Strangeland: How Britain Went Through the Looking Glass

by Jon Sopel

At the beginning of 2022, after eight years of political reporting in the US, Jon Sopel returned home to the UK – and having spent almost a third of his career abroad, he found a very different place to the one he left. In Strangeland, his first book since launching the global hit podcast The News Agents, he asks What is the Britain he’s come home to?

In the US, Jon was the outsider looking in, firm in the belief that the common language of English masked our fundamental differences; in terms of values and beliefs, it seemed the British had much more in common with our European neighbours.

Strangeland is Jon’s account of how much that has changed. The US was a country he thought he knew well but didn’t really; returning home has been in some ways even more disconcerting – either Britain, the country he grew up in, has changed dramatically, or he has. Perhaps it’s both.

A trenchant analysis of politics, people, and everything in between, Strangeland is an unforgettable portrait of a country gone through the looking glass.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Current Affairs, History, British Literature

352 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2024

Reviews

[Conor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good to feel conversant in all the key centrist dad talking points ahead of their emergence at the Christmas dinner table

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, I love Jon Sopel. After binging all his previous books about his time reporting on Trump, I wasn't sure if this one would live up to my expectations. But this turns out to be one of the best and most entertaining analyses I've read on the changes to British politics and society during the last decade. Plus, theres some juicy anecdotes on post insurrection America for good measure.

Like Jon, I've lived away from the UK for a decade and have returned to find it an alien place compared to the UK I left behind. This is a thoughtful, insightful, and witty commentary on the various forces and public figures that have shaped the UK as it stands today. I highly recommend.

[Markod0101 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook.

I love John Sopel and am an avid listener of The News Agents.

While I enjoyed the book, I was slightly disappointed it was more of a retelling of the crazy last decade than Sopels personal critique of it.

With this in mind I can see it being more insightful as it ages.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year ago, I didn’t have a clue who John Sopel was. Now, post The News Agents Podcast and this highly entertaining book, I think I’m going to say he is my favourite political commentator (in British Politics).

   This book (one of many I’m told, but haven’t bothered to Google) is a really fun, warm-hearted and jovial romp through the last eight-ish years of political events (essentially; Brexit, Trump’s presidency and the catastrophic British PMs since and including Johnson). It does put a unique spin on things, explaining away confusing periods of our lives where we all looked to Westminster and wondered “what are they doing over there?”, drawing inevitable conclusions that some readers may find comforting.

   For me though, the best parts of this book are when Johnny (he hasn’t followed me back on Instagram, but I assume we’re friends) goes over stuff which happened (e.g.Theresa May running through fields of wheat) and gently takes the piss out of them. I love it simply for the reinforcing nature of him reassuringly telling me that things were odd and I didn’t make them up in my head. QAnon, for example, really do believe there is a cult of Satanic, cannibalistic child molesters operating a global sex trafficking ring from the White House which they raided on January 6th. That happened and we all just forgot about it.

[Francis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve absolutely no idea what the point of this book is. Basically a review of the news for the last 10 years. In many ways ridiculous in scope (what’s happened, everywhere) but also just plodding. Factual listing of events and the occasional middle of the road analytical or moral opinion. It’s not that the opinions are wrong but it’s entirely uninteresting to say. Also incredibly poorly written. I’d be interested to know if a single short phrase standard cliché wasn’t used somewhere in the book. painful painful metaphor after metaphor (maybe they were jokes?).

[Siobhan (sib_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a book about Britain I must say the sections on US politics are, unsurprisingly, where Sopel’s political commentary really shines

A whole star knocked off for the majority of the final chapter though, without which this would have been a much better and more coherent book

3/5 drtc

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought on a whim when visiting Meadowhall returning from a holiday.

An easy and informative read highlighting the changes in politics over the last decade or so. There has been a decline in trust of politicians and traditional media, particularly the BBC, no doubt encouraged by people with sometimes, not too hidden agendas.

The rise of social media has offered an alternative version of the world where facts don’t seem quite so important. This combined with lead politicians on both sides of the Atlantic where truth is an optional extra and not called out by their supporting media.

Another worrying trend is the control that the tech billionaires have over our lives, Musk with X/Twitter and his increasing comments on UK politics, Bezos with the Washington post, Facebook and Google with their data collection and algorithms.

Well worth the read arguing for a return to a more nuanced society where informed discussion can reach compromise rather than the current version.

[Tucky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good on some points, quite off the mark on others.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book about how Britain stopped making sense, it was perhaps apt that at certain times this book stopped making sense. Sopel is one of the veteran journalists of our age, often providing incisive analysis of British and American politics, which is perhaps why I am left slightly disappointed by this book.

While there are moments where serious analysis takes place, I felt too much time was spent recounting the events of the past 10 years or so, at times with little depth of thought. The structure didn’t always make sense, seeming to shift between Britain and America at will, and also reflected a feeling that this book was ultimately part contemporary history, part political analysis, and part memoir.

I think for me the best part where Sopel’s experience really shone through were his warnings about the dangers of the shifting news environment, using his time in journalism in both America and Britain to offer prescient insights. This was let down by the meandering final chapter which I felt missed a serious chance to use the unique perspective of a Brit returning home to tie together many of the disparate threads which had run through the book.

Overall then, I had high hopes for this book given my respect for Sopel’s other work, and although there were flashes of insight, on balance I find myself disappointed at missed potential.

[anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty much same content as The News Agents podcast but with less swearing & jokes about how many holidays he takes

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely topical - analyses Trump and British politics in a frank and agreeable way. I share many of the same beliefs and opinions as Sopel - he has a clear view of what's right and wrong and strong common sense, which is refreshing considering the current climate he speaks of!

[Clare Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, must for News Agents fans

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 1: Anything is possible

There is no doubt that if students are still writing history papers in the next 100 years that 2016 will be written as the year that everything changed in UK and US with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Jon does a great job at breaking down these events and attempting to explain why after so many years of status quo both nations took the leap although this chapter is more about Brexit

There were some elements that were interesting that I hadn’t considered before, namely that the EU had been an incredibly useful punching bag for politicians for years, an easy thing to blame so it was then difficult to make the case that it’s actually useful, he also breaks down the main points effectively about the fears of immigration and the effect of Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. I could have assumed that Johnson and Cameron wouldn’t exactly be friends but I didn’t know how similar their schooling situation was other than them both going to Eton

With Trump I have heard before that he never actually planned or potentially even wanted to win but it’s a theory that Jon clearly subscribes to, it was also interesting to read that even in the presidential campaign Trump was already mixing politics and business

Chapter 2: A Simple Plan

Vote Leave, who would have thought that such a short,simple phrase would prove such a political quagmire (well lots of people but that’s beside the point). This chapter focuses on Theresa May's impossible job of squaring the circle on making a Brexit that worked for 100% rather than the 52%.

It provides a good explanation on the personality, the academic argument on why she was chosen and then why it didn’t work. I think ultimately she was doomed from the start, the Brexiters weren’t going to accept any deal that she presented largely because she was the one that presented it. She also didn’t help herself with the disastrous 2017 General Election campaign although I feel the book slightly overlooks Jeremy Corbyn’s impressive campaigning that year although there’s no doubt the “Dementia Tax” was fatal.

Johnson provided the solution for a British public that were largely bored and angry with a decision that was promised to be clear. His flagrance for political norms and populist attitude provided the easy answer the the population wanted even if there was no basis in reality. There is a great explanation of the Prorouging of Parliament and explains why Johnson wanted to do it and was struck down by the Supreme Court

Chapter 3: It can’t happen here

This Chapter discusses January 6th 2021, the day a group of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol and attempted to stop the confirmation of Joe Biden in an attempted Coup.

The power of Donald Trump is documented by how many people were willing to fall on their own sword to swear blind loyalty to him. Steve Bannon did 4 months in prison purely for the president (and was “rewarded” for it in Term 2). It was only a few people making the right choice for Democracy that stopped him,

I felt the focus on the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers was very good and showed just how scarily organised the build up was, this was a group of people so completely detached from reality that they would believe anything but equally they are all too aware of the silk thin thread that holds democracy together, it’s the good chap theory that assumes that everyone will follow the predefined rules. The section that describes the Trump delay is telling, he knew and was been told that only his voice could calm things and yet he waited 3 hours to deliver a statement that even then was as tepid as it could be.

It’s also interesting to read the section about Project 2025 and see the names mentioned that are currently been persecuted by Trump namely James Comey and the power to use the military more which is similar to Trump deploying the National Guard with impunity

Chapter 4: Good Chap

I really enjoy the good chap theory of government because it is a great way to describe why politics often works but is sometimes abused and falls apart. Because ultimately the rules should be infalliable and not be able to be taken advantage of by bad actors. A similar thing happens in the US where the constitution and 3 co-equal branches only hold because everyone understands the spirit (or at least they did)

The book documents very well the rises of Boris and Trump and lists the similarities and differences between them. I really liked the analogy about the car fines to describe their differences. It then focuses specifically on Johnson and the several cracks that slowly eroded his king like status from 2019. Covid is a feel the biggest one, Boris is not equipped to deal with a crisis like that.

His personality and arrogance is also the opposite of everything you want out of a leader. Most of the other scandals (defending Cummings and Priti Patel) and the wallpaper scandal could have been mitigated if he simply took accountability for this actions rather than assuming he would get away with everything he tried. The visceral anger around Partygate is what truly did for him though, everyone made sacrifices during Covid which gave it the cut through to the general public beyond traditional politics.

Chapter 5: News Travels Fast (and Furious)

This chapter looks at how broadcasting and the news has changed in recent years. Jon centres this around his decision to leave the BBC and then pivots to the US to look at their media landscape. It also provides some background into how the NewsAgents got started.

The description of the BBC has been echoed a number of times by various people that work there. The problem appears to be the remit of impartiality has overridden common sense (and fact). If 50 economists are saying one thing and 1 is saying another it is fundamentally misleading to present these arguments as equal. The license fee also means the BBC always had the potential to be threatened by the government which did happen regularly in the past but never to the extent of recently (probably links to the Goof Chap theory). Therefore it will always act cautiously which will reduce the ability of journalists.

However, despite the many problems the BBC is still infinitely better than the US equivalent which offers basically no coverage of the truth and is simply opinion based as fact. I didn’t know about Reagan and the Fairness Doctrine and assumed US “News” had always been that way. That decision was probably one of the biggest contributors to the polarisation in the US today, and while it’s easy to point at Fox (the Dominion case is unbelievably egregious) CBS and MSNBC also contribute. The result is that very few people hear any sort of news that will contradict or challenge their views. It’s news to affirm not news to inform.

Chapter 6: A theory for everything

This chapter has a lot of crossover with Danny Wallace’s book about conspiracy theory and his journey to find the reasons behind them. As Jon points out it’s hard to look past Social Media, people have always been sceptical and espoused opinion with no basis in fact but with Social Media they can speak to a much larger audience.

It’s interesting to read back through the examples as I remember the vast majority and can reflect on my own experiences at the time. Jon also referred to Covid as a reason but I would argue it’s the loneliness that stemmed from Covid, humans are social creatures and will look for a tribe and with no community to turn too because of the descriptions they fell into the conspiracy blackhole.

I do think we have a small problem at dismissing conspiracy as a larger right wing problem but just because you can point to more examples (usually because they are more prominent figures with the theories Brand, Truss, Trump etc) it doesn’t mean that left wing conspiracies don’t exist.

Ultimately it all links together the removal of the fairness doctrine in the US, the increasing number of Bad Actors getting into politics leading to a collapse in the Good Chap theory, all feeds into mistrust and division which is a breeding ground for conspiracy.

Chapter 7: The Land of Uncomfortable Truths

There is no doubt, in a divided the idea of nuance and being willing to engage in civilised discussions and debate using facts and reasoning is much less common. Sadly it seems we don’t have the attention span for it and instead we just vilify any viewpoint that is different from our own.

The description about the Trans debate highlights this perfectly because as Jon points out, it is an issue that affects very few people and yet has taken on such an outsized importance in politics in the West. The reality is and always will be complicated but that doesn’t fit our current political climate where everything is either black or white and needs to be reduced to a 30 second sound bite.

I felt the description of Britishness and Patriotism was good as well although I feel it was a bit dismissive of people who are proud of the flag. But ultimately it is correct to say that any sort of small criticism or even question that we may not be perfect is met with such vile abuse and it does lend itself to a fragility around our own feelings, it’s almost as if some are scared to question anything about the past (the statues and National Trust debate) because they fear what they will find.

In the year since this book things have continued to spiral. Mainstream UK political parties are now treated with such derision, the two parties that are cutting through are Populist Reform on the right and Populist Greens on the left. The idea of nuanced debate in the centre is largely absent with people lurching to the extremes and anodontically this does seem to have extended beyond just the online space

Chapter 8: The New Normal

This chapter was written at the start of 2025 and was reflecting that very little had changed (if anything things had just accelerated further). It was also interesting to read at the end of 2025 to see how many of Jon’s predictions came true.

Farage has only continued to accelerate in political strength. At the time they were level with Labour and now they are significantly ahead. Labour simply doesn’t seem to have an answer about him and any criticism of the local governments where Reform have a majority appear to make little difference. He has successfully distanced himself from Trump who does still remain unpopular among the UK population

Musk and Trump did fall out in the end, it did feel inevitable but Musk now has little impact on US politics outside of the occasional X ramble. Ironically Musk also distanced himself from Nigel Farage, aligning himself more with Tommy Robinson which further cements his complete lurch rightwards

Trump himself has continued to suffocate airtime on any issue he can think of, any idea of an isolationist presidency is long gone with him continuously chairing meetings with Ukraine, Russia, and Israel. To his credit he has negotiated a ceasefire in the Middle East which saw the remaining hostages released.

Overall

I enjoyed this book and the behind the scenes insights it provided on topics that really interest me like the BBC and the creation of the NewsAgents as well as providing a good summary of the craziness of the world and UK since 2014 (more 2016).

I felt there was a good balance between the UK and US, ultimately the book was about how the UK had changed but it is impossible to deny the two are intrinsically linked and both provide examples of the movement of the Overton Window.

I felt Jon’s love of the UK was well represented within the book and that is important. To say he is unpatriotic would simply be incorrect but he, like plenty of others, is concerned by the direction the UK is headed but also does attempt to provide more positivity. I didn’t agree with all of his points and felt he was more dismissive of certain things than I would be but I enjoy Jon’s writing

Rating - 8.5/10

[Connor Huntly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Really enjoyed this, Sopel has some cool anecdotes about key politicians from the last 10 years. His insight into the BBC is very interesting and I also liked his view of US media from his time in Washington.

[Alfred Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable account of recent history (Brexit/Trump - now) through the eyes of a BBC reporter turned podcaster. Nothing particularly original about it (which is perhaps a criticism that I have of his podcast) but does have a good section about his decision to start the podcast he copresents rather than staying on in the BBC. The book finishes with his views on debates over things like transgender rights, with his views being fairly pragmatic, basically pointing out that such debates are very nuanced and trying to encode these nuances in law is bound to fail. He uses Scotland as an example for this. Hence, Spoel argues, there should be less hostility towards lawmakers with regards to these issues and more of an acceptance that things are complicated. He doesn't suggest how this could come about but just sort of points out that this is the case.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but nowhere near as good as ‘If only they didn’t speak English’. It wasn’t what I expected - I didn’t know the comparison to America would be pulled in so often, and felt it lacked some clarity in what direction it was pulling. At times it felt more like a collection of slightly related thoughts, but pulled together at the end - I think it would have been better had the central theme been running more clearly throughout - but maybe some would say there’s no nuance!

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly light on analysis. More a recap of UK and US politics of the last 5-10 years, a bit of a memoir, some self-promotion of his podcast and a bit of superficial analysis of how (social) media has affected behaviour: people are more polarised online, use it in an ‘echo chamber’ kind of way etc. None of which is really new or enlightening to anyone who’s given any of this some thought themselves.

[Adam Hilton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very few new ideas

[Oli Ashwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty directionless. Essentially a run through of the top culture war moments of the past 5 years, and how generally incompetent Boris, Liz, Rishi etc. were. Kind of like, uhh we know?

[David Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tactic I used to stay up past my bedtime as a kid was to convince my parents to allow me to watch the 10 o'clock news. 'I suppose it is educational', they would reluctantly admit as they let me sit between them on the sofa.

I doubt 10 year old me started doing this out of a pure enjoyment of seeing mundane adults talk about perceivably mundane things, but over time I started to really enjoy watching it.

Jon Sopel was the American political correspondent at the time. America always seemed like this fascinating... strangeland. A place that seemed far more exciting and grander than little old UK. Any scandal, or political issue here was dwarfed by whatever crazy chaos was happening in the States.

But maybe this Strangeland isn't so strange. Maybe it's quite familiar. The country Jon's been covering for several years is certainly chaotic and unbelievable at times but Britain doesn't escape this criticism. Post-Trump it's sometimes easy for us to point the finger at our friends across the pond and laugh, as if we aren't Post-Brexit/Boris/Truss ourselves.

Jon does well to bridge the gap between his time covering the US and what's been happening in the UK whilst he's been gone. I was expecting a more impartial account, given the reviews, but I actually thought Jon voiced a lot of opinions succinctly and didn't hold many punches. A lot of topics were covered which, in this digital news age where a story is everywhere and then gone the next, I'd forgotten about! It was a great re-cap of the past 8 years and would recommend the read.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sopel is good at this. He speaks my language since he lived for many years in the US (as I do) reporting on that country, and has now returned to the UK and is somewhat astounded and exasperated at how the zeitgeist has changed here, and how the UK is now following in the footsteps of the US in many ways (polarization, conspiracy thinking etc.) as I am when I return to my country of birth.

This is an easy read. Very conversational. Sopel basically charts how the character of the British seems to have changed post-Brexit (and in the run up to that uniquely self-inflicted wound) and not for the better. He is preaching to the choir here, obviously. I agree with his take and am equally as horrified as he. I like his tone and his appeal to the centre and, generally, to reasoned discourse. This seems to have left us.

In particular, he advances a line of argument I have often put forward myself, namely: The UK seems to be yearning for a role post empire and certainly post Brexit. We, as a nation, and I still say "we", need to understand that we are a middling sized nation and be content with that, not necessarily seeking to "punch above our weight" as always seems to be our approach. We are not that important and that's OK - there is no Empire and it was horrible when we oversaw it. We don't seem quite ready to grasp that concept and that reality yet.

I enjoy books like this and Sopel is persuasive and easy to read. Of course, one is always likely to feel good thoughts toward those with whom one's world view aligns!

[Jamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Strangeland as someone who returned to the UK in 2014 after nearly 35 years away, I was particularly interested in Jon Sopel’s perspective on how the country changed between 2014 and 2022. Given his experience as the BBC’s North America editor, Sopel brings an outsider’s lens to both the US and the UK, making his insights especially relevant to those of us who have experienced a similar sense of cultural dislocation.

I found the early chapters less compelling than the later ones, possibly because they felt like a rehash of his previous books. Sopel’s reflections on the UK’s political and social transformations in the wake of Brexit, the pandemic, and leadership upheavals were more engaging, providing fresh observations on a nation struggling with its identity. His sharp wit and journalistic eye make for an entertaining read, particularly when contrasting British and American political cultures.

Overall, Strangeland is an insightful book, particularly for those trying to make sense of the UK’s evolution in recent years. While the earlier sections may feel familiar to those who have followed Sopel’s work, the later chapters offer a thought-provoking look at a country that has undergone profound changes in a short period.

[Jeff Chalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the abundance of political memoirs currently available, it is difficult to stand out. John Sopel does not.

His prose is much like his live reports on television and radio: lucid, blunt and concise. But the time period this book covers has been excavated and sieved multiple times. There are no new revelations, just ever more astonishment and rage at the depths of degradation our politicians have given rise to.

What might have set him apart was his experience of reporting from the USA during this period. Instead he sits in the mid-Atlantic and looks both ways. Granted, he elucidates how media developments from the USA have affected politics and culture in the UK (hence the title), but the impression he leaves is that both sides are in the same race to the bottom.

I don't like saying this about an effective, principled journalist, but do we need to be told again about how far standards have fallen? We know how much of a mess we have. Let's focus on cleaning it up.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slightly disappointing last outing, Jon Sopel is back on top form here and very much freed from the shackles of the BBC.
Returning to the UK after 8 years as the BBC's Washington Correspondent, Sopel finds a UK that is much changed. He is in the perfect position to reflect on those changes and consider them in a broader world context. His comparison between events in post Brexit UK and Trump's America are particularly good.
During this period, Sopel also took the major decision to leave the BBC and start the News Agents podcast with Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodal. As anyone who regularly listens to the podcast will know, Sopel now has the freedom to give a more rational and honest analysis of world events, no longer having to include Nigel Farrage's opinion in everything he writes!
The result is a fascinating and thought-provoking read, depressing in places but also hopeful. Already looking forward to the next book.

[Kerry Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been a listener of the podcast “The News Agents” and also recently had the pleasure of hearing Jon Sopel talk about this book at the Guernsey Literary Festival. If you’re interested in world politics, particularly those of Europe and the US then this book is a must read. The author specifically reflects on the changes that he sees in Britain when he moved back to London after eight years living in Washington DC. I left England eight years ago and on my occasional return visits I am also struck by the changes, to the point that I’m not sure I could return, despite not thinking that where I live now is the land of milk and honey.

Strangeland is well written as you’d expect from a journalist of this calibre. It is an eyes wide open account of where the UK now finds its place in the world post Brexit and its ever diminishing power. Slightly depressing but highly recommended.

[Jack O’Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Absolutely love Sopel and his analysis - although for this, perhaps that’s why the book doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights that it could, because pretty much every page or issue, I felt like I was reading my own thoughts. Whilst making the book lovely, reassuring and at times therapeutic, I don’t know if I then learnt anything particularly new or challenged my own thoughts. Perhaps the book will improve over time as we move further away from the events detailed?

Nonetheless, it’s wonderful to read Sopel’s views on things, as challenging as it is to revisit some of the craziness in the last decade.

So much of what he writes echoes with what I frequently moan about…

[Roland Glotzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that is quite informative of the current political scene in the UK showing interesting parallels between the UK and US e.g the demographics of those who voted for Trump in the US and those who voted for Brexit, similarities between Boris Johnson (though much more erudite) and Trump, etc.. The book also offers insights into the challenges faced by journalists e.g pressure by BBC management on editorial content (which results from governmental pressure as the BBC is funded by the government). Moreover as with most of the author’s books, it comes with a nice dose of humor.

[Lewis Howland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely eye opening and a very good read . It almost made me want to read it all in one day it was that good- but I took my time and even took some notes !!! As an admirer of Sopel and his work growing up this book has been interesting, inspiring and also at times worrying to read (if you know about politics you’ll know) this sums up perfectly how Britain and the way of political party politics has been declining for quite some time . I recommend this to anyone who loves journalism , stories and a little bit of BTS . Very good Jon Sopel!

[Lewis Treleaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it felt a little flat, with no obvious direction throughout it. Back and forth in time, talking more about the USA than the UK, it felt, and taking quite a while to get the the point sometimes, before not actually getting to a point. Jon's insights are always great, and I really enjoy listening to him on The News Agents, but perhaps I was expecting a little more because of that.

I'm currently reading another of his books, UnPresidented, which so far I'm much preferring!

[Greg Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the title, I read this for a fresh take on recent UK history from someone who had seen most of it from across the Atlantic, but I was disappointed. It’s a perfectly serviceable, well written account of the last 15 or so years, with many a witty turn of phrase, but there’s little to bring a distinctive or personal perspective on events, their causes or consequences. In the end, it’s the overly cautious work of the BBC man Sopel no longer is. His new fellow travellers, Maitlis and Goodall, would undoubtedly have been braver and hence more stimulating.