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David Cameron to star on Late Show with David Letterman David Cameron stars on Late Show with David Letterman
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron is set to become the first serving British prime minister to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman, a popular US chat show. David Cameron has become the first serving British prime minister to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman, a popular US chat show.
In a pre-taped programme to be aired early on Thursday, Mr Cameron will be quizzed on his knowledge of British history and culture. In the programme, aired early on Thursday morning, Mr Cameron is quizzed on his knowledge of British history and culture.
He has been in New York for two days at the United Nations General Assembly.He has been in New York for two days at the United Nations General Assembly.
The show's host, David Letterman, has been a prominent fixture on late night US television for 30 years.The show's host, David Letterman, has been a prominent fixture on late night US television for 30 years.
There were no questions about Andrew Mitchell, or Boris Johnson or the state of the coalition.There were no questions about Andrew Mitchell, or Boris Johnson or the state of the coalition.
Instead, when David Cameron appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, he found himself being closely interrogated about British history and culture - and he revealed one or two gaps in his general knowledge.Instead, when David Cameron appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, he found himself being closely interrogated about British history and culture - and he revealed one or two gaps in his general knowledge.
He was able to explain the differences between the nations of the UK, the size of the population and the extent of the British Empire.He was able to explain the differences between the nations of the UK, the size of the population and the extent of the British Empire.
But much to his embarrassment, Mr Cameron was unable to say what Magna Carta meant in English or who wrote the words and music of Rule Brittania.But much to his embarrassment, Mr Cameron was unable to say what Magna Carta meant in English or who wrote the words and music of Rule Brittania.
And if that wasn't enough, Mr Cameron then had explain why Britain wasn't in the euro, why British gun control laws were tougher than Americas and why Larry the Downing Street cat is such a poor mouser.And if that wasn't enough, Mr Cameron then had explain why Britain wasn't in the euro, why British gun control laws were tougher than Americas and why Larry the Downing Street cat is such a poor mouser.
What the three million Americans watching made of it is not known. But when David Cameron returns home later this week, he will probably be hoping the border staff don't ask him to complete a citizenship test.What the three million Americans watching made of it is not known. But when David Cameron returns home later this week, he will probably be hoping the border staff don't ask him to complete a citizenship test.
His chat show - one of the most watched in the USA with some three million daily viewers - is well known for its hard-hitting political interviews, with past guests including Barack Obama, Tony Blair and London Mayor Boris Johnson.His chat show - one of the most watched in the USA with some three million daily viewers - is well known for its hard-hitting political interviews, with past guests including Barack Obama, Tony Blair and London Mayor Boris Johnson.
'A falling out''A falling out'
But in the show on Thursday, Mr Cameron will be welcomed by a band playing Rule Britannia, and dry ice being pumped into the studio to represent a London fog. But in Thursday's show, which was pre-taped before being broadcast, Mr Cameron is welcomed by a band playing Rule Britannia, and dry ice being pumped into the studio to represent a London fog.
Asked briefly about the Arab Spring and his UN trip, the prime minister will then face questions about the composer of Rule Britannia, guessing incorrectly at Edward Elgar. Asked briefly about the Arab Spring and his UN trip, the prime minister then faces questions about the composer of Rule Britannia, guessing incorrectly at Edward Elgar.
The right answer, he will be informed by Mr Letterman, is Thomas Arne - setting words by James Thomson to music. The right answer, he is informed by Mr Letterman, is Thomas Arne - setting words by James Thomson to music.
Mr Cameron will also admit to being unable to provide an English translation of Magna Carta, which means great charter. Mr Cameron is also unable to provide an English translation of Magna Carta, which means great charter.
Hesitating before naming Runnymede as the place it was signed, he will correctly name 1215 as the date the Magna Carta was drawn up and will tell Mr Letterman about its significance in the origins of democracy. Hesitating before naming Runnymede as the place it was signed, he correctly answers 1215 as the date the Magna Carta was drawn up and tells Mr Letterman about its significance in the origins of democracy.
The show's host will then question Mr Cameron about Britain's four nations. The show's host later questions Mr Cameron about Britain's four nations.
Mr Letterman will ask: "What is the deal on Wales? Did they vote for you, the people of Wales? Mr Letterman says: "What is the deal on Wales? Did they vote for you, the people of Wales?
"Some of them did," Mr Cameron will say. "Some of them did," Mr Cameron replies..
The prime minister will raise a laugh in the studio when he jokes about the UK's relations with the US. The prime minister raises a laugh in the studio when he joked about the UK's relations with the US.
"There were some good bits and some less than good bits, and obviously we had a bit of a falling out."There were some good bits and some less than good bits, and obviously we had a bit of a falling out.
"I like to think we've got over that now.""I like to think we've got over that now."
'Not very popular''Not very popular'
During the programme, Mr Cameron will also draw cheers from the audience when he mentions London's hosting of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. During the programme, Mr Cameron also draws cheers from the audience when he mentions London's hosting of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
But he will avoid commenting on US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who had questioned London's preparations for the Games. But he avoids commenting on US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who had questioned London's preparations for the Games.
"The idea that two major world class athletics events took place in London... who would have bet against that going off flawlessly, as it seems to have done?" Mr Letterman will ask. "The idea that two major world class athletics events took place in London... who would have bet against that going off flawlessly, as it seems to have done?" Mr Letterman asks.
Mr Cameron will prompt the loudest applause of the evening when he explains that Britain does not allow political advertising, a big issue in the US where multi-billion dollar attack ads are being used in the presidential campaign. Mr Cameron prompts the loudest applause of the evening when he explains that Britain does not allow political advertising, a big issue in the US where multi-billion dollar attack ads are being used in the presidential campaign.
However, he will add that he was first recognised in the USA because of television, when a passer-by spotted him on a New York street and shouted: "Hey, Prime Minister's Questions - we love your show." However, he adds that he was first recognised in the USA because of television, when a passer-by spotted him on a New York street and shouted: "Hey, Prime Minister's Questions - we love your show."
Mr Cameron is later to say he wants the Late Show with David Letterman to help "bang the drum" for British business in the US. Mr Cameron later says he wants his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman to help "bang the drum" for British business in the US.
He will speak about the creation of one million private sector jobs by his government over the past two years. He speaks about the creation of one million private sector jobs by his government over the past two years.
But he will also admit he is "not very popular at the moment", pointing to austerity measures and cuts as a possible explanation for his low ratings. But he also admits he was "not very popular at the moment", pointing to austerity measures and cuts as a possible explanation for his low ratings.
Mr Cameron is the first sitting British prime minister to appear on the show, although Tony Blair has appeared on it twice since leaving office.Mr Cameron is the first sitting British prime minister to appear on the show, although Tony Blair has appeared on it twice since leaving office.