They say all publicity is good publicity. But perhaps that sentiment isn’t shared by those in Bute House at the news that Alex Salmond is launching his own pro-independence TV programme. The former First Minister will become the latest politician to turn TV presenter this week when he launches his new show on Thursday: ‘Scotland Speaks – with Alex Salmond.’ Like a Tartan Tucker, he will be hosting it on social media from Slàinte Media’s brand new Glasgow studio. But with the National having mastered the art of Scexit propaganda, is there really any need for more separatist media coverage?
Salmond certainly thinks so. ‘At an important time in Scotland’s story, both the Scottish and Westminster parliaments seem preoccupied with navel-gazing and side issues,’ he stormed. Side issues like, er, a second referendum, Alex? What ‘Scotland Speaks’ will actually cover remains a mystery. Salmond has said that the ‘big challenges’ and ‘opportunities facing the nation’ will be thrashed out, and his co-presenter and Alba party chair Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh added that ‘there is no shortage of issues just now’. Just not the ones he’s been talking about for the past few years…
Still, Salmond is no beginner when it comes to presenting TV shows. The ex-SNP leader previously formed a long-time infamous alliance with the Russian state-owned news network, Russia Today. Having hosted ‘The Alex Salmond Show’ for five years, it took Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to make Salmond surrender his prized programme. Talk about the real victims of war…
Will ‘Scotland Speaks’ hit it off with viewers? There is certainly an increasing number of disillusioned SNP voters on the rise, and perhaps Salmond hopes his new show will convince them to make the leap to Alba. More likely, viewers will flock to the new show in the hope he divulges juicy gossip on the Scottish National party.
The jury’s out on whether this shock Jock will achieve any real success from his new TV show. But if it annoys the Nats, that’s good enough for Mr S…
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