I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you during this terrible time. I’m so sorry for your loss.

You must feel like a shadow of your former self. I just hope you bounce back from this and return to being the Paddy Gower we all know and love.

When I first heard what had happened on the radio I thought “no, surely that can’t be right. How could that happen?” So I listened again. What I heard saddened me.

You must feel terrible. Bereft. Lost. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.

I can‘t imagine what it must be like to hold down a job as the political editor of a major news network, all the time knowing you have lost your professionalism, impartiality and independence. It must be hard to report on political events while at the same time barely concealing, and indeed frequently flaunting, your utter contempt for one side of the political spectrum.

I don’t mind it when partisans and hacks on the right lay into the Labour Party, and I don’t mind it when journalists report on the stupid and terrible things said by various Labour Party people. God knows, there’s never any shortage of material.

But if I want to be told how awful the Labour Party and its members are, I’ll read Whaleoil. It’s okay when Cam Slater does it, you see, because he’s a shitheel.

Paddy, I just can’t bear to see you like this, so I hope you don’t mind if I start watching One News from now on. Hopefully you will get back what you have lost, and soon, and I will then be able to return to your TV channel.

I don’t know how you are holding it together. Kia kaha, Paddy!