Do you ever get up in the morning to see Laura Kuenssberg on TV? We all did: the BBC’s Sunday morning politics show is something of a ritual in our house, the perfect accompaniment to a bacon sandwich and a strong mug of tea as the talking points of the week are chewed over.
This weekend, there was added excitement as it was Laura’s debut in the seat vacated by Andrew Marr last year.
We’re fans in our household. We consider Laura K one of the brighter — literally and figuratively — personalities in current affairs, delivering incisive analysis with a splash of colour that marks her out in the grey, besuited world of TV news.
There was an in-person glamazon on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Laura Kuenssberg, the new studio Laura, was all party in her black sparkly Whistles jumper with pencil skirt combination. I wish she had saved it for Christmas.
On Sunday however, Laura’s new look distracted the crowd gathered around my couch. Did she even see it? Surely I wasn’t the only one who did a double take.
They were replaced by sensible, no-nonsense dresses in primary colours and shoes that allowed her to sprint for a minister who was trying to dodge questions.
Gone too was that windswept bob, the consequence of a thousand ‘pieces to camera’ whatever the weather, shivering outside No 10, soaked through on College Green or buffeted on a BBC HQ rooftop. It was a reflection of her lack of vanity and her intractable ‘let’s just get on with this’ attitude.
There was instead a glamazon on site, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Laura the studio version had been all party in her black sparkly Whistles sweater and pencil skirt combination that I’d saved for the Christmas special.
The trademark bob had been grown out to her shoulders and teased into a glossy, flicky, wavy style that my hairdresser would call a ‘downtown blow dry’.
It was Laura Kuenssberg’s first time in the seat that Andrew Marr vacated last year, adding excitement to this weekend
The make-up! You don’t need to be fresh-faced or foxy. The BBC made-up artists were all business with a slew of bold lipstick colour and eyeshadow.
It was a great look, I have to say. It was a seismic shift from reporter to presenter, and it required a particular aesthetic under the harsh studio lighting.
Laura was trying to convince Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Rishi to give up with more than just a soundbite. I became distracted by the shoes of Laura. A pair of vertiginous heels — five inches, I’d guess — that would leave her trailing behind even the stoutest of fleeing interviewees.
It made me angry and sad. Is it possible that one of our most trusted journalists is dressing for her solo show like she is going to a party? It was definitely more Saturday night than Sunday morning.
Is it something about TV stations that make women think they must dress up?
What was wrong with Laura’s usual working wardrobe, tailored trousers and a smart jacket, a floral midi with white trainers, or whatever else well-dressed, professional women feel comfortable in?
When all that is important is her killer question, who cares about the heels?
You know what I mean. Being a TV presenter and a producer with women, I understand that appearance matters for TV females. I can just imagine the producers of the new show trying to figure out what Laura’s ‘look’ should be.
‘We want her to appear sophisticated, in control, tough but warm, oh and super-glamorous,’ someone would have said — hence the razzmatazz style and blonde waves. In other words, it’s not enough for Laura to be a brilliant journalist at the top of her game. She has to be ‘gorgeous’ in a contrived and artificial way instead of naturally good-looking in a way that was true to her personality.
It is okay for women to look glamorous in TV. Knowing that you’re pleasing on the eyes is one victory. Every presenter wants to be a star on a top-of-the-line weekend news channel.
It was a shame that Liz Truss’ interviewer Laura K thought a bright jumper, stilettos, and excessive make-up was the right attire. Is it possible that viewers were distracted by Andrew Marr’s attire, such as the color of his tie or the style of his boots, or even whether Hush Puppies are on his feet. I doubt it. He was just doing the job.
It is okay for women to look glamorous in TV. Knowing that you look good on TV is one victory. You will be the first host for a weekend flagship political news program. This is what any female presenter would like to do.
The influence of American television is affecting British newsrooms, which I feel we can see. In the U.S., every female news presenter is expected to be as glamorous — perfect figures, hair, make-up, teeth and clothes — as they are smart; on cable channels the women financial reporters are even called the ‘money honeys’. The difference in British news is that both men and women are expected to shine.
I recall having a conversation with the agent who represents the whip-smart Mishal Husain, just before she joined the team at BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. An agent lamented the loss of such a gorgeous woman on radio, as nobody could see her. Mishal was able to demonstrate her skills as a tough interviewer. Critics might claim she was a TV star due to her appearance; radio listeners only know her talent.
My mother used to wear a blue shirt, a corduroy sweater and a floral shirt when she was growing up. Nobody said a word. Now, of course, anyone appearing on TV — but most especially women — has their appearance dissected to the very last eyelash.
Once, after an appearance on Newsnight on TV, I went on Twitter. It was a terrible mistake. The first rule is to not wear sleeves if your body size is less than 8. Second rule: A size 8 can look like a 14 on TV. Social media is an important part of the conversation, but no one needs to see it.
The producers, and probably Laura Kuenssberg themselves made the right decision to make Laura Kuenssberg’s debut look glamorous. Yes, I know I found it distracting and irritating but I have to remind myself what if she’d gone the other way? It would have been interesting if she walked the set in clothes that most women don on Sunday mornings. It would have caused a lot of controversy. Dressing up is a safer option than pretending it doesn’t matter what a woman on TV looks like.
However, unless they follow male colleagues who are well-dressed and wear what amounts to a uniform then there will always be criticisms about their outfits. Unless of course — God forbid — we all grow up.