Analysis and Report

In this essay I shall be comparing two different live TV shows: Question Time and Mock the Week.

Firstly Question Time. In this programme the studio size varies week to week as they are in different locations around the UK. In each episode they usually are in schools or village halls, but the edition I watched was in a very large studio.

There was tiered seating which could possibly hold between 140 to 150 capacity. The set for this is a large semi-circled screen with a curved desk in front which forms the top part of a large letter “Q”. The desk has been raised up on a plinth which has ramped sides for easy access. On the Letter “Q”, which the desk is placed on, there is the show’s current weeks’ location. This week was London. This cleverly structured set allows numerous flexible camera angles to offer the director. However this set is not permanent due to the various locations used. In my opinion the set may take quite a bit of time to set and strike.

In the studio there were a number of different shots. I estimate that there were roughly 6 cameras in the filming of the edition. There appeared to be 4 moving cameras, 1 fixed behind the audience and 1 on what seems like a crane.

During the filming of question time probably 10 Microphones were used. There were 6 clipped radio mics on the panellists, 2 boom mics for the audience when asking questions and finally possibly 2 mics above the audience for rounds of applauses and laughs etc.

Mise en scene was quite basic. Only really the decanters and matching glasses of water and matching note pads were in shot at all times.

The lighting rig is all fixed and requires no moving spotlights etc. It is also a large lighting rig consisting of 20 plus lights pointing at the audience as well as the talent and set.

The crew for this production would consist of near 20 members as there are so many cameras and other crucial rolls to be covered. My guess is there will be about 12 camera opps, floor managers, sound opps, etc.

This is all filmed in a TV studio but other weeks an OB truck would definitely be needed as they travel all over the country.

During the course of the hour long show a wide range of shots were used such as wide shots, pan shots, medium close ups, high angle shots, over shoulder, wide shots of audience, over shoulder of audience, 2 shots, 3 shots and even 4 shots.

The making of the show would only really consist of typical health and safety issues, for example trip hazards and fire hazards from hot lights.

The genre of the overall show is current affairs. The audience members ask all the questions which the panel have to answer and discuss further in to great detail. Each week each of the three main political parties are represented plus other well known public figures. It sticks to a rigid format even though the questions and answers are not known before. This means the show is hardly scripted. The tone throughout Question Time is kept formal but occasionally they do make light hearted, “humorous” remarks. The host’s role in all this is to make sure that every panellist has a chance to speak when they wish. But there is a certain time restriction to ensure the programme keeps up the pace and finishes on time.

The start of Question Time starts with the host speaking a little towards the camera for roughly 15 seconds. Then this is smoothly followed by the opening titles and graphics. The main graphic seen is a giant “Q” spinning around. The theme tune is familiar and easily recognized when played.

The show’s format is a traditional topical debate. It has not changed very much over time since the very first episode. Question Time has been running for 30 years now and is based on the “Any Questions” radio debate show.

The target audience for this programme is mainly adults who take an interest in current affairs and politics.

Mock the Week has a number of differences to Question Time. With this programme they have used a large TV studio. This consists of roughly 200 capacity from tiered seating. The set is split into two separate sections - a performance area for the stand up comedians to show off their material by answering questions, which has a larger TV screen behind it, and an area with a semi-circled desk for the main quiz to be held which has another TV screen behind the host. Sat around the desk are two teams of three and the host sat in the middle. The back drop of the set consists of the colour red and blue mainly. With such a large set there are many camera angles and shots to offer so there is flexibility to the studio. Because the set is in a studio and the programme is a long running series the set is most likely to be permanent.

On the studio floor there is roughly 5 cameras, 4 of which are moveable, one will be fixed and another one which seems to be either on a crane or just up high on a platform.

The talent along with the host have clipped radio mics on as they are all on the move throughout the show, walking back and forth to the performance area, however on the performance areas there is also a free standing hand held radio mic which they use when its there chance. There would probably also be 1 or 2 mics hanging down for the audience applauses and laughs.

The lighting for the show would be very large as it is shot in a full scale professional studio; all the lights are fixed, none seem to be moving.

There are not many shots used in the programme, when they are seated at the desk there is really only medium close ups, wide shots, high angle and 3 shots. But when they are in the performance area we see 3 shots, wide shots, high angle and medium shots.

The same health and safety applies to Mock the Week as Question Time because they are both filmed in similar locations.

Mock the Week is a topical quiz show. Each week the format features similar rounds (e.g. ‘Headliners’, ‘Scenes We’d Like to See’) with the talent giving humorous answers. The show appears to be improvised, but I believe that they have rehearsals, and some idea of the questions that will be asked.

The presenter has an informal tone (sometimes even swearing) and makes a lot of humorous comments himself. His role is to ask the questions, keep the pace up and keep track of the scores.

The title sequence features humorous fake news headlines in different styles (e.g. newspapers, news channels, internet, mobile phones, etc.) and ends with a TV transmission mast on top of a globe made out of newspapers with “Mock the Week” in large letters on it. The theme tune is “News of World” by The Jam.

I think the audience range from young adults to older people. The audience probably needs to be quite aware of current affairs, but even people who are not could still enjoy it.