Thurs 23 Nov 2006

The current spat between satirists and columnists

With Clive Anderson tonight: former 'Today' editor Rod Liddle, satirist Craig Brown, and journalist David Aaronovitch.

A spat has developed between satirists and columnists, with Armando Iannucci in one corner and David Aaronovitch in the other. According to Iannucci, the co-creator of 'The Thick Of It', comedians are having to step into the roles vacated by serious politicians (who have stopped speaking to us properly like grown ups), the press (which has stopped examining its actions in a forensic way) and broadcast culture (which has become so watered down it has replaced information with entertainment).

Aaronovitch, one of Iannucci's targets, disagrees. He argues there are scores of serious politicians and commentators, himself included, constantly writing, arguing and bringing serious topics to public attention, and that comedians should understand that they don't have to take responsibility for their views, which have little impact anyway.

So who's right? Is the public colluding in abandoning truth and seriousness in favour of apathy and spin? What role does and should comedy have in today's society? How important is satire as a political tool, as well as a form of entertainment?