This Week (BBC One TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = This Week


caption = The current programme titles.
genre = Current Affairs & Politics
presenter = Andrew Neil
starring = Diane Abbott
Michael Portillo
country = UK
language = English
runtime = 60 mins
network = BBC One
first_aired = 2003
related = The Daily Politics
website = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_week/default.stm

"This Week" is a current affairs and politics TV programme in the United Kingdom on the BBC, screened on Thursday evenings, hosted by former "Sunday Times" editor Andrew Neil alongside former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister Michael Portillo, and Labour MP for Hackney, Diane Abbott.

The show has a more light-hearted tone than most political programming and prides itself on being "punchy, irreverent, satirical" [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/about_the_show/default.stm BBC NEWS | Programmes | This Week Home | About This Week ] ] . This is aided by the fact that neither co-host is constrained by party politics as Abbott is noted for rebelling against the government and Portillo has left the House of Commons. The two are ostensibly an "odd couple" coming from different sides of the political spectrum, however, they have a long-standing friendship dating back to when both attended grammar school in Harrow, even appearing as Macduff and Lady Macduff in a production of Macbeth [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/the_team/default.stm BBC NEWS | Programmes | This Week Home | Meet The Team ] ] .

Format

The standard format consists of three segments each with a guest contributor. The first features a serious and/or controversial figure such as Michael Stipe, Robert Winston and Richard Branson who present their "Take Of The Week" in a short film before appearing in the studio to discuss their issue further. The second segment is a light hearted roundup of the week in and around Parliament. Prior to becoming the BBC's Europe Editor in 2005, this was presented by Mark Mardell, it is currently presented by one of a rotation of prominent writers and broadcasters. This is followed by a discussion between the hosts of the issues raised. The final segment is entitled the "Spotlight", often featuring a cultural topic and less focussed on parliament. During this segment there is a final guest related to the topic. Additionally, there is often a quiz in which Neil takes pleasure in demonstrating his co-hosts ignorance of a range of topics.

The show was introduced in 2003 along with "The Daily Politics" to replace "The Midnight Hour" after a change in sitting hours of parliament.

The show achieved notoriety for its title sequence during the 2005 UK elections which spoofed the recently re-released version of 'Is this the way to Amarillo' and its video featuring comedian Peter Kay.

In 2006, the programme won the Hansard Society Award for Opening Up Politics which was awarded at the Channel 4 Political Awards ceremony [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/4873968.stm] .

A standing reference in the show is around the consumption of alcohol by the hosts, regular and irregular guests. In 2007, the show gained Facebook notoriety in the group 'Everyone in BBC's This Week is drunk'.

Recurring jokes

In keeping with its comic style, "This Week" has several recurring jokes, and nicknames. These include, assertions that all the viewers watch the show drinking Blue Nun, David Cameron watches the show in bed wearing his pyjamas, and that the cast regularly go to Annabel's nightclub in Berkeley Square after filming is completed.

Nicknames

*"Itchy & Scratchy" - Diane Abbott and Michael Portillo.
*"Our Great Leader" - Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
*"Call me Dave" - Leader of the Opposition David Cameron.
*"The Puppet Chancellor" - Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
*"Our Dear Leader" - BBC Director-General Mark Thompson.

ee also

*The Daily Politics

References

External links

*bbc.co.uk|id=thisweek|title="This Week"
*imdb title|id=0398584|title=This Week