Speech of the Month, May 2023, Steph McGovern

I can distinctly remember the first time I saw Steph McGovern on telly. It was on BBC’s Breakfast. At the time, we were well used to hearing Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish accents come out of the mouths of BBC presenters, a full reflection of the UK, right? But actual English accents? Well, barring Adrian Chiles, not really. Yet, I quickly understood why she’d been hired as Business Correspondent; she was bright, super-knowledgeable and unaffected. All great qualities for a flagship show. 

Since leaving Breakfast she seems to have struggled to find a gig that showcases her abilities. She had that Shop Well for Less show with Alex Jones (which repetitively told spendthrift idiots the budgeting basics of not paying interest on credit cards and not buying designer trainers if they’re overdrawn) but it hardly dipped into the well that's her financial knowledge. And while her Packed Lunch on C4 succeeds, it does so because of her accessible charm, not because of her business know-how. Currently, her talents are being wasted. And her punchy appearance as host on Have I Got News for You only confirmed this. 

Here's why she made such a great host…

She came across as an equal

While having a guest host on Have I Got News for You is an original (some might say inspired) idea, it’s difficult for some hosts to feel like the head honcho when everybody knows the real main men are Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. It would be a bit like a junior minister having to chair a cabinet meeting that had Thatcher, David Cameron, Ken Clarke and Rishi Sunak around the table. It would be easy to feel out of your depth, but that’s not what the audience wants to see. This is where Steph triumphed. From the get go, she looked happy and came across as an equal. 

One way to achieve this is not to care that you’re on the back foot in the new world you’ve found yourself in. Instead, see this as an adventure that you’re happy to be embarking on and meanwhile remind yourself of your ‘main man’ skills in the world you come from. So, for instance, I’m sure no one else on the HIGNFY panel could tot up maths in their head or give advice on the best emerging market products to invest in like Steph McG can. And they’re great skills to possess.  

She was running the episode

Because of Hislop and Merton’s statures – I’m talking reputational rather than physical – some guests hosts can struggle to keep the show focused. You can see them fight to disguise their panic, frozen smiles and worried, darting eyes, as Merton goes off on some hilarious stream of consciousness which other guests then piggyback onto. How to take back control and keep the show on the road?!

Steph managed this brilliantly. She allowed the impromptu deviations and visibly enjoyed them but simply raised her voice and made an assertive arm gesture when it was time for them to stop and for the show to move on. Volume is key. Knowing how to throw your voice so that you can pull focus is a vital skill. And all of us can do it, if we simply dare to and don’t overthink it. 

She made her own hilarious impromptu remarks

It wasn’t just Merton who went off-script and brought the house down, when Steph proudly informed the panel that she had, “Got me muff out on telly for a live smear test. It got me a Bafta nomination!” the audience killed themselves laughing. It was a brilliant moment.  

She ran the show some more…

A chair cannot allow a meeting member to disrespect them and not respond. That should never happen. So when Paul Merton told her, “You’re not on Channel 4 day-time now.” And Ian Hislop added, “Yeah, people are watching this.” Rather than blushing or looking stung, Steph laughed and said – and I do think her accent helped here – “Oh right then. The shit’s gonna hit the fan now, love!” And Hislop clearly loved the rebuke. 

So come on broadcasters, Steph McGovern is presentation gold. Please find a show where all her gifts can properly shine.