Having bashed the Booker Prize in 2007 for being unexciting and a damp squib, this week has seen the announcement of the judges for 2008, along with commentary from John Sutherland in the Guardian's Book blog (he asks if Portillo will actually have the time). As Chairman, joining judges comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli, Ottakar's bookshops founder James Heneage, critic Alex Clark and novelist Louise Doughty will be former politician, former Costa Book Prize judge, now political pundit on Andrew Neil's This Week programme: Michael Portillo.
Michael and friend.
I think the line up looks sound and I suspect that Portillo will add a little zest to the proceedings. I don't expect he'll follow in Howard Davies's footsteps with pronouncements of criticism.
1997 was a cathartic year for Portillo, but since then he's provided an excellent example in finding humility. And the man has presence and charisma. I once saw him walking along Chiswick High Road - heard him before I saw - he commands attention.
Somehow he manages to look a bit twee on the sofa on This Week which results in Diane Abbott looking like a bit of a curmudgeon alongside him.
One thing's for sure with Portillo, he's not necessarily a "what you see is what you get" type, so 2008's Booker Prize will have some spice added.
Whether it actually gets exciting will depend on the books of course.
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