Åsa Vartdal and espen Aas Navigate the Challenge of Following a Norwegian Debate Icon
Åsa Vartdal and Espen Aas stepped into the spotlight this week, debuting as the new hosts of the influential Norwegian debate program, “The Debate,” and promptly faced the daunting task of following in the footsteps of a broadcasting legend: fredrik Solvang.
Vartdal, previously a presenter on Dagsrevyen, admitted to pre-show nerves, while Aas, a veteran of hundreds of debates on Dagsnytt 18, described himself as “very excited and incredibly impatient.” Despite the pressure of a new studio, new colleagues, and an audience perhaps exceeding half a million, Aas asserted that the team would adopt a stricter approach once the cameras rolled.
The shadow of Solvang looms large. Having hosted over 400 broadcasts and weathered over 1,500 complaints to the Broadcasting Council, Solvang was lauded as “an institution in the Norwegian public” by Center Party leader trygve Slagsvold vedum upon his departure before Christmas. “That is big shoes,” Vartdal acknowledged,but quickly emphasized that their goal isn’t to replicate Solvang’s success. “Our job is not to fill shoes. Our job is to create debate.” Aas echoed this sentiment, stating they were already implementing their own vision for the program.
Initial reactions have been mixed. Columnist Elin Ørjaseter described the first broadcast as “more like Urix than the Debate,” while Aftenposten characterized it as “pimped-up Urix,” but acknowledged viewers “probably got wiser.” Bergens Tidende offered a more positive assessment, calling the new iteration “safe and reliable.”
The early feedback highlighted a perceived lack of robust dissenting viewpoints. Ørjaseter questioned whether the program would become “boring in the future.” Aas defended the choice of topic – Norway’s reaction to Trump – as being firmly rooted in current events. “We couldn’t have chosen anything else today,” Vartdal added. aas later told Campaigns he was pleased with the positive feedback regarding the program’s informative nature and promised more challenging debates to come.
The new hosts are bracing for scrutiny. “now the question is how many messages we are going to get saying that we are not Fredrik,” Vartdal remarked,refusing to check her phone for incoming criticism. Aas concurred, anticipating a wave of comparisons. They appear prepared to stand their ground. “We almost have to be if we are to dare to do things that are not entirely safe. We want people to be engaged,” Vartdal stated. Aas affirmed, “We are completely different journalists than Solvang is and we make different choices. But it won’t be like that: ‘Here comes the safe version of the Debate’.”
Beyond the program’s content,the spotlight has also fallen on Aas’s distinctive appearance. For years, he has been the subject of public commentary regarding his hair, even receiving unsolicited advice – and even chambers – from viewers. Aas acknowledged the attention, wryly noting his fear of appearing “too fussy” with his hair. He revealed he had shared photos of a desired hairstyle with the program’s new makeup team, aiming for a “cool variant” that avoids looking “like a twelve-year-old.” He also hinted at “sinister plans” regarding his tie selection, promising “cool colors” and a departure from traditional Windsor knots.
Through ongoing coverage in Dagbladet,Aas’s dry humor has consistently shone through,as evidenced by his response to receiving two chambers in the mail in 2021: “Came yes,have a bit of a tousled hair.” He concluded the interview with a playful “cliffhanger” regarding his future tie choices, prompting a call to action from Vartdal: “Pick up the tip phone!”
