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UK Politicsal TV

Not Here Still

17:41 / 19.09.02

The BBC have just unveiled plans for new political TV shows.

Story here.

So now seems as good a time as any to ask: what do you think of politics on TV? Do you think they are covered well, or badly, or do you even watch them at all?

Have you ever cheered orbooed at Question Time like it's a spectator sport? Or turned off Newsnight because you're dribbling down your T-shirt in incoherence? Or even watched Tonight with Trevor McDonald?

What is your view on politics on TV, exactly?

(postscript: I'm sorry to anyone not from the UK, but I'm specifially interested in British programming. Feel free to start companion threads, though...)

Mourne Kransky

20:51 / 19.09.02

I used to watch all of it when I was a fiery young student. There is much more of it now with much higher production values but I watch much less of it.

Of course, it depends on yourt definition of "politics on tv", since there would be a political underbubble to most of what I do watch. Even Tinky Winky was making a political point about masculinity and handbags.

Did watch David Hare doing his "Via Dolorosa" on BBC4 the other night. Damn fine. Never watch Question Time or Newsnight any more though. Prefer my politics on the radio, I guess.

Tryphena Absent

23:45 / 19.09.02

Well I often boo Question Time because Dimbleby is just so shit at presenting. I saw it tonight and realised that the man doesn't understand the use of the word 'regulated'. GGGGRRRRRRRRRRR.

Spatula Clarke

23:56 / 19.09.02

A Paxman-fronted Question Time would be berrrrilliant. Damn chickenshit BBC.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

10:26 / 20.09.02

I'm getting a big 404 on that web page NMBA so I can't comment on the BBCs plans, but with Dyke in charge I'm not expecting anything particularly brilliant. But, I don't watch QT or Newsnight hardly ever, unless I know someone or something on there is of direct interest to me.

In terms of good political shows the only one I ever liked was the one that Vincent Hanna and Andrew 'I've got a chin and I'm not afraid to use it' Rawnsley did on C4 on Saturday evenings, normally after the Brookie omnibus. Initially it looked a bit like two rather dull men doing things to camera about the political news of the week, but then you noticed the grins and the winks and you realised they were having fun doing it, and it got transmitted to you too.

Unfortunately Hanna died fairly soon after the '97 election IIRC, and they shelved the show. I don't think they've bothered to try and replace it since, they've just relied on Jon Snow and the C4 news.

Tryphena Absent

10:47 / 20.09.02

Paxman fronting QT would be better, much more aggressive, I can't stand Dimbleby's namby pamby reactions to everything and his lame-arse smiling face on my screen. A couple of nights ago I was watching Newsnight because Peter Singer was on there and Paxman was being horrible to some man about 'A' level results and they were being so weak back. The public would be evil to him though... evil. The recurrent drunk man on QT would be the worst.

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