The Newsroom

Question Time

David Dimbleby stepping down after 25 years (June 2018)

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AN
Andrew Founding member
scottishtv posted:
noggin posted:
It's a bit like a US 'town hall' but with a panel ?

Yes, those occasional CNN town halls are the most similar thing I can think of, but Question TIme has a panel of guests, is less glossy and invites audience comment throughout the show. Also, it has travelled extensively across the UK during it's years on air, and usually comes from actual town halls, school gymnasiums, local theatres, and even an airport check-in area. The set is usually just a simple backdrop, desk and seating.

That said, I don't really watch these days as it's all become very predictable, as summed up in these three minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3tUqRBiMVo


Yes very predictable these days

Lack of a lot of big name MPs, lots of them are quite unknown, I'm sure in the Blair/Hague era more were well known.

Then you get those who seem to appear most weeks and therefore it gets repetitive.

The current extreme two party politics doesn't help and doesn't really generate a decent debate. In the past you would have had Lib Dem and even UKIP opinions. Now you occasionally get the likes of the SNP who often end up having to give their opinion on devolved English issues.

Increasingly rowdy audiences shouting out and reacting to points made in an over the top manner rather than a light ripple of applause like you'd expect on the BBC

Every topic is related to Brexit with the same questions very slightly differently asked every week.
:-(
A former member
The member requested removal of this post
WO
Worzel
Rich Tea posted:
There used to be a time when serious high ranking serving cabinet ministers such as the Home Secretary or Foreign Secretary appeared on QT didn't there? Maybe even the Chancellor, although I'm not so sure on that one. Not recently of course but going right back in time to the show in its first decade or two after 1979. Nowadays what do you get, apart from oh so many that the BBC deems the right on rent-a-gobs who seem to appear with their own views out of all proportion to their worth and constantly being given a disproportionate voice on national TV at the expense of so many others. Owen Jones springs to mind - nothing against him however . During the Labour Government and even a bit thereafter I used to get sick to the back teeth of seeing Douglas Alexander crop up on QT what seemed like about every month, while some in the Blair cabinet were left unseen. Same goes for now.

Do they ever ask these top ministers of State in the Home, Foreign and Treasury to appear on QT anymore, and if not why not. If they do, and I'm sure they must, why do they never accept? But let's face it, many of these politician's are not even prepared to come face to face directly with the electorate and have a good democratic public jousting even during a General Election campaign (yes you Mrs May) never mind at other non election times.

On another wider point, I really think it's too much to have QT followed by This Week with Andrew Neil on the same night. It's essentially one political talking heads show following another political talking heads show and both talking about the very same subject matter of the week much of the time. Andrew Neil would be the most logical choice for new host of course, but maybe he likes interviewing in his forensic manner far more than what would be a far more passive chairman role on QT.


David Davis, Liam Fox and (up until recently) Amber Rudd have appeared on the panel in the last year. All very much cabinet members and front benchers (Rudd, aside, following her recent resignation).
DA
davidhorman




Bit tacky, isn't it, to be airing all this in public? And on Twitter, of all places - you'd think an award-winning journalist would have edited their copy down before using an ampersand. "I'd like to be seriously considered" was bad enough, but "Happy to go through a process based on equal opportunity, fairness and merit."?

Am I only one who feels that reads like a veiled threat that she can kick up a hell of a fuss on two fronts if she doesn't like the process and/or outcome?

And wasn't there a previous hoohah about some job she went for?
Last edited by davidhorman on 21 June 2018 9:11pm
AN
Andrew Founding member
Airing your dirty HR linen in public is pretty standard for on screen BBC employees
itsrobert, Brekkie and Jon gave kudos
AN
all new Phil
It certainly reeks of somebody thinking they’re more well known than they actually are...
BR
Brekkie
They do have spinning chairs on Question Time right?
AN
all new Phil
Andrew posted:
Airing your dirty HR linen in public is pretty standard for on screen BBC employees

Speaking of which... odd that Carrie Gracie’s name hasn’t been mentioned for a potential successor.
BA
bilky asko
A couple of things to note (and perhaps Television Forum's resident Question Time question asker can provide his input):

David Dimbleby, in his chat to the audience members before the show, encourages the audience to get points in quick (as the time passes fast), and also says to not be afraid of shouting out or interrupting, as it makes things more exciting.

He also says that people always moan about heavy focus on Brexit, yet Brexit is always one of the most submitted question topics (the selected topics are done on how popular they were as submissions).
BA
bilky asko
Brekkie posted:
They do have spinning chairs on Question Time right?

Only the Chair has a spinning chair.
BR
Brekkie
bilky asko posted:
Brekkie posted:
They do have spinning chairs on Question Time right?

Only the Chair has a spinning chair.

Perfect then.
AN
Andrew Founding member
bilky asko posted:
A couple of things to note (and perhaps Television Forum's resident Question Time question asker can provide his input):

David Dimbleby, in his chat to the audience members before the show, encourages the audience to get points in quick (as the time passes fast), and also says to not be afraid of shouting out or interrupting, as it makes things more exciting.

He also says that people always moan about heavy focus on Brexit, yet Brexit is always one of the most submitted question topics (the selected topics are done on how popular they were as submissions).


First question tonight - Brexit Laughing

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