Returning: Kitchen Cabinet

Annabel Crabb’s interview series Kitchen Cabinet returns in October.

Once again she sits down with politicians for a dinner chat in their own homes.

I’m a bit surprised this is returning to ABC2, rather than ABC1. I think it’s worthy of a better profile, but maybe ABC1’s schedule was full with Stephen Fry.

Over six episodes, our veteran political journalist invites herself over to the home of a sitting member offering dessert in exchange for dinner.

In episode one, Federal Member for North Sydney and Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey invites Annabel over to the notorious Canberra based share house that has provided accommodation to many senior Liberal figures including Ross Cameron, Bob Baldwin and most famously, Brendan Nelson who whilst Liberal Leader, lived out in the back shed.

Barely any real food is ever consumed there, but Annabel is so keen to get the gossip on Hockey’s share house shenanigans she accepts his offer to come over for a BBQ. Over what can only be described as an exceedingly modest meal our Shadow Treasurer discusses media gaffes, upsetting John Howard, and how it feels to be punched out by Liberal Leader Tony Abbott. Annabel also learns more than she ever wanted to know about fire buckets.

Annabel Crabb is ABC Online’s chief political writer, and columnist for ‘The Drum’. She is a regular guest on ABC News 24’s 6pm current affairs show The Drum, and on ABC TV’s Sunday morning politics programme Insiders. She writes a weekly column for the Sun Herald, Sunday Times (Canberra) and Sunday Age, and is a panellist and keen competitor on ABC1’s Randling. (Favourite word: Preposterous)

Wednesday, 10 October at 9.30pm on ABC2.