James McCartney refuses to talk about his dad in BBC interview

Paul and James McCartney


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'I'm not asking you about YOUR father': Awkward moment James McCartney refuses to talk about his dad in BBC interview
LISTEN as radio presenter is forced to end awkward interview after just THREE minutes
THE SUN


Musician James McCartney (left) awkwardly avoided questions about his rock star dad during cringeworthy interview with BBC presenter Nick Coffer (right)
Getty Images / BBC

SIR PAUL McCartney's son refused to talk about his legendary dad live on the radio while promoting his latest album, telling the presenter: "I'm not asking you about YOUR father."

The cringeworthy chat on BBC Three Counties Radio lasted just three minutes before presenter Nick Coffer was forced to end it abruptly, announcing that James had "blown it".

The musician had answered just one question before awkwardly repeating that he didn't want to speak about his personal life.


James McCartney (left) pictured with his dad Sir Paul McCartney at The London 2014 Stella McCartney Green Carpet Collection
Getty Images

"I guess I wouldn't like to talk about my family because it's kind of private really, do you know what I mean?" he told Nick Coffer.

The radio host replied: "I understand that but looking behind the music your family is a big part of that.

"You were the closest thing to Paul because you were his son.

"Did you feel a pressure to follow in his footsteps?"

But his question was met with frustration from James who bizarrely attempted to turn the tables on the presenter.

"Again I wouldn't like to speak about my father," he said.

"I'm not asking you about your father, do you know what I mean?

"It just seems strange. I get where you're coming from, but it's just like, no."





The BBC presenter was hoping to talk to the 38-year-old musician about being brought up by the Beatles' Paul McCartney, the death of his mum, his battle with a drug addiction and the famous fall-out he had with his dad.

But James McCartney was hoping to just spend the supposedly 25-minute long interview talking about his album - The Blackberry Train - which is released on the May 6.

Defiant Nick said: "I've shaped this interview to talk about you as a person, about what's behind your music and talk about your story.

"If you want to answer those questions, that's fine James, and if you don't then that's fine too - we can end the interview.

"I wouldn't want to put any pressure on you but I want to know your story and your story goes beyond the album."


BBC radio presenter Nick Coffer said he was 'disappointed' that he was forced to end his difficult interview with musician James McCartney after just three minutes
Twitter

But James just replied: "For me it's really about the album, the Blackberry Train, that's kind of why I'm here. I guess I'm here to kind of promote the album in some ways."

The interview ended after three minutes as Nick announced: "Unfortunately James blew it."

"I'm disappointed. I've never had to end an interview," he added.

He later told The Sun: “At BBC Three Counties Radio we always do our best to conduct well researched, interesting and engaging interviews for our listeners.”







metro.co.uk
Sir Paul McCartney’s son James gives seriously awkward interview where he REFUSES to answer questions about his dad
Katie Baillie for Metro.co.uk
Thursday 5 May 2016


James did NOT appreciate being asked about his dad (Picture: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

Radio DJ Nick Coffer cut off his interview with James McCartney after the musician ‘blew it’ by refusing to be asked about his family.
Nick Coffer led the chat on BBC Three Counties Radio, as James appeared on the show to talk about his album the Blackberry Train.
And that was ALL he was there to talk about.
After the chat, the DJ posted the interview online with the comment: ‘It didn’t go well.’ And given that the interview lasted all of four minutes instead of the scheduled 25, it seems that would be true.




Coffer opened the interview by asking about James’ famous siblings, Stella and Mary, and their successes. James responded: ‘I guess I wouldn’t like to talk about my family.’
That’s pretty much a precursor for the rest of the interview.
He was then asked if he felt pressure to follow in dad’s footsteps, to which he frostily replied: ‘Again I don’t want to talk about my father you know? Like I’m not asking you about your father. It seems strange.
‘I get where you’re coming from but it’s just like nah.’
The awkwardness barometer just exploded. So did Nick’s head by the sounds of things.


Just don’t ask about Sir Paul (Picture: David M. Benett/Getty Images for Eco-Age/Green Carpet Collection)

He went on to point out that he’d shaped the interview around learning more about James’ background and what went into his music, which included asking about his family and his past, and said that if the 39-year-old could end the interview if he wished.
James replied: ‘Well for me it really is about the album though. that’s why I’m here.’
Ramping up the awkward factor just that extra notch, he then cagily asked: ‘How long have we got on this?’ After being told 25 minutes, he said: ‘Oh really? We’ve got to talk like this for 25 minutes?’
And that’s where the interview ended, as Coffer called an abrupt halt to proceedings, saying James ‘blew it’.


Awkward (Picture: Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

It’s not the first time James has been slated for an awkward interview. In 2013 he appeared on BBC breakfast to chat about his new music, and responded to questions with single word answers. Viewers branded it ‘excruciating’.