Watching Kerry O’Brien on Monday night’s Q&A, you couldn’t help but think to yourself: what if?

What if there was a flagship ABC panel program in need of a new host? And what if there was a former ABC veteran - a master wrangler of live television - living the quiet life in Byron Bay, even if, on all the evidence, he remains sharp as a tack and champing at the bit to be involved in national debate?

If only. We can but dream.

Kerry O’Brien isn’t coming back to our screens to host Q&A or anything else, but his guest turn as a Q&A panellist was a bracing reminder of what we’re missing. And if the viewers enjoyed having him back, it was nothing compared to how much he enjoyed the outing himself.