Livingstone's refusal to just disappear after his defeat in the London mayoral elections has certainly drawn contempt from his critics, but others claim that he deserves respect for battling on. The main criticism I would aim at the show is that with topics such as 'Was I right to bring the congestion charge to West London?', it does sometimes seem to hark back to the 'good old days' of his mayorship. He certainly used the first show as a shameless opportunity to level criticism at old enemies (Andrew Gilligan) as well as newer ones (Boris Johnson), using their lack of attendance - he invited both to appear on the show - against them.
Having said that, you can't blame Livingstone for talking about what he knows, and although he sounded a little uncomfortable in the first couple of programmes, with time he will feel more natural on air, and there is real potential for the infamously argumentative leftie to spark up some real debate - which, after all, is the point of the station.
One thing is for sure: LBC, in using someone so likely to polarise listeners, is running a far higher risk than Ken himself, who certainly won't be harming his chances of future re-election by maintaining a high profile on London's Biggest Conversation.
Media owner: LBC.
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