Politicians like to remind voters that they do, in fact, have a life outside politics and prove it to us by revealing what shows they’ve been watching out of hours – for better or worse.
Esther Webber, senior UK correspondent at Politico, says “By talking about their favourite TV shows, like bands or football teams, politicians are probably trying to give off the impression they’re just like us.
“In reality I doubt many leaders get much time to sit down in front of a box set. Notably the programmes they do pick are often pretty safe, critically acclaimed and/or middle of the road.”
In light of his admission, we’ve rounded up the TV shows enjoyed by high-profile politicians from across the political spectrum on both sides of the pond…
Bill Clinton (Former US president) and Hillary Clinton (Former secretary of state)
Mr Clinton and his wife Hillary, herself a former presidential candidate, found themselves gripped by Bridgerton.
In an interview with the show’s executive producer, Shonda Rhimes, for his Why Am I Telling You This? podcast, Mr Clinton said he and Hillary had binged on the period drama so intensely that “the sun was coming up Sunday morning when we finished it”.
He also discussed his wife’s reaction to British-Zimbabwean actor Regé-Jean Page, an instant heartthrob in his leading role as Simon, the Duke of Hastings – “Hillary just kept saying over and over again all night long, ‘That’s the most beautiful man I ever saw on television’, said Mr Clinton.
David Cameron (Former Conservative prime minister)
Mr Cameron has previously said he enjoys gritty dramas and murder mysteries such as The Killing, Case Histories, Midsomer Murders and Silent Witness, while also being partial to an episode of Shameless and Breaking Bad.
But sometimes, likely when in need of light relief, Mr Cameron said he enjoyed turning to BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey (despite listing the 1970s classic Porridge as his all-time favourite).
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Wales has produced the finest sitcom to come out in the last five years: of course, Gavin & Stacey,” he said in 2012, after meeting one of the show’s Welsh stars, Stacey actress Joanna Page, at Downing Street.
Joe Biden (US president)
Life in the Oval Office hot seat likely leaves little time for relaxation, especially during a global pandemic.
But back when serving as vice president to Barack Obama in 2012, Mr Biden admitted he’d caught clips of TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo while flying on Air Force Two.
The show, starring the then seven-year-old beauty queen formally known as Alana Thompson, whose sass on Toddlers and Tiaras made her a household name, had quickly become a reality TV smash.
In an interview on Miami’s WMIA radio station, Mr Biden said that while he counted US comedies Modern Family and Parks and Recreation as his favourite shows, his granddaughter told him to keep an eye out for Honey Boo Boo.
Theresa May (Former Conservative prime minister)
Given how Mrs May’s penchant for dancing regularly shone through during her premiership – including at the Conservative Party Conference – perhaps it is unsurprising that she came out as a vocal fan of BBC talent show Strictly Come Dancing.
The former home secretary offered to give dance “tips” to the latest batch of Strictly constants in 2018. Her love for the show even seeped into wrangling over plans for a televised debate over Brexit negotiations. When then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn rejected BBC proposals, cheekily suggesting that he would prefer it to run on ITV so he could watch I’m A Celebrity, Mrs May said she would not appear on ITV for the debate because she, in turn, would miss Strictly.
Donald Trump (Former US president)
Mr Trump’s avid consumption and often lacerating criticism of TV news became a hallmark of his infamous Twitter feed. But as much a television personality as a politician, Mr Trump had made a string of TV appearances – most notably as the host of The Apprentice in the US – before his successful White House bid in 2016.
Always full of brash confidence, he told People magazine in 2015 that his “guilty pleasure” TV was literally watching himself during an appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
However, his love for SNL did not last long as president, following a series of sketches parodying his administration.
Ted Cruz (Texas senator)
As a challenger for the Republican presidential ticket ahead of the 2016 election, Mr Cruz initially denounced Trump before throwing his support behind him, even over his baseless claims of fraud after the 2020 election.
Mr Cruz’s TV choices could be said to reflect the cut and thrust of politics – speaking to People magazine for the same article as Trump in 2015, he named Game of Thrones and US political satire Veep as two of his favourite shows.
Beyond escaping into fantasy and comedy, as a Harvard Law School graduate he also revealed he enjoyed Criminal Minds, and, like Mr Cameron, Breaking Bad.
Barack Obama (Former US president)
Since leaving office in 2017, Mr Obama has published an annual culture list – including his standouts across TV, film, music and literature. Together with wife Michelle, he has even launched a TV production company, Higher Ground productions, that helped support Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp.
The list for 2020 included Netflix’s chess drama The Queen’s Gambit, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as British actor, writer and comedian Michaela Coel’s critically acclaimed BBC series I May Destroy You.
Nicola Sturgeon (First Minister of Scotland)
Scotland’s first minister is a long-standing fan of Danish political drama, Borgen.
The show, which drew huge audiences to BBC Four before ending after three seasons in 2013, followed fictional prime minister Birgitte Nyborg, played by Sidse Babett Knudsen, as she lead a coalition government.
While her career finds success, her marriage fails and her relationship with her children is tested.
Speaking to The Herald ahead of the final series, Ms Sturgeon said it was “without doubt” the “most authentic” political drama she’s ever watched, particularly as a high-profile female politician herself.
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