First viewed : Late 1980 /early 1981
Beginning in December 1980, this review and discussion programme followed on from the shorter , less ambitious Armchair Critics earlier in the year. It retained the three programme / three guests discussion at its core but also incorporated the hosts' review of the past week, a quiz and a special pre-filmed report.
Taking over as presenter was respected journalist and occasional parliamentary candidate Ludovic Kennedy. The guests were chosen on the basis of the special insight they could bring to the discussion of one of the three programmes under the spotlight so you had an eclectic blend of celebrities, writers, academics and the odd politician filling the chairs.
I always found Kennedy's style a bit too dry so this never became appointment TV for me. One or two episodes do stick in the mind. I remember Tony Benn being on for the discussion of a Channel 4 series on libertarian philosophies and offering his own uniquely warped worldview. "You're getting in quite a bit of propaganda yourself Tony" Kennedy interjected drolly.
The other one had Jeffrey Archer on when they were discussing Moonlighting . Sarah Dunant , who stood in when Kennedy wasn't well, was the host and when Archer's turn came round he first produced a bottle of champagne and glasses and then copies of the script he'd transcribed and run off to re-enact with Dunant and the other guests. One was telegenic union boss Brenda Dean . I can't recall who the other was ; maybe they ran off. Clearly startled, the women humoured him for a short time but the farce just left you thinking what an arsehole this man is. Given the quality of his own output you wonder how he had the gall to criticise anyone else's writing .
Kennedy stepped down in 1988 and the series was off air for a couple of years until Jeremy Paxman took the chair in 1991. He presided until 1993 when the show was axed.
Ludovic Kennedy died in a nursing home in 2009 aged 89.
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