How to Win the TV Debate

How to Win the TV Debate

2010
1h 0min

With Britain's first-ever political leaders' television debate imminent, award-winning reporter Michael Cockerell uncovers what it's like to take part in these contests and how leaders try to win them. He tells the inside story of why it has taken so long for such debates to arrive in the UK. The programme features candid interviews with US Presidents and their advisers on the tricks of the debate trade. Blending new film and behind-the-scenes footage, some never seen before, it's a tragicomic tale of high politics and low cunning. From John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon through to Barack Obama, candidates are seen being prepared for their debates, then in the sometimes funny, sometimes disastrous results on live television. Cockerell shows why for our would-be next Prime Ministers - Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg - the three debate stages across Britain will be what one former US President calls 'Tension City'.

How to Win the TV Debate

Storyline

With Britain's first-ever political leaders' television debate imminent, award-winning reporter Michael Cockerell uncovers what it's like to take part in these contests and how leaders try to win them. He tells the inside story of why it has taken so long for such debates to arrive in the UK. The programme features candid interviews with US Presidents and their advisers on the tricks of the debate trade. Blending new film and behind-the-scenes footage, some never seen before, it's a tragicomic tale of high politics and low cunning. From John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon through to Barack Obama, candidates are seen being prepared for their debates, then in the sometimes funny, sometimes disastrous results on live television. Cockerell shows why for our would-be next Prime Ministers - Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg - the three debate stages across Britain will be what one former US President calls 'Tension City'.
Cast
Michael Cockerell
Michael Cockerell
Self - Presenter
Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Self
Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Self
Michael Dobbs
Michael Dobbs
Self
Don Hewitt
Don Hewitt
Self
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Self (archive footage)
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
Self (archive footage)
Robin Day
Robin Day
Self (archive footage)
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Self (archive footage)
Ted Sorensen
Self
Ted Rogers
Self
Bill Wilson
Self
Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Self
Pierre Salinger
Pierre Salinger
Self (archive footage)
Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
Self (archive footage)
Alec Douglas-Home
Self (archive footage)
Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Self (archive footage)
Lady Falkender
Self (archive footage)
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
Self (archive footage)
David Gergen
David Gergen
Self
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Self (archive footage)
Harry Reasoner
Harry Reasoner
Self (archive footage)
James Callaghan
James Callaghan
Self (archive footage)
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Self (archive footage)
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Self (archive footage)
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Self (archive footage)
Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Self (archive footage)
Mike Pengra
Self (archive footage)
Mark Goode
Self (archive footage)
Harry Trewitt
Self (archive footage)
John Major
John Major
Self (archive footage)
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
Self (archive footage)
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
Self (archive footage)
Frank Luntz
Frank Luntz
Self
Alan Schroeder
Self
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Self (archive footage)
Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Self
Lance Price
Lance Price
Self
William Hague
William Hague
Self (archive footage)
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Self
Al Gore
Al Gore
Self (archive footage)
Jim Lehrer
Jim Lehrer
Self
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Self (archive footage)
John McCain
John McCain
Self (archive footage)
David Cameron
David Cameron
Self (archive footage)
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
Self (archive footage)
Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Self (archive footage)
Sue Inglish
Self
Andy Coulson
Self (archive footage)
David Davis
David Davis
Self (archive footage)
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