I am Rick Edwards (hi) and I am a TV presenter interested in getting young people engaged with politics. ASK ME ANYTHING (within reason)

I once had a dream about you in which you were a ghost and you asked me out and then stood me up.

How do you explain this sort of behaviour?

A ghost never explains.

Hi Rick,

I just watched your TedX talk today. I found it really interesting, particularly the notion of a 'none of the above' vote being an option. I'm at uni as a mature student (mature in the sense of being 25, I still behave like a teen) and I find it a struggle to get people in my classes, mostly of 18 and 19, to discuss politics let alone see a reason to vote. I shall be recommending your video for sure. So questions.. 1) In the video you called on politicians to prove you wrong if they were doing everything to engage with young voters. Has an MP contacted you regarding this? 2) Do you think there is a chance that politics will wake up and use your suggested methods to get young people to vote? 3) Favourite moment of MIC and cast member?

1. yes, several have. Which is really encouraging.
2. I'm hoping to leverage the support of the MPs mentioned above to push these methods to the front of the agenda.
3. Proudlock is a cutie.

What do you think about Russell Brands opinion on voting?? (He says that it doesn't work so he doesn't vote)

I think what Russell is saying is extremely dangerous because he has such an influence over young people in particular. I don't doubt that he is a smart, caring, sensitive guy, but he is offering no alternative to democracy. His message boils down to "wouldn't it be better if things were better?". Well, yes. But how?

Why would any young person want to have anything with politics?

Politics affects our lives in so many ways, every day. If young people don't have their say, whether through voting or campaigning or whatever, then people - politicians - will continue make decisions that will impact them without any form of consultation.

My impression is that politicians make same decisions no matter who and what people are voting for.

Can you tell me 3 exact differences between major politicians in US?

I honestly believe that young people should be encouraged to go in Icelandic revolution direction rather than vasting their lives by trying to understand bullshit government and their financiers (who are actually a government) serving them on a daily basis.

Politics is poison for young mind.

I certainly agree that the crowdsourcing of the new Icelandic constitution is fascinating (if that's what you're talking about). We could learn from it.

My US politics isn't that hot, to be honest.

Why are the candidates for local council elections in my area so RUBBISH about putting information online about what they stand for? Why do they think I want a leaflet that tells me that they have a dog and like hockey?

Not that I'm bitter about it.

I think access to clear, trustworthy information is a huge problem, not just on a local level. I am in favour of Voter Advice Applications, which could be specifically tailored and rolled out for General Elections and Local Elections.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_advice_application

My SO demands to know what you do to your hair to get it like that. Monkey placenta?

I've trained it over many years to do exactly what I want.

When I'm on TV, I slather it in placenta (unknown provenance)

Who is your favourite MP based entirely on dress sense and why?

http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/stars-in-bald-wigs/mp-michael-fabricant.jpg

This don's hairpiece is NAUGHTY.

I remember on Tool Academy you once said "I can throw you 110cm. But how far can I trust you?", and it was hilarious. Was that scripted?

PS. How are you so handsome? No homo.

Also I really respect your passion for politics. Im glad a big public figure for the younger generation such as yourself is so involved.

SCRIPTED BY ME.

ALSO, FACE BY ME.

I DO EVERYTHING AROUND HERE.

I feel like someone has to be passionate about these issues. And it might as well be the geezer off of Tool Academy.

What are your favourite crisps? What are Brendan's favourite crisps?

I go nuts for Tyrells, because I am pure class.

Brendan will eat literally anything.

If you could drink a beer with Steven Gerrard or Queen Elizabeth, who would you choose?

Is both out of the question?

Is the best part of being super tall being able to get things from high shelves in the supermarket?

No, the best thing is going to Japan and dressing up as Godzilla.

Do you think politics or at least, for want of a better phrase "how things work" should be a compulsory subject in schools? It has always puzzled me as to why there isn't "Life lessons" in school teaching people how living in a country works, this is the idea behind this, this is the idea behind that etc.

If nothing else they should start teaching to get rid of people saying they studied at the school of life.

Absolutely.

I've spoken to kids in schools whose sum political knowledge has been an awareness of the different colours of the parties. Schools are, obviously, the ideal place to teach a basic level of politics - how our democracy works, the historical positions of the major parties, how decisions at a government level affect people's lives on the day-to-day etc.

It seems the answer to everything is 'we should teach it in schools' - obesity, personal finance, sexism, ... Is there enough time for everything?

There is enough time for you to eat Pringles.

American Libertarian here who knows little about the UK political process. I do get most of my world/US news from the BBC. Question is: What is the best way you have found to get teens/young adults to understand the importance of politics?

Modernising.

So, online-voting. VAAs. Bringing politics to where young people are living their lives. Encouraging the people in power to have a meaningful online presence and get involved with dialogues, rather than simply broadcasting information (obviously there is a practical time limitation on this sort of interaction).

What has been your favourite TV show you've worked on so far?

I am sitting in the Free Speech offices. With my Free Speech colleagues. So - Free Speech.

(but actually - the Paralympics)

Hi Rick. I was at a taping of Free Speech in Swansea where we discussed whether sexy clothes on a lady encourages rapists or not. One of the audience members said something along the lines of "if the food smells good, you want to taste it." I was wondering what the most shocking thing an audience member has ever said and how you would mitigate that during a live broadcast?

I remember that! Horrific.

Weirdly, you have to let people express their opinions, whether you agree with them or not. That only ceases to apply with hate speech, I think.

When people say outrageous things, you can usually rely upon another audience member or panellist to confront them.

Do you miss T4?

Do I miss what?

1. Which US president will you be voting for in 2016 and why?

2. Have you seen Jim Jeffries new stand up on Netflix and do you find his portrayal of Oscar Pistorius accurate?

1. Nixon?
2. No, I haven't. Will check it out.

Hello, I was going to ask a childish question like have you ever unwittingly eaten peanut butter off the stomach of a big man, or smelt a really old salmon? (But I won't. I will just say I really like your swing the vote campaign. I had to write about it at a job interview a few months back.)

Of course I've eaten peanut butter off a big fella. Hasn't everyone?

Glad you like #swingthevote. Campaign film is launching next Thursday 11th September.

You had me at the peanut butter, you lost me at the salmon, you had me again at Sing the Vote. You're such a tease. All these emotions.

http://hugelol.com/lol/245829

I think I've just won you again.

(#singthevote is a good new idea)

Hi! I met you at The Hollyoaks Music Show...it was a good day. Who has been you favourite celebrity to interview? And the worst?

I have tried to forget that The Hollyoaks Music Show existed. Thanks for the reminder.

I like Hugh Jackman.

Hi Rick,

Well done for being funny on twitter. Would you call yourself a feminist? If so, why/ why not?

Thanks mate.

I am a feminist. Absolutely. I think it's a shame that more men don't identify as such.

Do you think the rise of UKIP and other more 'nationalist' parties would be helped or hindered by younger voters? Or does it matter not in democracy?

Honestly, I don't know. The received wisdom tends to be that younger voters lean left, but I'm not entirely convinced of that. I think the split between the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems at the last election (amongst young voters) was roughly equal.

I try to remain publically neutral - all I want is to encourage people to vote, not point them towards who to vote for.

It's something I wonder about. Certainly, it is my experience working with young people that they can see some issues as very black and white (immigration = wholly bad) for example.

Then I remember the chemistry PhD on my Facebook who posts all kinds of ill-informed shit and realise that if you're going to have democracy, you got to allow for all kinds of chumps, of all ages.

That is the price of democracy. But I would never entertain the notion of restricting voting (looking for 'well-informed' voters is dangerous territory).

As you see it, what are some young people's issues that are going under-recognized or un-addressed all together?

I think it's both.

There appears to be a vicious cycle: young people aren't voting, so their issues don't get addressed; that disengages young people even more; they vote even less; and so on.

We have to break that cycle, and quickly.

How on earth can Super Mario be a replacement for Suarez?

And when you and George Lamb are out on the town do you intimidate others as you're both very tall? Not freakshow tall, but tall enough to be a curiosity.

Both good questions. I'll deal with each in turn:

1. he can't.
2. yes, I think so. Especially when I ride around on his shoulders singing 'THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN'.

Hi Rick, if you haven't heard of it already one of my friends has designed a website that uses your views to match you with the political parties that share your views.

https://www.tickbox.org.uk

Now for my question : do you prefer Liverpool's team how it was 4 months ago or now? I'm crossing my fingers for Liverpool not to follow Tottenham's path after replacing Bale.

EDIT: just realised there is a MIC novelty vote as well!

I have seen it. Great stuff. There are a few around.

My fingers are similarly crossed re: LFC's team. I'm hoping that Sterling will continue to terrorise defences.

Salute Rick, I think you're a very talented man, silly question, are you a ticklish guy? If yes, where? Kiss from France!

It's embarrassing, but I have a very ticklish anus.

Kiss from England!

What do you think is the biggest barrier to online voting? Surely it can't be security / fraud when everyone banks online now?

Is it that politicans are scared of what might happen if huge numbers of new people started voting?

I think there is a paralysing resistance to ANY change.

And older people (like politicians) tend to have less trust in the internet than the younger generation. That doesn't help.

As for the huge spike in voter numbers that online voting would undoubtedly bring - yes, I'm sure that terrifies politicians.

Do you think I am too old to watch Hollyoaks? My husband thinks I am.. But 28 really isn't that old, is it?

You're too old to be on Reddit, Chiquita.

Is The Thick of It an adequate representation of British politics?

Follow-up: is Peter Capaldi going to be the best Doctor?

It's an ob-doc, isn't it?

And no, Capaldi will be inferior to Sylvester McCoy.

Do you think a direct democracy, where people use the internet to vote for policies, rather than for candidates (who potentially can't be trusted), would be better than the current UK system?

It seems to me that requiring a candidate to speak for you is something that was only necessary before mass communications; now, they only get in the way.

That's very interesting.

I think there are limitations on direct democracy - for example, I suspect that if you ask the electorate to vote on lowering taxes, they would vote in favour. If you then asked if they wanted to increase public spending on services, they would again vote in favour. And so you get into difficulties through contradictions.

[deleted]

Not voting gets ignored.

Spoilt ballots have to be counted, but I guess feel rebellious.

I'd love to see a None Of The Above option. A legitimate, sanctioned way of the electorate expressing dissatisfaction with the parties.

IT'S 7.35PM AND MY NANDO'S ISN'T GOING TO EAT ITSELF.

GOODBYE!

Thanks for your questions (most of them).

What's your most memorable Free Speech moment? Best and worst

All a blur.

What is the most disheartening part of the whole trying to get young people engaged with politics thing?

Actually, it isn't disheartening. Young people care about issues and causes, undeniably. The challenge is ensuring that they make the link between those causes and politics. There is a disconnect. It would be much harder if young people didn't care.

Can you buy me a beer next time i'm in London? I am tall and think we would see eye to eye on subjects.

Yes. Do you drink Weissbier? I've got one going spare right now*.

*it is RANK