Country of origin United Kingdom Running time Usually 25-30 minutes First episode date 14 November 1982 Language English Genres Talk show, Editorial | Original language(s) English Original network Channel 4 Final episode date 20 April 2001 Developed by Channel 4 | |
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Original release 14 November 1982 – 20 April 2001 Presented by Gus Macdonald (1980s), Roger Bolton (1990s), Sheena McDonald, Rory McGrath Similar On the Record, The Time - The Place, This Week, World in Action, GBH | ||
Right to Reply (sometimes called R2R) was a British television series shown on Channel 4 from 1982 until 2001, which allowed viewers to voice their complaints or concerns about TV programmes. It featured reports, usually presented by a viewer, and interviews with the programme-makers concerned.
Contents
History
Right to Reply was more serious and less humorous than its BBC equivalent Points of View. Also, R2R discussed all channels' programmes, although, originally, only "Channel Four programme makers [were] called to account"; after a few years R2R started to discuss ITV shows as well, and soon also added BBC, and later satellite/cable shows. Points of View only commented on BBC programmes, and continues to today.
Some notable episodes and reports included:
A notable feature of Right to Reply was the "video box", which gave viewers a third means of communicating with the programme in the 1980s, alongside letter or telephone. In the late 1990s (until 2001) the "Right to Reply 500", a group of 500 TV viewers, answered weekly online surveys about current television issues.
Cancellation
Channel 4's 2001 decision to end Right to Reply, after a run of more than 18 years, was criticised by its fans, since nothing similar remains in its place. Some have said that the cancellation was representative of Channel 4's move into the mainstream and unwillingness to take risks like it did in the 1980s - said one viewer, "the Channel 4 that I view today has evolved into just another TV channel".
Re-instatement
On 24 May 2007, Ofcom ordered the re-instatement of a Channel Four Right To Reply programme in its adjudication of the 2007 Celebrity Big Brother race row. The TV Show was shown once a month on Channel 4, but by the end of the second series, the show was cancelled due to poor ratings and reviews.