Usually presided over by Mark Lawson, a group of artists, critics and social commentators come together to create a group of four to discuss the arts from that week and for the week coming up. Covering books, theatre, art exhibitions, films and more they debate each on it's relative merits.
Following Newsnight on a Friday night, this show is always worth a watch, although I'll be honest and say that often I'll only manage the first 10 minutes or so where they discuss films out that night. The level of discussion is much higher than what you would get in the pub on a Friday evening - it is more like a very posh dinner party in a rich part of London. Often it will be intelligent opinions and comments, but all too often it all becomes pretentious and snobby.
I'm not against people having their opinions and am open the idea that I am pretty dumb when it comes to art and stating my views in a clear concise manner, but it always strikes me that some pannelists are pitched their comments above the audience and attempting to be seen as better than some of their fellow guests. But, even when it is like this, it is still interesting even only because it is funny in a way to listen to them drone on.
Lawson is a solid enough presenter and does a pretty good job of marshalling and having his own opinion. Recent additions to the panel have included Will Self and Ian Hislop, which I think may be a slight move by the show away from the more inaccessible type of chat. Adding Mark Kermode to the group is a great idea, he talks very down to earth but is still able to hold his own with the others. After him my favourite is Bonnie Greer. She carries herself very well in any argument and speaks with passion and authority about things. In comparison I always find Germaine Greer to be pompous and very dismissive of others in the discussions, but she is a dream compared to Tom Paulin! Paulin is the most dour man I have ever seen and never seems happy with anything; he always makes me smile when I see him because he is so well caricatured in impressions shows. Ekow Eshun tries far too hard and other panellists are too numerous to list here.
Overall this is an enjoyable critical review show which helps me because I'd like to be able to discuss things at that level with the confidence of the Greers et al. Even when it all gets a bit pompous, it is still fun in a way even if some of the snobbery is annoying.
