The show much loved by political animals came to an end with trips down memory lane and a dash of humour, writes MIRIAM LORD
IT WAS terribly traumatic for Ireland’s close-knit community of political anoracks – that unloved cohort of the chronically opinionated and the party hack.
Not even a funny little twee bit at the end (the anoracks loved that) could have softened the blow.
The final Questions and Answersprogramme was aired by RTÉ last night after 23 years of televised political debate and spin, topical argument and waffle, smug self-regard and little shafts of light known as straight talking.
Even the Taoiseach turned up for the wake, hair alarmingly plastered to his head in a Healyesque homage.
Which is just as well: pundits aside, he was the only Fianna Fáil politician to put in an appearance. Not that Brian Cowen risked going toe to toe with the riff-raff panellists. Instead, he was interviewed on his own by presenter John Bowman, who presided over the weekly gab-fest for the last 21 years.
It was a short interview. The best bit was the funny line at the end, and the anoraks will have smiled through their tears. But the humour was unintended.
As he was wrapping up, Bowman said: “Taoiseach, thank you for joining us, but how long would you expect now to be leader of Fianna Fáil. . .?”
He got a big laugh out of the politicians gathered in hospitality.
Cowen arrived a little late, looking distracted, and was whisked upstairs to prepare for his close up. This was for the best, as the first set of panelists had already done their stint and were downstairs telling Michael Jackson jokes and political yarns and drinking.
Biffo would have loved it.
He said he was looking forward to appearing on the final show – always liked Questions and Answersand all that. Then, in a rather poignant comment that may be a reflection on his current popularity rating, he declared: "I'm glad to be asked out."
But while the show might be gone, that theme music will forever be Monday night.
Thumpity thumpity thumpity thumpity thumpity THUMP!
Because it started so late, Questions and Answersrequired discipline, application and determination. When that familiar signature tune pumped into the living room, a grown-up sense of duty kicked in. Must watch. Huge audiences did. Viewing figures averaged around 350,000.
“If you don’t mind, I didn’t interrupt you when you were speaking. . .The reality is, John. . . Of course we must all shoulder the burden. . .Speaking as a young person. . . Thank you, Mr. chairman. . .Let me finish. . .”
And suddenly, that music again. Thumpity, thumpity, THUMP!
Whereupon you woke up, having nodded off somewhere between the junior minister wanting to be absolutely clear and some angry man from the small firms sitting beside a spotty baby barrister in a three- piece suit who hopes to be leader of Fianna Fáil some day.
Last night – for the occasion that was in it – some of the big guns from QA’s past were rolled out for a final dander down Fact of the Matter Lane.
Panel stalwarts such as John Waters, David Norris, Noel Whelan, Mairead McGuinness, Irish Daily Stareditor, Ger Colleran, Eddie Hobbes and Mary Lou "The Reality Is" McDonald mustered for duty. Two party leaders, Enda Kenny and John Gormley, graced two of the panels (of revolving panels, there were three) along with two former leaders and panel specialists Mary Harney and Pat Rabbitte.
The show was peppered with highlights from the archives. Bowman’s ‘‘best bits’’ included Brian Lenihan and Garret FitzGerald at the start of the phones calls to the Aras controversy, and many questions on Charles Haughey, from his expensive Charvet shirts
to “would the panel agree that Charlie Haughey is an old codger who should be left in peace.”
Mary Harney and the PDs lasted almost as long as QA (although their party folded earlier). When they started “we were 24 per cent and we had no policies”, she recalled. She didn’t go on to say that when they shut up shop they were at 0 per cent within the margin of error and Fianna Fáil had their policies.
In contrast to the lack of Fianna Fáilers on the panels, the second former PD to appear was Liz O’Donnell. Which brings us to the vexed question of the ladies.
Women always had a far more difficult time of it than men. A female panelist could be making the most brilliant contribution ever, yet in tellyland, text messages would ping around the country from woman to woman saying things like: “what eejit put her out in that outfit?”
For the record, the texts last night would have noted that MEP Mairead McGuinness glowed in ivory last night, Mary Harney and Mary Lou’s hair shone, Liz O’Donnell looked very elegant in black and cream, tax lawyer Suzanne Kelly was in kingfisher blue, while solicitor Catherine Ghent looked well in casual chic.
But it was David Norris who stole the show. All flowing hankie and chest hair, what viewers didn’t see was the pair of green snakeskin cowboy boots beneath the linen Summer suit.
There was no chance last night for the audience – made up of many of the show’s regulars over the years– to ask questions. Afterwards, the unflappable Mr Bowman thanked his family and the production team for all their assistance and support over “a rollercoaster” of 21 years.
There was applause for him at the end from the politicians in the Green Room. A happy ending.