The end of the affair
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.We say: enough! It is with some regret and not a little disappointment that we announce today the end of the honeymoon. Regret and disappointment because this, for a time, was a project that had more than matched the burden of hope and expectation placed on it by the heady promises made in advance and the dire paucity of the other contenders.
We say: enough! It is with some regret and not a little disappointment that we announce today the end of the honeymoon. Regret and disappointment because this, for a time, was a project that had more than matched the burden of hope and expectation placed on it by the heady promises made in advance and the dire paucity of the other contenders.
But that was before disillusionment set in and the engaging lead character was revealed in his true colours. Now, no less a figure than our chief political commentator, previously a tremendous fan, has been heard to say, in these offices: "It's over."
Causes for the decline? Well, certainly, a patchy performance in key areas; a growing perception that the content did not quite match up to the presentation; and, too, the disillusionment that is so often the inevitable concomitant of over-familiarity.
But, should you wish for one principal reason, we would have to say Big Brother is just not the same now Nasty Nick's gone.
Hamlet without the prince; Wooster without Jeeves; William Hague without a pint; Swan Lake without, well, you get the idea. And besides, all this voyeurism can become rather enervating, don't you find? It's over. Next cult television programme, please.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments