God he’s turning up all the time now with his emails isn’t he? What is it now?
Well this is exciting. Really exciting. Friday has arrived so tonight is my first outing as the new Friday presenter of Newsnight. Actual Newsnight. Wacka-wa wa-wa-wa-wah Newsnight. Did you threaten to over-rule him Newsnight. Pizza Express in Woking Newsnight. Could you live on £70 a week Newsnight. Thriller on Halloween Newsnight.
And now me on Newsnight. I’ll still be on BBC Radio 5 Live every weekday afternoon, but then on Friday night I will be on BBC 2 rounding off the week’s big news stories.
My old mate Paddy O’Connell takes over Thursday nights, with us joining the legend that is Victoria Derbyshire still helming Monday to Wednesday.
Newsnight is a programme with such an incredible history (45 years on air this year) which has been reinvented by Victoria and the brilliant team in the last year.
When I guest hosted a few weeks ago, the relationship between America and Canada was high in the news (isn’t it always?). And there was a big idea to get the most famous Canadian possible on to react to not just the politics of it all, but the impact it was having on Canadian life.
The moment the cry went up in the newsroom “Celine Dion is a no” I knew it was a team I wanted to work with. Huge ambition in the bidding, total commitment to not just making the news but explaining it too. (I ended up speaking to the Canadian TV host George Stroumboulopoulos who was brilliant at describing the Canadian mood at the prospect of becoming the 51st state.)
If you've ever shouted at the news 'well what does that mean?' the moment you hear that electric guitar of the Newsnight theme, you know you're going to get answers. (When I presented for the first time a few weeks ago, the theme kicked in and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.)
All of this excitement comes as Newsnight has seen rising ratings and increased audience numbers across terrestrial TV, iPlayer and social media.
After spending the week skulking about in Westminster, what better way to spend Friday night than passing on all the gossip and intrigue I've picked up, joined by smart, funny and surprising guests?
It’s all a long way from the Somerset Levels and the Taunton Times, but I can’t wait to get started. Which is lucky because my first show is tonight, 10.30pm, BBC Two. Wish me luck.
For two decades I have feasted on politics, stalking the corridors, pubs and restaurants of Westminster. Now I have all the ingredients to cook up a brand new show looking at parliament's feuding food factions and how politicians really are what they eat. From Keir Starmer’s fish and cheese, to Kemi Badenoch’s hatred of sandwiches, from Nigel Farage’s proper milk to Ed Davey’s fig rolls, everything (and everyone) is on the menu.
WARNING: Politics may contain nuts.
As seen on Have I Got News For You (BBC1), Newsnight (BBC 2) and Lorraine (ITV1).
30th June Norwich Playhouse
1st July Farnham Maltings
2nd July Bristol Redgrave Theatre
3rd July Lyme Regis Marine Theatre
4th July Oxford North Wall
7th July Canterbury Gulbenkian
8th July Newcastle The Stand
9th July Edinburgh The Stand
10th July Birmingham Glee Club
12th July Salford Lowry
13th July Cheltenham Town Hall
8 November Taunton Brewhouse
10 November London Cambridge Theatre
Well that will do for now. Do hit the like button if you liked it. If you didn’t like it, just keep it to yourself, alright?
Good luck tonight Matt! Sure you will be brilliant.
Congrats Matt. I've booked to see you at Farnham maltings, I listen to you on 5live daily and now you're on Newsnight every Friday..... is that just a little bit too much Matt Chorley? Chorley Not! Might see you in Costa again soon😁😎