Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me‪?‬

A deliciously irreverent and humorous insider’s account of 25 years working at the very top of British political television

‘What Rob Burley doesn't know about political interviewing isn't worth knowing’ – Andrew Neil

‘A delicious read’ – Emily Maitlis

'He writes beautifully' – Jeremy Paxman

'Very funny’ – Steve Coogan

'An excellent book' – James O'Brien

'He writes brilliantly' – Adam Buxton

Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me? is a deliciously irreverent insider’s account of a career spent trying to get straight answers from politicians, offering a unique insight into the British political class during a time when no one appears to be telling the truth.

This book is Rob Burley’s love letter to the political interview and, with the help of exclusive conversations with TV giants from Jeremy Paxman and Andrew Neil to Andrew Marr and Emily Maitlis, it will take you inside the process like never before.

Reviews

‘Entertaining and illuminating’ Beth Rigby

‘With years of experience editing the crème de la crème of political broadcasting, Rob Burley’s had a front row seat at most of them’ Susanna Reid

‘Incisive, brutally honest and very funny’ Steve Coogan

‘An absolute delight’ Emily Maitlis

‘Witty and well-informed’ Andrew Marr

'A riveting read' Guardian

'Well informed and funny' Charles Moore, Telegraph

'Droll and vivid' New Statesman

About the author

Rob Burley is a television producer, programme editor and writer with more than twenty-five years’ experience at the top of British television. He started his career at ITV, becoming editor of the channel’s political programme. He joined the BBC in 2008, working as deputy editor of Newsnight and editor of The Andrew Marr Show before taking charge of the political programmes department, and devising and launching Politics Live. He left the BBC in 2021, assuming senior roles at LBC and then Sky News, where he plots interviews with political editor Beth Rigby. He lives in Hove with his partner, two sons and, annoyingly, Parkinson’s disease.