meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Politics Unpacked

SUNDAY SHOWS AT 50 Part 1: Weekend World

Politics Unpacked

Anna Covell

News & Politics, Politics, News

4.41.4K Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2022

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Matt Chorley charts the rise and fall of the Sunday political TV show, starting by going behind-the-scenes of the heavyweight, sometimes heavy-going, Weekend World which launched in 1972. The brainchild of John Birt, it was fronted first by Peter Jay, then later the formidable former Labour MP Brian Walden, and then finally former Conservative MP Matthew Parris. From Walden’s complex interviewing format, to a relaunch which cost Parris his wonky teeth, this is the story of a show which made political and journalistic careers. Interviewees including Peter Jay, former Times economics editor and first Weekend World presenter; Matthew Parris, Weekend World's last presenter; producers David Aaronovitch, Trevor Phillips and Peter Mandelson, politicians including Neil Kinnock, Tony Blair, and William Hague, and prominent journalists Jeremy Vine and John Humphrys.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

At Spek Savers, if we said you can choose a free lens option with a pair of glasses from

0:04.0

our £69 range or above, how would that sound?

0:06.7

Well, like this, very vocal, to help you see near and for reactions which darken in sunlight.

0:14.0

Oh, nice, thin and light lenses, or ultra clear, super clean.

0:21.7

We don't have a sound for that, let's just say they help your glasses stay cleaner for

0:24.6

longer.

0:25.6

So you're better off with Spek Savers, offers can't be combined terms and conditions

0:28.4

to apply, asking store for details.

0:58.4

It kicks start in a broadcasting arms race.

1:08.7

In the next half century, there have been Sunday shows with tough questioning, soft questioning

1:13.6

and even softer furnishings, kippet eyes, skinny ties and no ties at all.

1:18.9

Over the next six weeks, we will tell the story of how what happened on the Sunday sofa

1:23.7

became more important than what happened in the House as a parliament.

1:27.1

Our political and journalistic careers were made and broken, even how elections were

1:31.0

won and lost.

1:32.0

We'll bigger the stories of presenters and producers, prime ministers and their press offices.

1:37.3

From that to Blair to Johnson, and how they took on Walden, Frost and Mar.

1:42.0

Hello and good afternoon.

1:44.2

Good morning.

1:45.2

Hello and welcome.

1:46.2

Good morning.

1:47.2

I mean, you were always aware of the fact you were going to go in and have ten rounds

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -1079 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Anna Covell, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Anna Covell and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.