It’s a topic that has garnered more interest than mining: hug a ginga, says The Edge.

This polarising issue featured two nights running on Close Up, which means they’ve struck a topic that gets people engaged.

As far as a media performance goes, on Tuesday night I tipped my hat to teacher and father of two red heads, Stephen Simpson, who gave Edge radio jock Dominic Harvey a lesson in managing your messages for television. Harvey was ill-prepared and over confident, and Simpson was not awed by the celebs.

Harvey’s final blunder was to call host Mark Sainbury, "Sainsso”. Another cosy radio relationship?

Round 1 to Simpson.

On Wednesday evening the performances were reversed. As if bolstered by the success of his previous performance, Simpson was too cocky and overbearing. In contrast, radio jock Harvey was conciliatory and measured, and the arrogance of the previous night was gone.

Round 2 to Harvey and The Edge.

Lessons: when it comes to television, one success does not make you an expert; and quit while you are ahead. Simpson would have been better to decline the studio interview on the basis that he’d said all he had to say. Had he done so, he’d still be a winner.

For me, the last word goes to the Wellington woman who says: my response to being hugged will be: thanks moron!