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The Best...political show

David Dimbleby
  • Posted at 3:15pm
  • 12 December 2007
  • by RhodriMarsden-RT
  • 3 comments

Firmly established as a national institution, Question Time feels as if it has been around for ever, but in fact it's only in its mid-20s. On Thursday nights, the relentlessly hammering piano theme heralds an unpredictable hour of current affairs, featuring stressed public figures trying hard to look confident in the face of a tongue-lashing from the general public.

Amid the chaos sits the familiar figure of David Dimbleby, constantly fiddling with his glasses and generally wearing a wry smile. He knows that, in this era of political spin, his show is the only one where the politicians are truly put on the spot. When a furious pensioner who can't afford her electricity bill demands to know what's going to be done about it, Jeremy Paxman suddenly starts to look like a soft touch.

But, incredibly, politicians with bloated egos are prepared to take a calculated risk of being humiliated just to get their faces on television for an hour - Question Time has become unusually popular for a political show. They know that if they put in a good performance, it could assist their climb up the greasy political ladder. Nine times out of ten, of course, they'll come unstuck, as they unwittingly reveal the chasm between themselves and the man on the street by not knowing the price of a loaf of bread.

And while the Ken Livingstones, Ann Widdecombes and Tony Benns of this world will put in fantastic, opinionated displays, the nervous, fidgeting backbencher will provoke howls of derision at their pitifully noncommittal responses. But it's their own fault. Vanity brought them on the show. And vanity will kick them off it.

Then, for light relief, we get the marvellous spectacle of the rogue celebrity, brought in to give the panel a bit of pizzazz. When it's clear-thinking people like Stephen Fry or Frederick Forsyth, you can rely on them to be coherent, even if you think they're talking crap.

But it's the wild cards that provide the unforgettable TV moments: Paul Heaton of The Beautiful South mumbling vaguely about abolishing the House of Lords; Heather Mills McCartney, unable to shut up about the time she met Bill Clinton; former Smash Hits editor Emma Jones getting the CIA confused with the CID. Excruciating, but priceless.

You see, although QT is easily the best political show on telly, it's not supposed to be comfortable viewing. But if you start to struggle, distract yourself with a quick round of Question Time bingo. Cross off five categories of audience member to win! Let's play!

1. The finger-wagger, unleashing years of pent-up fury at his local MP.
2. The comment-applauder, clapping enthusiastically at every comment, whether they agree or not.
3. The note-reader, attempting to recite an essay on human rights rather than ask a question.
4. The attention-wanderer who, mid-discussion, asks a completely unrelated question, leading to groans from fellow audience members.
5. The arm-waver who, when finally called to speak after patiently waiting for five minutes, completely forgets what they were going to say.

House!

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Comments

  • Posted on 04 December 2008
  • at 9:25am
  • by MazY

Like Izzy, I don't feel the addition of a celebrity adds anything positive to the panel of Question Time. Quite the opposite in fact. It shows the BBC as the ratings-chaser that it is, and invariably interrupts the flow of the programme as the viewers, the guests, and the panel are forced to listen to what are, quite often, incoherent views made by an individual who seems only too eager to demonstrate how little knowledge they have of the political system and community.

The only time I don't watch is when the schools programme is on. If there is one thing worse than celebrities trying (and failing) to appear knowledgeable on the broad subject of politics, it has to be youngsters trying to do the same thing with the added irritation of being barely able to string an English sentence together without immature pauses and a string of 'erm' and 'like' fillers.

Still, is there any better remedy to the above than relaxing with the 'This Week' team afterwards? It doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is and we get the benefit of the perpetual teasing question of whether Michael Portillo and Diane Abbott will ever get together and live happily ever after. Maybe it will be the big revelation over the Eastenders Christmas dinner this year?

  • Posted on 16 October 2008
  • at 7:03pm
  • by Dennis

Great show, watch it religiously every thursday for many many years.....and i am a bloke in my twenties! long may it continue in the same vein and spirit with these here today gone tomorrow politicians passing through for scrutiny!

  • Posted on 03 July 2008
  • at 11:59am
  • by Izzy

I always enjoy this programme for many of the reasons mentioned in the blog, but I don't think it has enhanced the programme to have "airhead" celebrities who have little contribution to make. What about little Bo Peep on last week's programme??? What is the world coming to? Look forward to the "schools" programme soon as the young people are our future politicians. Gawd help and save us in some respects!

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