It’s often sad when a much-loved show comes to an end, but it’s much sadder when a show trickles to termination long after the love has faded away. The ABC’s cancellation of Q A will be viewed by many as the merciful culmination of a long drift into irrelevance, but it would be unfair to let the passing go by without acknowledging that there was a time when it was bold, vital viewing, capable of generating real excitement, discussion and outrage, and of setting the political agenda.

The eye-catching point of difference for Q A when it began in 2008 was the running of selected Tweets on screen while the show was in progress. It was a gimmick, but a stroke of genius for a show looking to create buzz and connect a watching community each week. It brought another dimension to TV-watching as hardcore Q A-ers fought fiercely each week for the honour of getting on screen.

Fans often commented that the show was “so much better when no politicians were on”. I never agreed. Episodes without them produced much civil, intelligent discourse, but lacked the fire politicians generated with their presence. Some were loud and opinionated and deliberately put on a show. Others came over all sweet and reasonable. Or they just played the straight party-line bat, repeating the approved talking points. Whatever method they chose provided great grist for the mill,........

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