BBC And Darren Grimes - OH DEAR

Yes, Sunday Morning Live is what might be called undemanding viewing, but if the BBC wants to put four pundits before the viewers for a discussion of the merits, or otherwise, of private education, the least it can do is to invite those who have not only an interest in the subject at hand, but also who have bothered to do their research beforehand.

So what did they do this morning? To provide what is laughably called “balance”, they invited the education expert that is, er, Darren Grimes. Yes, someone at the Beeb thought that putting a destructive ignoramus, along with the unpeeled potato sized chip on his shoulder, on the panel to provide that “balance” was somehow A Very Good Thing.

Mic Wright decided to kick off. “I studied Education at Cambridge University (2:1). I am a school governor. I have written about education issues for 15 years. I am the first in my family to attend university. I have lots of broadcast experience. And now on [SML] … Darren Grimes, an expert in nothing”. Another Tweeter added “WTF Darren Grimes is doing on your channel [BBC]? Who is funding him? Who asked him as your guest? Are you turning into Fox News? He’s [a] failed fashion student ffs!”. There was more.

“What the hell does [Darren Grimes] actually know about anything? Surely you should have some expertise in any area to give an opinion on the BBC. Grimes, you had little to offer to the discussion other than telling us you did an apprenticeship in media studies … Made the mistake of putting [SML] on. Their expert panel discussing education includes Darren Grimes, whose sole qualification is that he once attended a school. I try to defend the BBC but they do themselves no favours with this nonsense”. Quite. And more.

“I'm all for diversity of opinion, but Grimes is an empty vessel. How on earth he gets a platform anywhere, let alone the BBC, is mind boggling”. And the obvious point: “People like Darren Grimes are entitled to voice their view. They shouldn't be allowed to voice it on the BBC. Having an opinion isn't a qualification to be considered an expert”.

Then came the questions. “Why does the BBC insist on giving airtime to the manufactured and paid for opinions of a gobshite like Darren Grimes?! Why not go whole hog and get Tom Harwood on as well?!” I think he’s on holiday, and don’t tempt them. Also, “Is Brexit gobshite Darren Grimes, whose Twitter header is a photo of him appearing on the BBC and who was, once again, on the BBC this morning talking utter bollocks, still a part of the ‘grassroots’ campaign to [Defund the BBC]?” Grimes is also an unspeakable hypocrite.

Also, there had to be a reminder of Grimes’ latest mis-step: “Seeing as Darren Grimes is trending again, seems as good a time as any to remind everybody how he openly agreed with the appalling racist mischaracterisation of history from David Starkey, and despite this had been invited to talk about education by the BBC”. John Traynor concluded simply “BBC has arsehole Darren Grimes on because it doesn't understand balance in broadcasting”. There is balance, but inviting Grimes to waffle pointlessly is not it.

What, one has to ask, is the point of inviting pundits with some expertise, who are prepared to research their subject, just to find they have to debate with Darren Grimes, whose USP is to whine about people calling him an idiot. Because he is one.

Having an opinion is not the same as knowledge. Know the difference, BBC people.

Enjoy your visit to Zelo Street? You can help this truly independent blog carry on talking truth to power, while retaining its sense of humour, by adding to its Just Giving page at

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/zelostreet6