The Special Relationship – 18 Sept 2010

Today’s recording starts with the end of QI. There’s a trail for The Rob Brydon Show. A trail for Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. And a trail for Excluded, part of a School season. Then, we have a film, The Special Relationship. This is the third film starring Michael Sheen as Tony Blair, after The Deal and The Queen, all of which were written by Peter Morgan. We meet him in Washington in 1992, being briefed by Democrat strategists on how to win an election. Four years later, and he’s invited to the Oval Office by Bill Clinton, which was an unusual honour for the Leader of the Opposition. Clinton is played by Dennis Quaid, who does a good impression of him. I like the footage of Sheen as Blair after Labour’s election victory, processed to look like TV footage. Adam Godley plays Blair advisor Jonathan Powell. I keep getting him confused with the Jonathan Powell who worked at the BBC and cancelled Doctor Who in the 80s. Helen McCrory plays Cherie Blair. Tony in a bathtub. Going for…