David Dimbleby

I like DD, he manages to chair a group of disparate egos well. I asked a question once, after he pointed and said "you, that woman at the back". I'd no problem with that description, I was indeed that woman at the back with her hand up.
I do feel we lack a word like "ma'am" or 'madam' In America, women are respectfully called "ma'am". Like NotTooOld, I'm not a lady and much prefer to b e called a woman.

I stopped watching D.D. some time ago because of his too frequent interruptions, and his questioning of the panel; that is what the audience is there for and want to do. His brother Jonathan behaves in exactly the same way on 'Any Questions'. It is quite deliberate, I watched it being recorded and the producer engineered the programme to suit whatever BBC bias had priority at the time. She sat on the stage with the panel and used a whole range of hand gestures to instruct JD to carry on talking, interrupt, end questioning, whatever. But I did notice the use of 'woman' as opposed to 'sir' and thought it rude.
Don't bother to listen/watch either now.

I think DD does quite a good job on QT. I don't see why he shouldn't say 'that woman, there' etc. What's wrong with that? I would object if he said 'that lady, there'. I'm not a lady, never have been, but I'll always be a woman. He does also frequently say 'the man in the pink shirt' and sometimes refers to men as 'sir' and women as 'madam', so he's not discriminating. By the way, there was a picture of his ex-wife, Jocelyn Dimbleby, in The Oldie recently. Apparently they were divorced 20 years ago. She's 73, I think, but still very glamorous.

And l will have to watch h on Thursday now ...

Now I know what I'm watching later... QT on catch up with the subtitles and pen and paper!

I think DD has been well past his use by date for a long time but probably has friends in high places. Another bugbear of mine is interviewers that won't let the interviewee answer the question without constantly interrupting; some of them just like the sound of their own voice too much.

The trait seems to run through Dimbley men.

I shout most at the radio when juniorD is on Question time, And there is a lot of Harrumphing there too.

If I could be bothered, to time it, can't, he wastes more time uming and aching.

Could get at least 2 more questions in.

BBC and its cronies, and we pay for their bloated salaries.

I like DD.

He sometimes says ' Madam' and 'That man in the ....tie/shirt there ... '

Surprisingly enough, I haven't kept a tally, but it has never struck me as uneven.

If he were in the services, he could try addressing a female officer with "That woman there", and see what response he gets. Oh, I see now - all the men he is speaking to must be officers, but not any of the women.

It is a matter of equivalents - if a man is "sir" then a woman should be "ma'am". If a woman is "That woman there," then a man should be "That man there".

It is quite simple. "Sir" implies respect and humility in addressing him. "That woman there", doesn't.

No idea gramma. I don't care very much either! When I don't like something I tell the TV and DH what I think then switch off!

I’m quite happy for them to be called women, Nonnie, but what have the men done to warrant a ‘sir’? Why can’t he call them men?

I agree with Tegan and avoid watching anything with him in it. Horrid man.

What should he call them? A while back on here a man was pilloried for calling women ladies so perhaps he can't win whatever he says? Should he call them maam or madam?

Now you come to mention it, grammargran

I usually shout at DD for interrupting.

I hadn't noticed because I avoid anything he's on for fear of throwing a brick through my television! Having said that, I'll make a point of watching QT [for a short while].