Weekend World
Encyclopedia
Weekend World is a British television
political series, made by London Weekend Television
(LWT) and broadcast from 1972 to 1988.
Created by John Birt not long after he moved to LWT, the series was broadcast on the ITV
network at lunchtimes on Sundays. It featured a forensic interview with a major political figure each week.
It was presented by Peter Jay
initially when first broadcast in 1972, but was best-remembered for being anchored by former Labour MP Brian Walden
between 1977 and 1986. Conservative MP Matthew Parris
took over in 1986, resigning his seat, and presented the programme until the series ended in 1988. Walden in particular gained a reputation for 'grilling' his interviewees over an extended interview in a manner which has only occasionally been seen on British television since. Parris, on the other hand, was largely criticised for his lighter and more laid-back style.
Mary Holland
and Anne Lapping were also regular presenters.
The theme music used throughout the series run was the closing bars of "Nantucket Sleighride", originally written and recorded by the progressive rock
group Mountain
.
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
political series, made by London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
(LWT) and broadcast from 1972 to 1988.
Created by John Birt not long after he moved to LWT, the series was broadcast on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network at lunchtimes on Sundays. It featured a forensic interview with a major political figure each week.
It was presented by Peter Jay
Peter Jay
Peter Jay is a British economist, broadcaster and diplomat.-Background:Peter Jay is the son of Douglas and Peggy Jay, both of whom were Labour Party politicians...
initially when first broadcast in 1972, but was best-remembered for being anchored by former Labour MP Brian Walden
Brian Walden
Alastair Brian Walden is a British journalist and broadcaster who was a Labour Member of Parliament for a decade. He is the father of actor Ben Walden....
between 1977 and 1986. Conservative MP Matthew Parris
Matthew Parris
Matthew Francis Parris is a UK-based journalist and former Conservative politician.-Early life and family:...
took over in 1986, resigning his seat, and presented the programme until the series ended in 1988. Walden in particular gained a reputation for 'grilling' his interviewees over an extended interview in a manner which has only occasionally been seen on British television since. Parris, on the other hand, was largely criticised for his lighter and more laid-back style.
Mary Holland
Mary Holland
Mary Holland was an Irish journalist who specialised in writing about Ireland, and in particular Northern Ireland. Born in Dover but raised in Ireland, she married a British diplomat, Ronald Higgins; they lived in Indonesia, but the marriage was eventually annulled.Originally working in fashion...
and Anne Lapping were also regular presenters.
The theme music used throughout the series run was the closing bars of "Nantucket Sleighride", originally written and recorded by the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
.
External links
- That was reality TV, that was, an article by Gerard Baker in the Financial Times, published Oct 07, 2002