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. The Resolute Approach - An Election Winner?
Aired 9 January 1983
2. The Prime Minister - The Resolute Approach
Aired 16 January 1983
3. Devaluing the Pound - A Dangerous Remedy?
Aired 23 January 1983
4. The Water Strike - Compromise or Chaos?
Aired 30 January 1983
5. The Missile Debate - America Puts Its Case
Aired 6 February 1983
6. The Missile Debate - Heseltine Replies
Aired 13 February 1983
7. The Missile Debate - The Case Against Cruise
Aired 20 February 1983
8. After Bermondsey - Will Foot Survive?
Aired 27 February 1983
9. The Middle East - New Hope for Peace?
Aired 6 March 1983
10. After the Miners' Ballot - What Future for the Unions?
Aired 13 March 1983
11. Beyond the Budget - A Last Recovery?
Aired 20 March 1983
12. Defeat at Darlington - Dividing the Alliance?
Aired 27 March 1983
13. The Missiles Deadlock - What Hope for a Deal?
Aired 10 April 1983
14. Power to the Police - A Threat to Liberty?
Aired 17 April 1983
15. The Alliance and the Election - Can Steel Save the Day?
Aired 24 April 1983
16. The World Economy - On the Road to Recovery?
Aired 1 May 1983
17. The Chequers Decision - An Election in June?
Aired 8 May 1983
18. The General Election - Can the Tories Lose?
Aired 15 May 1983
19. The Alliance and the Election - Jenkins Sets His Sights
Aired 22 May 1983
20. Labour Facing Defeat - Can Foot Turn the Tide?
Aired 29 May 1983
21. A Thatcher Victory - What Kind of Britain?
Aired 5 June 1983
22. Labour Humiliated - Can It Recover?
Aired 12 June 1983
23. The Liberals and the Alliance - Steel Takes the Strain
Aired 18 September 1983
24. War in Lebanon - Dividing the West?
Aired 25 September 1983
25. Labour's New Leader - Can He Save the Party?
Aired 2 October 1983
26. Public Spending - How Deep the Cuts?
Aired 9 October 1983
27. The Fall of Parkinson - The Testing of Thatcher
Aired 16 October 1983
28. The Health Service - Its Future Assured?
Aired 23 October 1983
29. The Grenada Invasion - Straining the Ties?
Aired 30 October 1983
30. Northern Ireland - The Way Forward?
Aired 6 November 1983
31. The Middle East - Close to the Brink
Aired 13 November 1983
32. Lawson's Recovery Plan - Fading from View?
Aired 20 November 1983
33. The Newspaper Dispute - Cue for Confrontation?
Aired 27 November 1983
34. Europe's Future - The Crisis Summit
Aired 4 December 1983
35. Conflict Over Cruise - The Challenge to Heseltine
Aired 11 December 1983
36. Capping the Rates - Jenkin Joins Battle
Aired 18 December 1983