although parts of in the loop are riotously funny it wasn't as good as the thick of it.

This was a very weird interview. Mark Kermode seems to want Alastair Campbell to "admit" that the movie was really about him and that he apologizes for being "evil" while Campbell tries to tell him in a very polite (or passive-aggressive , depends on how you look at it)way that he really doesn't give a shit about movie critics as politcal commentators.

Huge Freudian slip, when AC said "There was one bit where I said" not "There was one bit where Tucker said"!!

"Did I ever swear at George Bush?" - LMAO

I'm not the biggest Campbell fan by any stretch but he does raise a point about the perception of politicians. I'm not calling for the violins here but to systematically assume that they're all in it for themselves and it's all about power (yes quite a few are) is lazy, you mean to tell me that not one person went into parliament trying to do their best for the country?

This is prophetic. The venal and crass back and forth, Alistair made some very solid predictions that appear to have come true.

Cambell does actually make some good points. Mark Kermode was quite unwilling to change his mind or look at the topic from a different angle. The creators did end up saying that Malcolm Tucker wasn't really based on Cambell. If I was Mark I would have asked Cambell if he minded that the movie was going to be close to the public perception of how the politics of the time was viewed, not continually suggest that the movie was an accurate portrayal of those politics.

Whilst trying to say Malcom Tucker is nothing like him, he absolutely rips the interviewer apart.

"More spinned against than spinning" is a very good line by Mark in fairness

Whatever you think of Campbell he is an extremely intelligent and crafty communicator, he was 'sincere', funny and charismatic while spinning the whole time. No wonder he was so influential in his hey day!

I like Kermode a lot, but he was hopelessly outclassed by Campbell.

I have a lot of sympathy with what Campbell is saying about scepticism and cynicism and the responsibility of people like Kermode. OTOH The Thick Of It is the funniest thing I've ever seen on telly and In The Loop was funny too.

I like politics but the way Campbell squirmed while watching this and the dismissing of the film clearly has woken some ghosts. He could see himself in Tucker and he knew it.

I agree with Campbell throughout most of this interview. He makes some good points.