WISH you had a devil-may-care buccaneering attitude like myself, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson? Here’s how to behave inappropriately even when locking down Britain:
Use stupid phrases
I’ve previously referred to ‘the bugle of the scientific cavalry’ and ‘vital arrows in our epidemiological quiver’, so last night I tried ‘we have a fair wind in our sails’. I’m hoping everyone thinks we’re going on an 18th-century nautical adventure, those ones where half the crew dies.
Muss up your hair again
Your hair, of course, should be roguishly unkempt. Nothing says ‘I’m taking this unprecedented public health crisis seriously’ like a 56-year-old man who’s more concerned with the lustre of the blonde covering up the pink bald patches.
Do a thing with your fists
As you may have noticed, I like to clench my hands in fists and do frustrated little gestures with them. It looks determined, it looks macho, and if you overdid it on the Chateau Lafite the night before, no one will notice your Frenchman’s shake.
Appear to be acting badly
Keep the audience guessing as to whether you’re sincere, trying so hard to sound sincere it comes across as false, or a sociopath putting on an act. Whichever is true, your overall performance should be so unconvincing people are reminded of Hollyoaks or Acorn Antiques.
Spin the facts till you’re dizzy
Last night I presented this utter shambles as a triumph for British vaccines, scientists and our wonderful NHS which we Tories have always backed to the hilt. It’s all nonsense, obviously, but a bit of wanking over the Union Jack worked at the last election.
Look like an unrepentant serial killer
Be calm, confident and friendly, oblivious to the impact your words are having. If there’s one thing guaranteed to prove you are treating Covid with utmost seriousness it’s treating it with the breezy disregard of Ted Bundy.
