BBC's Question Time has functioned with the most basic formula for over 30 years now. Despite being satirised brilliantly by Not The Nine O'Clock News:
Lord Carrington: "You know, Great Britain is not an island...."
Robin Day: "I'm afraid it is, actually, Peter"
it has limped through two long periods of Government giving the three main parties an opportunity to appeal to populist opinion. It even patronises smaller parties by inviting a representative along on the rare occasions they step outside England's boundaries. The carefully unselected audiences reaction has reflected the zeitgeist about as accurately as Derek Acorah's conversations with the dead or Hughie Greene's 'clapometer'. But remember folks, it's your votes that count......... Mostly, though, it exists to allow viewer/voters to feel like a net in a political tennis match. "27%", "No, it's 23%," back and forth, until the lesser Dimbleby calls "out".
However, in an effort to appeal to someone (not sure who), the BBC began to invite 'Slebs', those televisual careerists who may have a passing interest in political events. Ian Hislop, Jim Davidson and Paul Heaton have all taken seats next to regular politicians, while renowned comedian Nick Griffin, whose act involves caricaturing a bumbling racist with no grasp on reality, died a death in 2010.
A nadir was reached this week, though, when the UK's least dignified pensioner, Janet Street-Porter managed to appear on the panel and answer, er, the wrong question. Asked about the forthcoming Referendum in Wales, the journalist and TV executive started talking about creating more bureaucracy and jobs for the boys. In reality, as everyone who is Welsh, lives in Wales or can READ A NEWSPAPER knows, the vote is all about circumventing the tortuous and arduous route legislation has to take in order to be enacted by the Welsh Assembly. No longer will 23 Whitehall departments need to have their say before the Welsh can do something in Wales.
Now, if I was to approach someone in Northampton High Street, or outside Carlisle United's ground and ask them about this Thursday's vote, I would understand perfectly if they knew nothing about it. However, if you are invited onto a programme in NEWPORT, most people would assume there would be a few questions about Wales coming up and cast at least one eye towards current Welsh events. Half a lunchtime on the BBC website would have educated la S-P on current issues. Sadly not. Still, why let accuracy and knowledge spoil a great PR appearance, hey Janet?
One other point about QT. Spectator Editor Fraser Nelson, without a hint of irony, described the Welsh Referendum as "boring". Has he read his own magazine? The idea of being called ugly by a frog sprung to mind. Still, I suppose it's an achievement to take over from Boris Johnson and actually make something worse!
It must be an age thing - it has the whiff of dumbing down about it. Perhaps it's the celebrities they have on - would love to see Mark Thomas back on.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about JSP - she comes across as just an illeducated contrarian at times.
I tend to skip QT these days and avidly watch This Week with Andrew Neil - who is also worth following on Twitter if that is the real him)
Who remembers Brian Walden? He was a proper interrogator who put the fear of God into his "guests". Weekend World was both intellectual and absorbing viewing. QT these days is politics-lite for the apathetic masses. Maybe the Beeb's political edge got blunted after its confrontation with the Labour govt over the Dr Kelly/WMD affair and its subsequent censure.
ReplyDeleteFrom a generation that was polarised under Thatcher in the 80s, it is sickening how little interest is shown in politics by young people nowadays. OK, the expenses fiasco showed them to be a bunch of self-seeking freeloaders, but turning away in disgust is hardly likely to make the situation better is it?
Rant over. Pilger, Chomsky anyone?