Interviewing Madonna
- 1 Nov 06, 09:36 AM
What's harder to get - an interview with the Taleban or one with Madonna?
Not much in it I'd say, but assuming all goes to plan Newsnight will have managed both within a week. Tonight Madonna will give her first UK interview since adopting a baby in Malawi, when she talks to Kirsty Wark. (you can watch a clip here)
The question on most people's lips is - how on earth did you manage that? The answer, really, is persistence and luck. Newsnight has been making a series for BBC Four in which Kirsty talks to prominent women in the media - we already have interviews with Tracey Emin, Alison Jackson and Janine di Giovanni lined up. And of course we bid for that ultimate media woman Madonna.
And of course she turned us down.
But when the story of the adoption of David Banda broke, producer Natalie Schaverien had the presence of mind to fire off a renewed bid. So, presumably, when the queen of pop decided the time was right to give her side of the story we had sufficiently prepared the ground so she instantly thought: Oprah Winfrey and Newsnight's Kirsty Wark. Obvious really.
So, was Madonna right or wrong to adopt a Malawian baby? And is Newsnight right to interview her?
Peter Barron is editor of Newsnight
