About this season
Weekend World was a British television political series, made by London Weekend Television and broadcast from 1972 to 1988. Created by John Birt not long after he moved to LWT, the series was broadcast on the ITV network at lunchtimes on Sundays. Produced by Nick Elliott and David Elstein, it began by mirroring CBS's "60 Minutes" featuring several stories each week but gradually devolved into a show that featured a forensic interview with a major political figure each week. It was presented by Peter Jay initially when first broadcast in 1972, but was best-remembered for being anchored by former Labour MP Brian Walden between 1977 and 1986. Conservative MP Matthew Parris took over in 1986, resigning his seat, and presented the programme until the series ended in 1988.
Episodes (36)
1. British Leyland - Day of Decision
Aired 4 January 1981
2. The Middle East - Britain Steps in
Aired 11 January 1981
3. The Labour Right - Moment of Truth
Aired 18 January 1981
4. Foot Loses - Labour Splits?
Aired 25 January 1981
5. The Thatcher Interview - Jobs, Prices, Taxes
Aired 1 February 1981
6. South Africa - At the Crossroads
Aired 8 February 1981
7. Poland - The Last Chance
Aired 15 February 1981
8. Thatcher's Somersault
Aired 22 February 1981
9. Thatcher Meets Reagan - Patching Up the Alliance
Aired 1 March 1981
10. Defending Britain - Time to Decide
Aired 8 March 1981
11. After the Budget - Into the Storm
Aired 15 March 1981
12. Soaring Rates - Heseltine's Headache
Aired 22 March 1981
13. The Social Democrats - What Kind of Alternative?
Aired 29 March 1981
14. Industry's Darkest Hour - What's Really Wrong?
Aired 5 April 1981
15. Industry's Darkest Hour - What Can Be Done?
Aired 12 April 1981
16. The Challenge of Change - France Wavers
Aired 26 April 1981
17. The Labour Party - Beyond Repair?
Aired 3 May 1981
18. Public Works - The Tories Secret Weapon?
Aired 10 May 1981
19. The Hunger Strikers - Forcing a Rethink?
Aired 17 May 1981
20. Reagan and the Russians - Risking War?
Aired 24 May 1981
21. Tony Benn - In Sight of Victory?
Aired 31 May 1981
22. Poland's Bid for Freedom - The Final Days?
Aired 7 June 1981
23. Alliance of the Centre - The Road to Power?
Aired 13 September 1981
24. The Election Issues
Aired 20 September 1981
25. The Missile Rebellion - Weakening the West?
Aired 27 September 1981
26. Leading the Labour Party
Aired 4 October 1981
27. The Tory Rebellion - Howe Replies
Aired 11 October 1981
28. The World's Poor - A Better Deal?
Aired 18 October 1981
29. The Tory Wets - Moment of Truth
Aired 25 October 1981
30. British Leyland - The Midnight Peace Plan
Aired 1 November 1981
31. The Middle East - Dividing the Alliance?
Aired 8 November 1981
32. Policing Britain - Time for a Rethink?
Aired 15 November 1981
33. Paisley's Challenge - Unleashing Chaos?
Aired 22 November 1981
34. The Social Democrats - What Kind of Party?
Aired 29 November 1981
35. The Young Unemployed - Doomed to Despair?
Aired 6 December 1981
36. Episode 36
Aired 13 December 1981