The untimely death of the journalist and broadcaster, Tim Russert, has rocked America’s political and media worlds.

Photo: ©Aaron Mahler (with permission)

Those with a finger on the pulse of Washington politics know that Russert’s Meet the Press is America’s premier political show. The *only* Sunday political talkshow that must not be missed.

We in Britain lionise our own journalistic icons, but we know nothing quite like Tim. He had the humour and style of David Dimbleby, but the savagery of Jeremy Paxman. A true one-off.

Russert stood for standards that many so-called journalists pretend to adhere to. He would ask the awkward questions, he would challenge the spin, he was someone to admire.

R.I.P. Tim, you earned it.