Txters Are The Show

12:21 PM I'm banging on to Pepdoc in Reading about QT txters. He's a real human, not especially a txter, with a real name, but for the sake of convention, we agreed that if I was to blog him then a tag would be better than a real name.

He doesn't watch QT and gives the reasons why without hesitation: the show is too formulaic, it is too staged, Dimbleperson is too arrogant. The truth hits me. The first two are exactly why I now watch it….or rather why I tune in.

It is precisely because the broadcast is so predictable that the world of txting around the the show has become such an interesting place.

The TV show IS apalling and that is exactly why txting about it is so worth doing. If the show was relevant, pertinent, informative and entertaining then I guess we wouldn't be txting.

Txting is the bit that now makes the show interesting for me (and others?). In fact, we are not "augmenting" the TV show when we txt - we are creating our own show. We are the show.

And that's why the minute the TV show started on Thursday night, I had already zoned out from the broadcast before the first word had been spoken. The show is poor - and that's what has created the counterworld in txtland.

But on Dimbleboy, I disagreed with Pepdoc - I still think he's a god.

Why So Rude About People?

09:30 AM What right have I got to be rude about people by calling them "greymen"? Only on reflection does this strike me. And yet, on rereading the blog, it seems that the minute the show started, I zoned out from the detail, and automatically made the panel grey. As had most txters, I think. I had preconditioned myself to ignore the visual TV element and go for the txting.

So with apologies to the greymen, nothing personal, here's the skinny:

The Chair was David Dimbleby. The venue was Buxton in Derbyshire and the panel comprised the two contenders for leadership of the Liberal Party. They were Chris Huhne and Nick Clegg. Huhne is the 53 year-old (a.k.a. bluetie) MP for Eastleigh and LibDem shadow Secretary of State for DEFRA. Clegg is the 40 year-old chap (a.k.a. redtie), MP for Sheffield Hallam and LibDem home affairs spokesman.

On Dimblebody

09:09 AM It's now the morning after and I'm electing to tidy up some of the apalling spelling mistakes and typos on the blog from last night. I reflect that I never gave Dimblebody any airspace, and I should have. He would wrestle the question answerers back on course, he would interject and shape in a brilliant way - clever, prepared and with wit. The man is absolutely amazing. I think if he did QT with a troupe of budgies, he could make it work.

But he patently hates the technology, almost gagging as he is forced to tell viewers each week about the txting facility and quaintly muffing his "www" when giving us the web address.

Maybe there's a way to make "chairing", the job he does, something we could enjoy online as well? I have no idea how this could work. For goodness sake, don't get him reading out txts as the poor wooden devils on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme have to. No, his brilliance lies in context-sensitive interjection - and a bit of that might play well on the txts. Not sure.

43 Credits

o8:25 AM Last night's show owes everything to the contribution of the txters. I estimate that around 120 txts were shown - I felt I was noting down comments on about 1-in-3 and reading back through the blog, it seems I referenced 43 separate txters.

Special thanks then to all those who participated - people I will never know but who have become 'friends' or 'aquaintances', with their own political views and sense of humour. I'll reference them again in future broadcasts, no doubt, and I'm sure when I read back, I'll find some will appear more than once - they'll form their own traits and personalities and I'll find that there are some I like and some I don't - the same will apply to them. It's our community.

Special credits and thanks then to those 43 txters who I referenced in this week's blog: Trevor in Leeds, DG in Norfolk, Gary B from Uxbridge, Dave in Montrose, Paulie in Hallsal, Susie in Leeds, Val in Yorkshire, Chris in Yorkshire, Cliff in Manchester, Ed in Kent, Penny in Brighouse, Sandra in Hull, Sarah in Bath, Jim in Glasgow, Mike in Stoke, Margaret in Glasgow, Malcolm in Leeds, Ella in Wakefield, AJ in Essex, "Earthworm", Hton in Hamilton (yes, that's how it was spelt on the TV), D in Cheshire, Dee in London, Rachel in Sheffield, Ben in London, Robert in Halesowen, Viv in Falmouth, Ray in Fleetwood, Neville in Southamption, Chris in Edinburgh, Robert in Scotland, SJ from Herts, Andy in Essex, Jim in Buxton, John in Southend, Tony in Ramsgate, John in Shrewbury and John in Preston, Steve O in West Yorks, Erik in Dundee, Rob in Aberdeen, Paulie in Halsall (that's how it was spelt onscreen), Julie in Herts and Peter in Liverpool and Andy in Liverpool.

And special credit if your txts were posted by the BBC last night more than once. Truly legendary status - celebs within our txt community.

Last Post

11:40 PM So, the show has now finished and I pause to reflect. It's hard work and my back is aching. Typing very intensely and quickly for an hour, trying to listen to the telly, read texts on the TV screen, interpret, type and correct type at the same time, while trying to string together poignant reflections. Time for a cuppa.

But what's my takeaway from this? Well, it strikes me as very strange that when I sat down at 10.30pm to watch, the first feeling that struck me was of boredom. The minute the show started. Why does this kick in? Was it the desperate predictability of it all? Am I cynical? Or is it really that the staged drama of two politicians standing on podiums answering predictable questions in staged words really has become "past it"?

I honestly think it has. There was nothing to touch me in the broadcast TV content. It was sameold sameold. The real interest lay in how the txters bantered with each other, and tried, alternately, to make poignant, relevant, sage and insightful comments on the one hands and sharp witty asides on the other.

The txting show was a community. It felt like being WITH people rather than watching a show. I felt part of it - knowing I could txt in, get noticed and get some response, live from around the nation.

If this ever catches on, I suspect the future of TV will be massively different and "broadcasts" will become ever less relevant and uninteresting. It will catch on.

Great Hand Movements

11:36 PM Margaret in Glasgow ends on the txts by saying that the greymen have "great hand movements". This, surely, as the show draws to a close, must be the epitome of real quality user-generated content.

Bring it on more, I say. Dimblebody is now signing off by reading out the telephone numbers and stumbling, as ever, when he reads out the web address, and a final txter asks "can we download the texts from the BBC website?".

And Goodnight, the show finishes.

Mrs Clegg and Mrs Huhne

11:35 PM A txt comes in saying how much they are enjoying this edition of QT and signs off as "Mrs Clegg and Mrs Huhne". I think that's a reference to the names of the two greymen? Yes, it is. What a wheeze, using a "pretend" txt signoff from the Mums or wives of the panelists. Hoho.

Question 6 - Opponent's Qualities

11.33 PM Sarah Talbot asks our 6th formal question of the evening: "What Are the Best Qualities of Your Opponent"

Engaging More Young People

11:30 PM Redtie greyman says he has a similar birthday to Cameron but there is a gulf because he was apalled by a "dismal soulless vision" of Thatcher. Val in Yorkshire says on txts that the txters should go home and read their Beanos. Chris in Yorkshire says on the txts that 16-year olds shouldn't vote.

Cliff in Manchester txts (again!) and says the txters tonight are the best ever and Penny in Brighouse admonishes Ben in London on his txted comments about the BNP. But...Sandra in Hull txts in that she shall now vote LibDem.

A questioner from the floor in the TV studio asks how the greymen will engage young people and they read out a list of..civil liberties..injustices etc and say, simply, "therefore, young people should get involved". Jim in Glasgow says on the txts that we shouldn't moan about the show - we should turn over to ITV. I think that's how we get young people involved - wry comments.

Question 5 - Cameron's Leadership

11:24 PM "Has David Cameron" asks Ian Guyver from the floor "Already Cornered The Market in Young But Inexperienced Political Leadership?"

Free At The Point of Use

11:18 PM We're now getting very passionate on the telly about the principles of the NHS and how important it is that it remains free at the point of use. Every fourth word uttered by the greymen is now emphasised and they rant. Malcolm in Leeds asks "How Many Shopping Days To Christmas?" on the txts and I'm now getting interested in the txt zone again. On the telly, a lady asks the greymen how they were educated and they blabber on about how despite their private education, the state system should give the best start in life and how "real" we should get about the role of knowledge blah blah blah, bigger investment, blah blah.

"Earthworm" on the txts says "I'm off to Peru". Hail!!! The Peruvian Earthworm phenomen appears on the txts once again and the evening's show reaches a heady new height.

A Breath To Reflect

11:10 PM It's actually hard work typing while reading txts and listening to the telly. So what have I learned so far...pause to reflect.

OK, I've paused...One of the blokes is getting very earnest about food being on kids' plates and a txt cheers me up by comparing one of the greymen to "the noddy dog in the adverts". Probly the Churchill dog. Ella in Wakefield says on txt that she'd prefer to be stuck in a lift with one of the greymen rather than Cameron and Brown. AGJ in Essex asks on the txts about immigration policies again. (Why are the BBC always putting this issue up?)

The greymen are waving their hands and saying "one other point..." and the tone of voice is now more earnest, almost hectoring...they're talking on public services and local people and how desperately important everything is. Dee in London texts in says says Mr Clegg (one of the greymen apparently) is too serious. She's right.

Hton in Hamilton txts in and asks "Was that Noddy in the audience?" Rachel in Sheffield txts in and asks another txter a question, but I it's gone before I note who she was referring to. Ben in London txts that the BNP will be the third party in time.

A greyman drones about "difficult and complex areas". Something to do with the NHS, but I've lost the plot.

No Difference Between The Candidates

11:06 PM One of the greymen says something about Green Taxes and Dimblebody interrupts the greyman to ask if there is actually any difference between them on this subject - the answer is no so we move on. Great telly.

A bloke from the floor asks "How Do We Tell Which Of You Is Which?" What a great question - he's reflecting exactly what we've been saying on the txts since 22:30. One of the greymen says "people have been turned off" and they "need to reach out to people". Errrrrr....I've heard that a million times. Margaret in London is getting irate on the txts reminding texters that "we need a third party". One greyman on the telly says he's 13 years older than the other and that should help us tell the difference between the two greymen. Very helpful. I think one of them (bluetie, I think) had made a quip about their ties being a good way to tell the difference.

Question 4 - Tax Cuts

11:05 PM I think it's Peter Ashenden who asks the evening's fourth major question on the telly: "How would you appeal to voters who want tax cuts?"

Will Putin Use Gas?

11:04 PM The audience on telly asks if Mr Putin is going to use gas. Hhhhm. This sounds earnest now. Talk on the telly of instability, paranoia in Russia and he's "genuinely worried". Looking down to the txts and.....Ray in Fleetwood is asking about immigration. Er...why? A new bloke asks from the floor on the telly how the greymen would appeal to voters who want tax cuts.

Nuclear Deterrents

11:00 PM We're going to spend £15bn to £20bn on nuclear weapons, national interest, earnest speeches, impassioned verbiage from the TV screen, an audiencebloke says on the telly that the debate is getting tangled and asks "How Do We Play A Really Serious Role in The World?" and something about disarming and Neville in Southamption is talking about Chris Hulme's tie. Robert in Halesowen says it has the impact of a Parish Council meeting. The two greymen on the floor of the TV studio are fervent, earnest, sincere - now talking about Belarus, the US new balistic defensive system which Gordon Brown "signed up to in secret on 25th July" and Chris in Edinburgh is txting to Robert in Scotland that he can get tablets for his condition - I missed what condtion it was - bugger, another joke passed me by.

Ask The Audience

10:58 PM Cliff in Manchester suggests on txt that we ask the audience questions instead of asking the panelists. Still no comments on Peruvian Earthworms.

The greymen are lathering now about Trident. Redtie is talking very earnestly about "once in a generation opportunities". Earnest, earnest, earnest.

SJ from Herts (again) txts and says we are watching "invisible men". Andy in Essex txts in and asks if we can have a power cut. We're not getting a good on-screen txt banter going yet - the BBC editors need to get more imaginative. Jim in Buxton makes (the second) joke about "drinking the local water". (The show is from Buxton). Sarah in Bath suggests that the two blokes on the telly make Gordon Brown look interesting and John in Southend says "I'm a Liberal Democrat get me out of here". Excellent - now we're smoking.

Can I Watch Your Paint Dry?

10:54 PM Tony in Ramsgate asks if anyone is decorating and if so, could he come round and watch the paint dry. John in Shrewsbury asks why the panelists are standing up. Good point John - more indepth probing from the British public. John in Preston invites us not to "underestimate these men". I think he's serious. This could mark a turning point in what the BBC gods choose to post on the blue txt box on the screen. Nope - SJ from Herts calls them "deluded toffs" and we're back (thankfully) in the fun zone. Ed in Kent valiantly tries to elevate the debate by asking on txt if the LibDems will bring troops home. Anon ("a lib dem voter") says it's time for bed - God if the LibDems are going to bed......??

Question 3 - Is Trident The Answer?

10:53 PM The third question is along the lines of "Is Trident really the answer to securing a safer planet?"

Sorry, I'm Not Interested At All

10:45 PM Steve O in West Yorks says he's "Not interested at all". Why are so many of us flocking to the txtbox on the telly simply to express our lack of interest? It's fascinating. On the telly, one of the blokes (bluetie, I think) says he agrees with the other and Viv in Falmouth txts to say "Wouldn't you be sullen with those two in front of you". How true Viv. Erik in Dundee (another from Dundee!!) notes the cliches "Stood the test of time". Well spotted Erik.

Which Party Would You Support?

10:44 PM I bet they've never been asked this before! The BBC have dug deep here to pick out the most stimulating, probing, incisive questions. Well done Beeb. Mike in Stoke says both greymen have the charisma of the spot on Baldrick's nose, and with that elevates the tone of the debate back to where I'd hoped it would be. "Two bookends and an audience of cardboard cutout party workers", says a txt from someone whose name I missed. D in Cheshire asks on txt what's wrong with an alcoholic running the country because Yeltsin did it for years. Peter in Liverpool says this QT is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

One of the blokes on the telly says they could "break the two party system" and suddenly....I fall asleep.

Don't Put Us In A Coma

10:43 PM Rab in Aberdeen on the txts begs for the BBC not to put us in a coma - and the txts get rudely interrupted as one of the blokes on the telly says something about Trident and the audience applauds. Bugger, I missed that. But Julie in Herts says "we should count the cliches" and Andy in Liverpool, noting there are only two candidates, says "Let's toss a coin". Democracy is working and spewing out new and intelligent ideas for citizen participation.

Question 2 - A Hung Parliament

10:43 PM The evening's second formal question on the telly goes something like: "In a hung parliament, which party would you be willing to form a coalition with?" I think it's from a Lindsay Allan.

No Point Beating Round The Bush

10:34 PM The bloke on the left (redtie) says "now is a great time to draw a line" under stuff that's happened in the past. Wow - straight in to political speak. The txts flood in - Trevor in Leeds asks if "only two panelists" is due to BBC cutbacks. Good point Trev. DG in Norfolk comments on the sullen-looking audience. AJ in Essex shouts that it's "no chance" for either liberal candidate. Gary B from Uxbridge says something vaguely poignant and Dave in Montrose says "I'm off to bed". (This was a line in previous shows which I always txted after 10 minutes into the show) Paulie in Halsall asks if anyone has a chair. A strange question - but it seems to make perfect sense - quick txt her and give her the name of our local furniture store! Susie in Leeds shouts "Two grey suits - Whooppee!". Now it's getting emotional and really interesting and the txts have definitely taken over from the TV sound and visuals.

Question 1 - Negative Effects

10:32 PM The first question of the evening is from Julia Read (sounds like) and goes something like "Has the way in which the previous 2 leaders left office had a negative effect on the LibDems?"

Not BBC2

10:31 PM After xx years (I can't remember how long - but it's many) of watching QT, I'm tuned in to BBC2 TV and find......QT's on BBC1! Am I a complete idiot? Why did I not know?

Back to BBC1 and a guy telling me about the weather. Another bastion of falsehood and greymen on telly.

"A Liberal Democrat Leadership Special"

10:30 PM Oh dear...my enthusiasm has plummeted as the BBC1 announcerman says it's a "Liberal Democrat Leadership Special". And it's from Buxton. Says it all. Let's talk about something else.

About me...

10.00 PM Half hour to go. I should really tell you about me? I have no vested interest in this at all. (Neither does the BBC - they are not part of this at all) My work is advising creative firms such as those in media, fashion, design, marketing and internet on business - nothing to do with why I'm writing this. I come home shagged on a Thursday night most weeks and flake out in front of the telly, a thing which I have over the years come to value less and less. Question Time has emerged as almost the last thing I look forward to watching. But like many people, all I seem to do is sit down, watch it and start to rant. I'm sure it brings out the Meldrew in all of us.

My txts - if they ever get shown by the mad editors behind the scenes at QT - are marked from 'Mark in Reading'. Because my name is Mark and I live on the edge of Reading.

To Join In....

09:50 PM If you'd like to join in: set your telly to BBC2 10.30pm on Thursdays then select Ceefax page 155 and watch the txts. Join in by txting 83981.

First Post

It's 9:37 PM on a Thursday evening and I settled down for the evening looking forward to Question Time on BBC2 later this evening. The real joy is now that the QT action takes place not on the telly, but on a Ceefax page (number 155) where a merry band of sad rogues like me send txt messages commenting on the show.

I've grown to love this txting forum. It's actually taken over completely from QT itself. I'm now sitting down and looking forward to txting. My thumb's out, my phone's plugged in, charged and ready to go.

But now, I'm taking it one level further with a live blog. My plan is to blog live while QT is one and to tell the real truth behind the Poppy debate, the Peruvian Earthworm debate and the shape and colour of David's tie debate.