Cartoons and controversies with Times cartoonist Peter Brookes
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 1 March 2024
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
He's been skewering those in power with his drawings for The Times since 1992. In an age where finding the balance between satire and offence can be a fraught, Peter Brookes, our award-winning political cartoonist, discusses his brush with Boris Johnson, why he appreciates a loathsome politician, and the challenges of drawing Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
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Guest: Peter Brookes, political cartoonist, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Clips: BBC, NBC.
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Transcript
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| 0:24.0 | Unlimited in the UK based on UCLA Speed Test Intelligence Data H1 2023, C3.C3.C3.C3.C3. UK. Among all the reams of commentary and analysis that get written on a daily basis. |
| 0:45.0 | Sometimes all it takes is one stark image to cut through it all and perfectly sum up the political moment. |
| 0:55.0 | I did him once as a lying toad, you know, with a toad lying back, a glass of wine and sort of partying. |
| 1:04.1 | The legendary Peter Brooks has been drawing political cartoons for the times |
| 1:09.9 | since the early 80s and officially became its political cartoonist 31 years ago. |
| 1:15.8 | At 80 he's almost old enough to stand in the American elections but thankfully for us |
| 1:22.1 | he's still spending his days, scuring politicians with |
| 1:26.0 | his sketches. He's drawn nine prime ministers, captured eight elections, railed |
| 1:32.3 | against failing governments and controversial wars, |
| 1:36.0 | and he's had to deal with the fallout. |
| 1:40.1 | Whatever you say, if it criticizes the war effort you get damned for it and you even get |
| 1:48.4 | accused of anti-Semitism and not an anti-semite. |
| 1:52.0 | In an age we where finding the balance between satire and a fence can be as dangerous as walking a tight rope, |
| 2:00.0 | it's the political cartoonist's job to speak truth to power and not to pull their punches. |
| 2:08.0 | Every cartoon that you do start thinking, oh I better than do that because people might think of it as this or that. |
| 2:17.0 | If you stop to think like that, you lay yourself open to things that you just can't see. |
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