Appearing on America’s most popular satirical news show was not pressure enough, Scotland’s First Minister was mistakenly billed as a comedian on The Daily Show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zft24HOKCr4
Nicola Sturgeon did manage to provoke laughter from the audience after sitting down to be interviewed by Jon Stewart reports Sky News.
She started by setting the record straight that she is a politician rather than a comedian.
She told host Stewart: “You billed me on your website as a comedian – so you’ve raised all these expectations that I’m going to be funny. And I’m a politician, and as you know, politicians are rarely very funny.”
The SNP leader is on the second day of a four-day trip to America, where she is undertaking a series of engagements in New York and Washington DC.
Ms Sturgeon followed in the footsteps of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown by making an appearance on the late-night chat show, although the former Labour leaders were interviewed after they left office.
Amid laughter from the audience Stewart reassured Ms Sturgeon she would be fine, saying: “You need not worry. They thought I was going to be funny for 17 years.”
Stewart is due to leave the show in September.
Following her appearance, during which the pair discussed the SNP’s election victory last month, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Scottish delicacy of haggis, Ms Sturgeon was roundly praised by viewers.
US journalist Skylar Baker-Jordan, who covers UK politics, said: “Sturgeon is on top of her game as usual. Insightful, delightful and charming.”
Minnestota-based Ashley Follmer tweeted: “I wish America had more delightful politicians such as Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon.”
It comes as Ms Sturgeon prepares to host a reception to kick off Glasgow School of Art’s fundraising appeal in the US, before heading to Washington.
There she will address an audience at the World Bank, attend a meeting at the International Monetary Fund, visit the US Holocaust Museum and make a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations.