BBC Radio 4's Any Questions broadcast from The Kings Theatre

22nd Jan, 2010, by Jude Owens

BBC Radio 4's "Any Questions?" broadcast from The Kings Theatre - Friday 15 January 2010 - A review by Jude Owens

A cabinet minister, a shadow minister, a historian, and a novelist... The ingredients of a cunning Westminster plotline, you might perhaps think. But here in Cheddar on the evening of Friday 15 January 2010, the quartet of Ben Bradshaw (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport), Chris Grayling (Shadow Home Secretary), Peter Hennessy (Attlee Professor of Contemporary History at Queen Mary, University of London) and Louise Doughty (novelist, playwright and critic) took to the Kings Theatre stage as the panellists of BBC Radio 4's popular "Any Questions?" show.

Photo courtesy of the Cheddar Valley Gazette.

"Any Questions?" was first broadcast in 1948 and has its roots in the West of England Home Service programme, run from Bristol. Chaired by top broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby since 1987, it is aired on most Friday evenings from various locations around the UK. Producer Victoria Wakely selects questions of national interest of the day, submitted by the audience during the hour before the programme is broadcast live after the 8 o'clock news. The cunning part is that the panellists have no sight of the selected questions until they are live on air...

The questions were debated in an atmosphere of cheerfulness and conviviality, skilfully steered by Jonathan Dimbleby. To start off the evening, Keith Ladbrooke, (husband of School Governor Suzie Ladbrooke) asked whether the panellists thought Internet giant Google had been naive or farsighted in its negotiations with the Chinese Government, prompting reflection on free thought. Teacher of English Emma Cottell asked if they thought banning organisations such as Islam4UK only serves to empower them after the Home Secretary banned them from marching through Wootton Bassett.

Student Rebecca Rowntree invited the panel to dip into their old school lunch boxes, prompting nostalgia from Peter Hennessey - now "deep into old dufferdum" - of his favourite school lunch, liver and onions. Louise Doughty had an unappetising memory of her school dinner ladies smoking whilst dolloping mashed potato with an ice cream scoop.

Cheddar Queen of Arts Gill Scard referred to the legal discussion to change the long tradition of using a judge and a jury, with her own quip about "the one in the powdered wig" possibly being too out of touch to rule without the jury...even if he has never judged BBC1's Saturday night television favourite dance contest, Strictly Come Dancing.

Cue further laughter from the audience.

Suzie Ladbrooke stoked a debate within a debate about pre-election television debates being "themed", and ironically, given the evening in question with no questions being allowed by the audience. Peter Hennessy liked the idea of stimulating interest in political issues; but was wary of "well rehearsed banalities", poking fun at the nation's leaders: Gordon Brown as exciting as his laundry list, David Cameron the Boy Wonder, and Nick Clegg - the importance of being earnest.
Gentle fun-poking persisted with a discussion about the recent Conservative posters of an airbrushed David Cameron - prompting an animated discussion about skincare. Louise Doughty remained decidedly against televised debates, comparing them to beauty contests, too personality-led for her critic-stance liking. For her vote, she preferred politicians to be "a bunch of gargoyles" and run the country properly - regardless of their looks. A shiny Chris Grayling stayed quiet.

The light-hearted question to end the show was inspired by the recent snow. Panellists were asked whom they would most like to be stranded with in a car. Chris Grayling chose actress Cameron Diaz, whilst Peter Hennessy "who now lives for gossip" opted for Richard Ingrams or Simon Schama. Ben Bradshaw asked if the person had to be alive, before choosing Nelson Mandela. Forthright and mischievous Louise Doughty said she preferred to sleep on car journeys, and so would like to be stranded alone.

This was clever thinking on your feet. The packed Kings Theatre audience clearly enjoyed the engaging and entertaining evening, responding with lingering laughter and appreciative applause to the quick-witted debates. Although no glare of the television camera, there was certainly no hiding from the audience, the probing chairman and indeed the radio microphones. It was all the more exciting to think it was transmitted via satellite when Jonathan Dimbleby spoke live to the nation's listeners to introduce the evening at 8.02pm.

We are hugely grateful to our Cheddar community champions who generously helped to make the evening all the more special. Grateful thanks to Premier Flooring who supplied carpet for the theatre stage, which was essential to ensure soundproofing for the radio broadcast. Delicious thanks to Jem Ham of Cheddar Ales who provided some of their fabulous local beers for the Reception after the show; and Dean Sweet at Cheddar Chocolate Factory for their specially designed chocolates allowing our guests to leave the evening with a sweet taste.