Alastair Campbell on Self-Doubt

Alastair Campbell on self-doubt.

"Self-doubt that leads to resolution of the doubts can be a remarkable source of energy and creativity".

In the last of five Essays making The Case for Doubt, journalist and broadcaster Alastair Campbell, acknowledging his reputation as a hard man while Tony Blair's spokesman and strategist, admits that self-doubt has always been an essential part of his make-up. But reflecting on Galileo's assertion that self-doubt is 'the father of all invention', he argues that it should be a creative rather than a crippling experience.

This ends the series The Case for Doubt, in which five contributors have argued that Doubt - though sometimes troubling - is meaningful and valuable, and not negative and weak.

First broadcast in April 2012.