On interviewing and the art of interrupting

AN INTERRUPTION IS DUE IF THE ANSWER HAS NO BEARING TO THE QUESTION. IT IS ALSO NEEDED TO GET CLARITY OR REMOVE CONFUSION. FINALLY, IT CAN OCCUR SOMETIMES AS PART OF AN ANIMATED CONVERSATION

- Karan Thapar

I am often told I interrupt too much. That seems to irritate several viewers of my interviews. "Let me hear what your guest has to say before you butt in", is the most common response. These responses raise the question, when is an interruption unavoidable? Not just understandable and forgivable but also necessary and, even, required. Indeed, when would it be remiss not to interrupt? Or, is it the case that an interviewer must never interrupt and wait patiently till the guest stops, no matter how long that takes?

It all depends on what the interviewee is saying and its relationship to the question asked. In turn, you have to bear in mind that an interview is not a platform for the guest to say what he wants and at whatever length he chooses. It's a question-and-answer-based discussion. The question frames it. The answer is the response.