Series on the art of television interviewing includes contributions from Michael Parkinson, Melvyn Bragg and Stephen Fry

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Sir David Frost is returning to the BBC with a guide to the art of television interviewing in a new series called Frost on Interviews.

The series includes contributions from Michael Parkinson, Melvyn Bragg, Stephen Fry and Joan Bakewell.

Frost, whose encounter with Richard Nixon was voted the best TV interview of all time by the Radio Times, charts the development of the genre over six decades.

The BBC4 series examines the deferential early political interviews, which were almost party political broadcasts and tracks it through to the more combative style used by Robin Day and Jeremy Paxman.

During the programme, Tony Benn reveals: "In the old days you would have interviews when the questioner would say, 'Prime minister, would you tell us again about your latest triumphs?' That was flattery. That was not an interview at all."

He describes the more aggressive style of interview as: "You feel you're on trial for your life.'

The series also includes footage of classic interviews with Francis Bacon, Margaret Thatcher, Muhammad Ali, Anthony Eden, Cher, Dennis Potter and Nixon.

Politicians including Lord Heseltine talk about how they enjoyed the gladiatorial conversations with interviewers such as Brian Walden and Robin Day.

Heseltine admits he was deeply distrustful of the "charm" of David Frost, which made interviewees relax.

Frost himself points out that an aggressive interviewer may make the mistake of shutting people up rather than making them open up.

Andrew Neil argues that the pendulum may have swung too far from the deference of yesterday to the aggression of today, when interviewers irritate an audience and media-savvy politicians avoid direct answers.

Frost on Interviews also features Ruby Wax's three-day interview with Imelda Marcos, which demonstrates the benefit of patience.

Alastair Campbell appears in the series but spin doctors and publicists are criticised by others in the programme, with Andrew Neil saying: "If the spin doctors aren't angry I am not really doing my job."

Stephen Fry and AA Gill admit that the chatshow bargain between interviewer and interviewee means that they are hired to amuse in what AA Gill calls a colluding piece of entertainment.

Frost said: "Over the last half century the television interview has given us some of TV's most heart-stopping and memorable moments.

"On the surface it is a simple format – two people sitting across from one another having a conversation. But underneath it is often a power struggle – a battle for the psychological advantage."

Frost on Interviews is produced by Paradine Productions and will air in the spring.

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