Channel 4 viewers predict ‘cruel’ presenter added to election line-up will be ‘TV gold’

Channel 4 viewers are revelling in the ‘delicious’ irony of hiring Nadine Dorries to feature during its General Election coverage.

The 67-year-old famously waged war on the public service broadcaster while she was Culture Minister and launched a failed campaign to privatise the channel, sparking backlash from media figures including Russell T Davies.

Now, though, Dorries appears to have shrugged off her concerns about Channel 4 – having once falsely accused it of hiring paid actors for a docuseries – and has accepted a position as a political pundit on July 4.

Channel 4 viewers are divided over the decision – but some are backing the broadcaster for essentially trolling Dorries in the most public and epic way possible.

As @WillBlackWriter explained gleefully on X: ‘Exploitative TV at its best. Taking vulnerable halfwit Johnson cultist Nadine Dorries and making her watch the destruction of the Tory Party is cruel and a cringefest – but it will be TV gold! Channel 4 is shifting back to The Word level mischief!’

Echoing their sentiment, @MrRobValentine added: ‘Channel 4 getting Nadine Dorries to host their election night coverage is how Klingons serve revenge.’

@SallyAbbott3 added: ‘At first I thought Nadine Dorries on Channel 4’s election night was an appalling choice. Now I realise it’s a quite delicious one.’

However, other social media users are despairing over Dorries new gig – given that she has a history of making spectacular errors.

@David__Osland lamented: ‘Nadine Dorries didn’t realise that leaving the EU meant Britain would no longer have any MEPs. Is that the level of expertise Channel 4 is offering us on election night?’

@imshanereaction remarked: ‘I know budgets are tight at Channel 4 but surely they could’ve hired someone who hadn’t falsely accused the channel of hiring actors for a documentary about people on benefits before trying to sell off the channel itself for parts.’

In response, Louisa Compton, head of news, current affairs specialist factual and sport told in a statement: ‘Nobody can deny that Nadine Dorries, as with all our other politicians appearing on the night, is a household name who will have a unique take on events as they unfold – and I’m sure our audience will be interested in what she has to say.’

Dorries is no stranger to the world of TV having previously appeared in I’m A Celebrity in 2012. She was the first campmate to be evicted, with EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks eventually being crowned Queen of the Jungle.

Dorries stepped down as an MP last year after being first elected in 2005. She was an ardent supporter of disgraced former prime minister Boris Johnson and defended his involvement in Partygate.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis will helm Channel 4’s coverage of the General Election and as well as Dorries will be joined by guests including Alastair Campbell, Rory Stewart and Ann Widdecombe.

Clive Myrie and Larua Kuenssberg, meanwhile, will be the lead BBC presenters on General Election night, replacing Huw Edwards who resigned from the station after allegedly paying a young person for explicit images.