British broadcaster Kay Burley says she has 'some sympathy' for politicians, but her job is to hold them to account.
The Sky News presenter and reporter spoke to The Hard Shoulder today, as she prepares to launch a newly extended breakfast programme.
Kay told Kieran Cuddihy that she feels she's "just about getting the hang of it" after more than 30 years at Sky.
The veteran journalist recently scored a viral hit when her interview with UK health secretary Matt Hancock was widely shared online.
Kay challenged Mr Hancock to defend Tony Abbott's past comments, following the former Australian prime minister's appointment as a trade adviser to the UK government.
'Is Tony Abbott the right person to represent us - even if he's a homophobic misogynist?' - @KayBurley
Health Secretary @MattHancock says the former Australian PM is "also an expert in trade" and denies the claims.
Follow #KayBurley live: https://t.co/Qj88d3ncEp pic.twitter.com/ELhm8PzXAo— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 3, 2020
The broadcaster said that was one clip from the show that "got a lot of traction".
She said: "I did think at the time that probably if he got the opportunity to do it again... Matt Hancock might have answered that question in a slightly different way. The government felt he essentially misstepped: his colleagues that have come on the show since then... have been a little bit more polished in their delivery.
"I didn't expect to Matt Hancock to say what he did - and I don't think he did.
"I think it's very easy to be critical of politicians... but we have to accept they go into public life with the best of intentions. My job is to hold those public figures to account."
She said the COVID-19 crisis is something nobody could have expected, and politicians are making "life or death decisions all the time".
She observed: "I do have some sympathy for them - but when they come along and defend somebody... who has said some of the things [Tony Abbott has] said... my job is to challenge them on it.
"I am hoping as [viewers are] rushing around getting breakfast for the kids or rushing to get out the door... they will pause to shout at the telly box and say 'yes, she's asking the question I was thinking... I'm glad she's holding their feet to the flame'".
As well as her broadcasting, Kay is well-known for her willingness to call out and take on trolls on Twitter.
She told Kieran: "As I always say to youngsters who get a little bit upset about what trolls are saying... the way I imagine keyboard warriors is they are men in their mid-50s, no hair, balcony belly, in the basement... waiting for their mother to call them up for their tea."
