>Never a comedian, but he did once cause a cabinet minister to walk out of an interview in protest. Which is more of an impact than most political comics have ever had.
>
Yes, John Nott. He said, "You are, if I may say so minister, something of a here today, gone tomorrow politician". Nott plucked off his microphone and walked out, saying it was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard. Robin Day also described Dennis Skinner as "a parliamentary cunt" and then quickly corrected himself to say "cult". Both of these are on the BBC Christmas tapes - not sure if the Skinner one was a fake though.... Nott was quite genuine

The thing about John Nott, of course, is that, in political terms, he WAS gone the next day...

>The thing about John Nott, of course, is that, in political terms, he WAS gone the next day...

That was Robin Day's whole point. Nott had already announced he was retiring from politics.

Just to be pedantic, Day's actual line was 'Why should the public believe you, a here-today-gone-tomorrow politician, concerning the Royal Navy...'

Day was posing as the champion of national defence against the cost-cutting short-sighted career politician. Which is actually all that Nott was (he had to quit because his earlier spending cuts nearly caused defeat in the Falklands).

Simon I wouldn't be dispirited. Jon gets all nervy if he lets a correction go unnoticed.

I prefered your quote anyway Simon.

Just to be even more pedantic, wasn't it "here-today and if I may gone-tomorrow"?
It was in there somewhere.

Oh, it doesn't matter. All I've been thinking of since Robin's death is the Goodies pisstake - "Robin Yad M.P." with a a rubbish facial disguise. Panorama's Mixed Dancing contest.

Another thing - wasn't he on a chat show with Ben Elton back in 89/90, and he attacked Elton for being rubbish?

I didn't see it, but when BE was interviewed by Clive Anderson in the 1st series of his C4 chat show, they mentioned the incident. BE seemed to suggest that Day practically assaulted him.

>Another thing - wasn't he on a chat show with Ben Elton back in 89/90, and he attacked Elton for being rubbish?

Yes, you're right, it was "Aspel and Company" in about 1989, I actually have it on video somewhere. He said, "You are, Mr Elton, something of a, if I may say so, rubbish comedian...." Actually, no he didn't, but Day cast considerable scorn over Elton's work. Elton tried to laugh it off, but looked very hurt - bet he never got over it...
The other guest was Warren Mitchell, I think, and the comment came when all three guests were lined up together.

In the same series, Rod Stewart got so annoyed with one of Aspel's comments, he grabbed his shoes off him and threw them across the studio - obviously Rod's heavily influenced by Rod Hull.