TV

The One Show viewers slam Dan Snow’s ‘condescending’ and ‘disgraceful’ interview with D-Day servicemen

One viewer called for Matt Baker to interview the servicemen instead

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Fans of The One Show were furious last night (June 5) after watching historian Dan Snow interview veterans for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Dan featured on the programme to chat with survivors of the infamous World War Two landings – but it appears some were far from impressed with his interviewing style.

Dan Snow on The One Show
Dan interviewed the vets on a ship crossing the Channel (Credit: BBC)

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Taking to Twitter, one angry viewer wrote: “Please stop Dan Snow interviewing in such a condescending way, he’s bad enough talking about the Jurassic Coast, these great men deserve more #TheOneShow.”

Another tweeted: “Get Matt Baker interviewing those servicemen, he knows how to have respect for people, instead of #dansnow, who is disgraceful – condescending and totally insensitive! #TheOneShow.”

Someone else said: “I feel for all of those incredible men on that boat having to talk to Dan Snow. They don’t deserve that. #TheOneShow.”

A fourth wrote: “Will someone chuck Dan Snow overboard please @thehistoryguy #dansnow #theoneshow.”

“Time to switch over now @thehistoryguy is on, don’t believe a word he says,” said a fifth.

The interview saw Dan sit down to chat with three D-Day veterans, John, Arthur and Albert, and hear their experiences of that fateful day.

Dan told viewers: “In the early hours of June 6th 1944 it wasn’t just the parashooters landing in France, it was also the troops beginning to land on those beaches.

“From west to east those five beaches were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. It would turn out to be a costly day, something like around 10,000 casualties, of which thousands were killed.

D-Day veteran on The One Show
The veterans recounted their harrowing experiences (Credit: BBC)

“But, by the end of the day, the Allies had succeeded in getting more than 150,000 men ashore.”

At one point in the interview, Albert offered a grim picture of the day he waded ashore and headed in-land at Normandy.

He explained: “What really sticks in my mind most, is the smell. I don’t know how many people have smelled death.

Dan Snow on The One Show
Some thought Dan’s interviewing style was ‘condescending’ (Credit: BBC)

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“And the poor animals in the fields, where there’d been shelling, lying in the field upside down, legs in the air, burst open…”

Dan then asked: “Are you looking forward to seeing that coast again tomorrow morning?”

ED! has reached out to Dan’s reps and The One Show for comment.

Not everyone was turned off by the interview, as one person tweeted: “Great show tonight guys!!”

Another wrote: “Absolutely fantastic coverage! So many moving stories.”

It follows a backlash from viewers over comedian Paddy McGuinness’ interview on the programme earlier this week.

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Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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