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September 13, 2001updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Platell joins Radio Five Live

By Press Gazette

Platell:"other side of the spin"

 Following the political storm over her secret video election diary, Amanda Platell is to join former spin doctor Charlie Whelan on BBC Radio Five Live’s Sunday Service for the party conference season.

The former Tory press secretary, who worked for William Hague until his resignation following his June election defeat, will present the Sunday Service with Whelan on 24 and 30 September and 7 October.

Andrew Pierce, who was assistant editor on the Sunday Express when Platell was executive editor, will also be presenting the show.

"Andrew and I were great mates and I knew Charlie when I was a journalist and he was one of the best spin doctors around," said Platell.

"It’s going to be a complete departure from the last couple of years at conference with William. But I’m looking forward to being on the other side of the spin." Platell will also be on call to provide analysis throughout the conference season, in what will be her first appearance on Radio Five Live.

It follows the broadcast of her video diary, Unspun, on Channel 4, which she secretly filmed throughout the election campaign.

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Following her departure from the Tory Party, Platell told Press Gazette that she was considering a number of job offers, both from newspapers and from broadcast executives.

"A lot of people, including the BBC, are looking for new ways of doing politics," said Platell.

"I’m waiting to see how this goes, but I have had a few approaches from broadcasters with new concepts about political coverage."

Her Liberal Democrat counterpart, Daisy Sampson, who was Charles Kennedy’s spin doctor during the election campaign, has also been signed up for the programme.

The three former spin doctors will also appear on BBC2’s Conference Live show with Scotsman publisher and former Radio Five Live presenter, Andrew Neil.

By Julie Tomlin

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