Albert Verlinde hands out really harsh criticism to Fidan Ekiz, one of the presenters of Op1. He does not think she is suitable for the profession of talk show host. “She should never do that again.”
The talk show Op1 is going off the air for broadcasting policy reasons: Eva Jinek can do the early evening on behalf of AvroTros and BNNVARA is therefore moving with Khalid & Sophie to the late evening. Op1 (of the three broadcasters EO, MAX and WNL) has to make way for this: MAX already has a daily talk show at five o’clock, WNL already makes the morning show and Op Zondag.
Who, what and where?
However, Fidan Ekiz is furious, because she states that it is a politically driven decision. She has heard in the corridors that Op1 has partly contributed to Geert Wilders becoming so great and that they therefore have to make way for a left-progressive program. Who, what and where? Fidan doesn’t say that. She ‘just asks questions’.
As a journalist, you should not say all kinds of things off the cuff on national television, but first get the facts in order, critics say. She has dropped quite a bomb with her statements, but despite the criticism she does not intend to take back her words. “I didn’t just hear it in the corridors from the concierge or something.”
Left church
Albert can imagine that BNNVARA indeed wants a good stage for their left-wing sound. “BNNVARA is of course disappointed by the fact that they no longer have a talk show that matters. They have had Pauw & Witteman and DWDD all these years. Actually, NPO 1 was determined by what that left-wing church thought of it.”
He continues Today Inside: “Fine, good programs too, that’s not what it’s about, but they’ve lost that. A kind of trauma has arisen: now there are all kinds of others who are determining the atmosphere around the elections… Look what you (VI, ed.) have done with the debate. I really think it’s all hands on deck now…”
‘Never again a talk show!’
Apparently this was misinterpreted to Fidan, as if it came from the NPO leadership itself, according to Albert. “I think Fidan Ekiz said it wrong. She said that there is some kind of conspiracy, or at least that’s how she acts a bit. That is why that woman should never present a talk show again.”
As a talk show host, you don’t want a journalist who gets her facts from the corridors, says Albert. “If you make statements that are ridiculous in that way, then I think you are more of a guest than a talk show presenter.”
Wilfred agrees
Johan Derksen then, hinting at the argument between Wilfred Genee and Fidan: “Wilfred completely agrees with this, Albert.”
Wilfred: “But not you?”
Johan: “Yes, but look… I think she is an excellent woman, I would have liked to have her at the table.”
Albert: “As a table guest, not as an interviewer, right?”
Johan: “Well, I don’t mind her being on Op1 either, but this was a somewhat emotional statement from her, which was not wise. It was also factually incorrect.”
‘They are so stupid’
BNNVARA now also has a stage with Khalid & Sophie to showcase their progressive sound? Albert: “I do think that there is a kind of dynamic at BNNVARA: it cannot be the case that we do not have a talk show, because they have not been able to do anything with the elections. They only had Even Tot Hier and Khalid & Sophie.”
He continues: “But they are too stupid to walk, because they have done interviews and topics that I think: that helps in the other direction rather than in the right direction.”