Questions and Answers (RIP) , Steven Wells (RIP)

Questions and Answers
Originally presented by Olivia O'Leary, it had been under the fist of John Bowman for over 20 years. Indeed after the Late Late Show it was the longest running RTE production. Every Monday night, for over two decades,it was the focal point for debate and discussion and many famous faces, usually politicians, were guests. The BBC's Questiontime was possibly the template and, at times Q&A could be rivetting television.

I attended, as an audience member, in the summer of 2004 when Mary Lou McDonald and Richard Bruton were two of the panellists that evening. I can remember that the studio was quite warm and there was a considerable amount of clapping involved. A week earlier I had secured an audience ticket. On arrival at the Donnybrook TV centre I, along with about 50 others, were ushered into the 'hospitality' lounge. We were all welcomed by John Bowman and the then producer, Betty Purcell. We were encouraged to devise questions to ask when the show was underway. In approximately two hours!!!

Even though it is a distant memory, being able to say one was on Q&A is something I'll treasure for a long time ahead. But why is it going from our screens? I don't know, but RTE will definitely have to replace it with something at least as engaging for viewers to switch to the dominant Irish television channel. There is a great urgency for this type of programming to be broadcast here. Debate and discussion are vital for the viewers and public at large. I'll miss the buzz that Q&A brought to me and, I'm sure, many others.

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STEVEN WELLS RIP
In the 1980's the music press was thriving. My choice of weekly pop news came via the New Musical Express (NME) and one of its most prolific writers was a scribe by the name of Steven Wells. I am guessing but I think he contributed for nearly 30 years. I cannot recall his articles in detail (haven't read him in years)but I was well aware of his eccentric (apparently using more expletives than any other journalist at the NME!)style.

From the time I first bought the NME (1987) to my last purchase of the rag (2000), Wells was a fixture. The paper had declined in circulation and it's doubtful that it will remain for the future. However to my mind Wells (also known as Susan Williams, Seething Wells and Swells) will always be associated with music journalism and in particular the NME.

He started his career in journalism as a 'Punk Poet' with the likes of Attila The Stockbroker and Porky The Poet (aka Phill Jupitus). Latterly he had been living in the US with his wife and apparently had turned to sports journalism. Diagnosed with cancer of the liver,he died on 24th June last aged only 49. A light has gone out for journalism everywhere. God bless you Swells.