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Since 2003, Portillo has appeared in the BBC weekly political discussion programme This Week with Andrew Neil and, until September 2010, Labour MP Diane Abbott.

Portillo has known Abbott for many years: they both attended schools in the London Borough of Harrow, Portillo and Abbott were in a joint school production of Romeo and Juliet, though not in the title roles.

Later, whilst still at school, Portillo cast Abbott in a film version of Macbeth, but the film was never completed.

She played Lady Macduff to his Macduff The chemistry between Portillo and Abbott has been credited with ensuring the programme's popularity.