Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Any Questions?
Any Questions? is a topical debate radio programme in the United Kingdom. It is broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on Friday evenings and repeated on Saturday afternoons, when it is followed by a phone-in response programme, Any Answers?. It typically features a panel of politicians from the three major UK political parties and other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience, with a neutral chairman. The panel members are not notified of the questions before the programme, although questions usually cover topical political questions. It inspired a television version, Question Time.
Any Questions? was first broadcast on 12 October, 1948 as programme on the Home Service in the West of England. It has been broadcast nationally since 1950. The programme has had four chairmen in its history:
- Freddie Grisewood from 1948 to December 1967,
- David Jacobs from December 1967 to July 1983,
- John Timpson from July 1983 to July 1987,
- Jonathan Dimbleby from July 1987.
Many popular figures have appeared on the programme more than once: the record for appearances is held by Tony Benn, who first appeared as a panel member in March 1951 and has contributed over 80 times.
When the programme was first broadcast there was a rule that no questions could be asked on topics that had been discussed in the Houses of Parliament during the last two weeks. Over time the rule was relaxed and eventually dropped.
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