Open to Question
Presented byDonny MacLeod
Mary Marquis
Donald MacCormick
Don Cupitt
Hilary O'Neill
Michael MacFarlane
John Nicolson[1]
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
John Kelly
Production
Running time35-60 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC Two Scotland
Release5 June 1972 (1972-06-05)[2] –
23 March 1992 (1992-03-23)

Open to Question was a current affairs television programme, broadcast by BBC Scotland. Beginning as a regional broadcast in June 1972 until 1973, the programmes were hosted in turn by Donny MacLeod, Mary Marquis and Donald MacCormick. Guests in the early programmes included Chay Blyth and John Ridgway, the Atlantic rowers; Communist Jimmy Reid and Lord George MacLeod of Fuinary; and MPs, anti-Royalist Willie Hamilton, and pro-Royalist Norman St John-Stevas. In 1976, the programme was revamped and networked on BBC1 with Don Cupitt, Dean of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, moderating the discussion, focusing on religious matters.[3] The series was rested after 1977 but returned in 1984 under the production of BBC Scotland, featuring an audience of youngsters, mainly teenagers.[4] After airing on BBC1 Scotland with Hilary O'Neill and Michael MacFarlane as hosts, the show moved to BBC2 in December 1984 with repeats of most of the episodes. An episode featuring David Steel was not included in the re-runs.[5] In 1988, Krishnan Guru-Murthy became the host of the series at just 18 years old.[6][7] John Kelly replaced Guru-Murthy for the final series, in 1992. The series brand continued on BBC Radio 1 hosted by Emma Freud from January - December 1994.[8]

Premise

It was a British audience participation talk show which involved Scottish teenagers asking questions to celebrities about topical issues of the day.[9]

Guests

(Sourced from the BBC's Radio Times archive)[10]

References

  1. ^ "How we met: Krishnan Guru-Murthy & John Nicolson". The Independent. 26 September 1999. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Jimmy Savile: Cold, aggressive, menacing". Channel 4 News. 8 October 2012.
  7. ^ Rowat, Alison (9 May 2020). "BBC audience prompted to take Billy Connolly to task". The Herald. Scotland. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ "SNP John Nicolson on Hosting Brilliant Grilling by Scottish Teenagers In 1986". HuffingtonPost.com.
  10. ^ "Home - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
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