Alastair Campbell appointed for ‘heavy-hitting interviews’ for GQ
GQ has today announced the appointment of Alastair Campbell, formerly director of communications and strategy for Prime Minister Tony Blair, to handle ‘heavy-hitting interviews’.
Campbell will cover the worlds of politics, sport, business and media, with his first interview set to appear in the May issue of GQ.
Campbell said of the appointment: “To be frank, I did not think I was well dressed enough, or cool enough, ever to get approached by GQ, so I was quite surprised when Dylan Jones asked me to do this. But I like the fact that GQ has a tradition of giving a lot of space to big interviews, and to letting the interviewee get their voice heard, so after making a few stipulations - like never describing me, verbally or in print, as Piers Morgan's successor - I said yes.
“When I was a full-time journalist, I always enjoyed big interviews and I am pleased GQ want me not just to do politics, but figures from sport, business, culture, other aspects of life that I find interesting. I also hope I can bring a bit of lefty influence to the magazine. There is something not quite right about having an editor who slopes off to write sympathetic books about David Cameron, and makes Benedict Cumberbatch the GQ man of the year. GQ should be the magazine for State schools, not Eton and Harrow. More anon.”
Announcing the appointment today, Dylan Jones, editor of GQ, said: “I’m thrilled that Alastair is joining us. A brilliant, opinionated and compelling writer who has the ability to get straight to the heart of what matters, we’re delighted readers of the magazine will be able to enjoy his insightful and entertaining prose.”
British GQ is celebrating its 25th anniversary year.