September 2, 2003
This is Wim De Vilder, my favourite Belgian newsreader.
A couple of weeks ago, in the very sleepy parish that is my Dutch language blog, I wrote about how I rather liked Mr De Vilder's newsreading talents, which I often watched and appreciated when I lived in Cologne. (You could get Belgian TV on cable there). He has a rather sexy gravitas - which looks better on screen than in the picture. And his Flemish is just beautiful...
And would you credit it? Two very helpful strangers have sent me pictures and information about my favourite (and gay, as it turns out) newsreader. And so, in a bid to encourage his breakthrough into those tough English-speaking markets, here's a lovely picture of him for you to enjoy, courtesy of Lise. Isn't the internet wonderful?
Gosh, he really is as cute as a button, isn't he?
Posted by: matt at September 3, 2003 5:24 PMOh yes!
It's one of the things I'm looking forward to about Brussels... being able to have Wim read me the n(i)e(u)ws of an evening...
*sigh*
Posted by: Eurodan at September 5, 2003 12:10 AMIf the news were read by that kind of totty here I might be slightly better disposed towards it.
No, honestly, I'm not that shallow! I have a consistent, thoroughly-worked-out and deeply-held position on news media and am not swayed in the least by a pretty face :)
Posted by: matt at September 5, 2003 12:40 AMQuite right too. I'm with you all the way. My interest in the Belgian TV news is purely linguistic and news-related. *Ahem* (shifty silence).
Posted by: Eurodan at September 5, 2003 7:03 AMI'm all for it. What has modern news media to do with current affairs anyway? I thought that antiquated approach had been abandoned years ago to be replaced with the trivia, sensationalism, and entertainment come propaganda that is now served up to us 24 hours a day?
At least there'd be some point in watching the television news if it was read by a cutie like Wim. (Does he know he's got an overseas fan club?)
Posted by: Shyboy at September 6, 2003 2:21 PMTrue enough. Although I have to say that the station Wim works for is the Flemish-language service of the state-run Belgian broadcasting authority, VRT, and they're refreshingly free of the type of schlocky sensationalism you describe - of course, that's by 2003 standards!
As for Mr De Vilder, I doubt he's aware of his British following... still, you never know!
Posted by: Eurodan at September 6, 2003 3:38 PM