No 1 Book 1986
late 1985
Question Time
Rose McDowell
What would you do to solve unemployment?
I don’t think not having a job is the problem. It’s not having enough money to keep you while you’re on the dole. A lot of people waste their lives on a boring 9 to 5 job, when they’d be just as happy with time of their own if only they had enough money. This country revolves around material possessions and how much cash you have to spend, so you’d need pounds in your pockets to keep you happy.
Do you think this country should possess nuclear weapons?
No. I’m totally opposed. They’re the ultimate evil.
What do you think about the growing trend towards the American idea of mixing entertainment and politics?
It’s naturally pathetic. US politics are fatal anyway and to introduce fun into them is a form of brainwashing. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen here. If it does – I’m off! I’m not really keen on party politics either. They’re all after the same thing. People have really got to think for themselves.
Do you think the royal family is worth the taxpayers’ money?
I don’t even think they’re worth anybody’s time. Papers like the Sun lead you to believe they’re much more popular than they really are. It’s quite sick that a country can uphold a family like that and then do away with the National Health.
Do you think pop stars earn far too much money for what they do?
God, no! I do not! Though I’m sure a lot of them do…
Do you believe children and young people need discipline?
No. I think adults need it more. A lot of kids don’t have time to grow up and discover themselves before they’re indoctrinated with petty rules. The most genuine characters are young kids. They’re natural.
Do you believe in censorship in any form?
No. It causes the problems it’s pretending to solve. If everyone believed they should do unto others as they would like done unto them, we wouldn’t need it.
Do you think that certain drugs like marijuana should be decriminalised?
I don’t know anything about drugs because they don’t interest me.
Do you think there should be an age of consent for sex?
No, because people don’t bother about it anyway. It happens.
What colour underpants are you wearing?
None. I’m wearing trousers.
Jill Bryson
What would you do to solve unemployment?
I would put more money into industry and create more jobs. If more people are working they’ll have more money to spend. This means they’ll want to buy things so more people will have to be employed to make them. It’s a good circle as opposed to a vicious one.
Do you think this country should possess nuclear weapons?
No, I think it’s ridiculous. It’s bad enough that the superpowers have them but we’re such a tiny country that there’s no point whatsoever in having them.
What do you think about the growing trend towards the American idea of mixing entertainment and politics?
It’s vile, disgusting. I hate the way American politics is just a big show of money with flash parades and mindless things like that. You’ve got to be rich there to make it into politics.
Do you think the royal family is worth the taxpayers’ money?
Definitely not. They’re incredibly overpaid and rich. I’m anti-royalist and I don’t like them. As well as being paid all that money, they’ve got huge art treasures and property worth millions and when you think of the people suffering in this country let alone in others it’s wrong. I’m amazed that people come out in droves just to wave at them.
Do you think pop stars earn far too much money for what they do?
I certainly don’t! I find it difficult to pay my TV license! Most pop stars look rich but they’re not. Unless you’re Boy George, the chances are you’re poor. You’ve got to have consistent success all over the world to get rich.
Do you believe children and young people need discipline?
They need discipline without being hit. My Mum and Dad told me never to take the belt at school. There are ways of being taught right and wrong without corporal punishment.
Do you believe in censorship in any form?
I can’t stand horror films, even fairly mild ones. I hate to see things like that on TV. I don’t agree with political censorship, though. In Japan you get an American 24 hour news service on one channel and they are so biased it’s unbelievable.
Do you think that certain drugs like marijuana should be decriminalised?
Erm, I don’t take any sort of drug so I’m not bothered. It seems harmless because all it seems to do is make people boring and go to sleep. But it might lead on to stronger things so I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Do you think there should be an age of consent for sex?
I don’t know. I suppose so because it’s difficult to know when people are mature enough to take decisions for themselves. I think they’ll do it whether it’s against the law or not. As long as you can get contraception – that’s the main thing. I think it’s horrible that laws are made about something so personal.
What colour underpants are you wearing?
I’m not wearing any just now because I’ve just got out of bed. But I’ll be wearing red ones today.