WHAT did you think about the ‘Chancellors’ debate on Channel 4 on Monday? I’m not asking the party political question, about who had the best policies, or about who was the better ‘performer’. Let the forthcoming General Election be the judge of that.

No, my question was about the nature of the programme, and whether it worked so that those watching had a better understanding of the issues.

Over the years I must have done hundreds of television and radio debates with my opposite numbers.

Some I think are successful, both in terms of examining very carefully the weaker arguments of the participants, and in simply conveying more information about parties’ positions.

These however tend to be on radio.

Radio has one huge advantage, which is that the audience have to use just one of their senses alone – hearing – and so concentrate on that, even whilst doing something else.

What a contrast with television.

Time and again I’ll be told “Oh, I saw you on television last night”. “What did you think?” I’ll reply. “Oh, you looked ok”. “Yes, but what about what I said?” And there in lies the problem. Take the BBC’s Question Time programme.

I enjoy doing it, but it’s always struck me as more theatre than anything else, and it can degenerate into something of a bear garden. Good fun to watch, maybe, but I’m uncertain whether anyone is better informed by the end – and I worry that it gives a poor impression of political debate.

In contrast, I thought Monday’s debate was a refreshing change.

The presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy anchored the programme very well, was firm and fair – and didn’t let his own ego get in the way.

Viewers saw three senior politicians – Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable – interacting as mainly they do, outside the television studio, in a civilised, polite way.

Yes, there’s a place for passion, for hackles to rise, but too much can be a real turn-off; so when the programme had finished, I was much heartened.

If this debate sets the tone for the election, we might end with voters feeling that they’ve had a real opportunity to make an informed choice from the alternatives on offer.