Rush Limbaugh

Is there anyone quite like Rush Limbaugh in the UK? Had UK radio been founded differently, maybe there would be. His political commentary is thoroughly right wing.

Rush’s talk career began in 1984 at KFBK, moving to New York’s famous 77 WABC in 1984, from where he went national.

His show is now hailed as ‘the most-listened-to talk show’ with its 15 million US audience.

Witness here ‘the act’. The absence of any self-doubt. The pop radio pace at the outset. The gear change. The loss of the backing music. The gathering of momentum in his invective. Perfectly formed, yet partly likely done on the hoof.

Who is similar in the UK? Who could do this sort of performance had commercial talk radio been an established and sustainable British format; and differently regulated. The great Nick Ferrari could do this act if he wanted, yet he chooses wisely variously to exploit his humour and his warmth. James Whale probably gets a little closer.