IN times of great national crisis, it’s not always politicians – so mired in partisanship and aggro – who the public end up turning to.
During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 one of those people will be remembered as Dr Hilary Jones – TV’s calm and considered GP who has avoided scare mongering and delivered sage but firm advice to the British public.
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It’s that hysteria-free approach from my colleague and friend that has so impressed me.
Dr H has listened to the government advice, listened to the scientific experts and listened to his contacts and friends within the NHS, then distilled their message in a manner that has connected with the British public.
In return, he has been deluged by thousands upon thousands of questions from folk who feel confused about what they can and can’t do, and worried about the health of their family.
It’s no surprise to me that Dr Hilary has become a national treasure during these dark days.
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He’s earned trust over three decades, first as ITV’s resident doctor in the morning from 1989 on the shows TV-AM, GMTV, Daybreak and now Good Morning Britain.
He’s also been the resident GP for The Sun’s owner News UK for the past 29-years.
In fact, he was first hired in 1991 by Piers Morgan, then a young newspaper editor and now the man who he spars and debates with on the telly every morning as the nation wakes up in these very uncertain times.
While Piers has rightly been an agitator to the government on Good Morning Britain, questioning if they’ve done too little too late, Hilary has been a beacon of reasoned calm.
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My talkRADIO Drivetime show – which airs every day between 4pm and 7pm – has been devoted entirely to the Covid-19 response for the past two weeks and will be for the foreseeable future.
But I’ve banned spin, bluster, political pandering and, most importantly, hysteria.
We have a duty to inform and advise people, without jumping to every worst case scenario and terrifying the nation.
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That’s why I’m so delighted that from today Hils and I are teaming up for a brand new daily show called Ask Dr Hilary: Coronavirus Explained that will broadcast on The Sun’s YouTube channel from 4pm and on talkRADIO from 6.30pm.
And after we get through all of this, I hope we will be referring to him, not only as a doctor, but as Sir Hilary Jones.
– Ask Dr Hilary: Coronavirus Explained is available on The Sun’s YouTube channel from 4pm and on Dan Wootton’s talkRADIO Drivetime show at 6.30pm Monday to Thursday.
