I am rapidly - and probably terminally - going right off Prof. Charmaine Gauci, but to be honest, I never was much of a fan, for two main reasons.

Firstly: ever since she has been giving her midday briefings concerning the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maltese Islands, her demeanour alone has been probably the biggest turnoff since Alfred Zammit first appeared on our TV screens. The aura of doom and gloom she casts over each tele-briefing is reminiscent of the monologues of Private Fraser from the 1970s TV sit-com Dad's Army. Prof. Gauci's TV disposition is unashamedly miserable and pessimistic and I just think we really could do with just a little more optimism.

Oh I'm sure that when she's not facing-up a TV camera she's a happy, smiley, cheerful, laugh-a-minute bundle of frothy fun, but obviously she feels that reporting on pandemics is no time for levity, fair enough... but not even a glimmer of positivity?

Oh sure she's being suitably "serious" and the old people in our family love that. In Malta we equate being serious with being right. When I was a little lad my nannu used to tell my parents that I would never amount to very much, because I wasn't... "serious". Well he was spot-on there.

I've also heard that some people are so impressed with her "seriousness" that they are touting her for Parliament - no less. As though we don't already have more than enough pseudo sombre MPs, most of whom are about as attractive and appealing as the Cosa Nostra kitchen cabinet.

My second gripe concerning Prof. Charmaine is her contemptuous dismissal of most of the questions she gets asked. When I used to follow her updates and somebody asked a very apposite question I would hang around waiting for her considered response... no chance. Her reply was invariably something along the lines of: "Next question!" So, I and everybody else would be left dangling. That's no way to treat the public. If you don't know the answer... say so. If you know but don't want to answer... at least try to reassure the questioner. People are concerned and some are very concerned, she doesn't seem to ever take this into account.

I realise these comments will be seen by some people as a blanket criticism of Prof. Gauci. This is not the case. I am not for one minute criticising her competence. I am also well aware that some people in Malta would go so far as to lobby for her canonisation... in the fullness of time. I am well aware of the lady's good points, what I don't appreciate is her inability to empathise and - at least try - to see that a lot of us are suffering financially and psychologically, in this current very restrictive lockdown.

We are being constantly reassured that she is doing a great job and I have no reason to doubt that this is true, but her PR skills are nil (zilch) and that is not in the least bit reassuring.

So for goodness sake Professor, try to be a little more simpatico and try, at least try to lighten up just a little.

At least, we'll only have to stomach just three sessions a week with Charmaine for the time being.