Question Time

[DanaC]

I've been rewatching old editions of Question Time (not old-old, still quite recent, but stuff I needed to catch up on :P)

It occurred to me I don't recall ever posting any QT, and it's probably one of the best programmes on (British) tv....so here. An example of Question Time. The weekly news debate show. A panel of leading political and cultural figures (in this clip the Secretary of State is on the panel). faces questions from a studio audience and debates current issues.


On this episode one of the questions relates to proposed changes to healthcare.

[DanaC]

And here's another clip from a recent edition.


The woman talking at the start is the Home Secretary

[Lamplighter]

Dana, it's absolutely fascinating to hear discussions of health care from a different point of view and different format.
Brits do seem a bit more polite !

It appears Brits favor their health care system the way Yanks favor their Social Security.
An apparent suspicion of hidden "privatization" is never heard here.
Instead, here it is the certainty of "socialization" and G.B. is the example.

It's hard to tell from one episode if QT is different from some of our TV coverage.
My view of US coverage is that they find two experts or authorities or representatives
at the extreme opposite ends of the spectrum, and call that "balanced coverage"

The idea of unfiltered questions and comments from an public audience is really appealing,
but I doubt we could do it without that approach soon being subverted, in accusation or reality,
of shills and plants in the audience.

Thanks for posting that episode

[DanaC]

Generally speaking they try and get a balanced panel. Views from across the spectrum, including centre, and usually a local famous face or interested party.* The show comes from a different town each week, and the audience is first come first served, apply for tickets on the bbc website.

What makes it quite special, imo, is that there is usually a cabinet minister or other prominent member of the ruling party on the panel. And there's usually a member of the shadow cabinet, or other leading member of the opposition.


* several issues will come up on each show so there aren't experts on every subject. Usually if there's a major issue on the go, like a new bill being debated and causing controversy, they'll have the minister responsible for the bill, and the opposition spokesperson speaking against it.

[Lamplighter]

What is "shadow secretary" Is it the minority party on a committee?

Maybe we would call that person "ranking minority leader" ?

[DanaC]

The 'Shadow' posts are the official opposition party's equivalent to the ruling party's ministerial posts.

So, the Prime Minister has a cabinet of ministers, and the opposition leader has a shadow cabinet, of shadow ministers.

[Aliantha]

We have a show called "Insight" which is very similar to that one. I first got hooked on it when my Dad rang me and told me they had an ep about Post Natal Depression on just after I'd been diagnosed.

It was very insightful.