The Heckler - Episode 2

Clive Anderson presents a quirky, irreverent guide to this week's events in the general election campaign, including the first Prime Ministerial TV debate and the manifesto launches. The UK's first prime ministerial TV debate drew an audience of nearly 10 million. Viewers seemed to approve most of Nick Clegg. But will their feelgood factor persist? And could his newfound popularity really affect the outcome of the vote on May 6? The political betting expert and blogger, Mike Smithson, reflects here with the editor of FT.Com, Robert Shrimsley. And if you missed the debate, catch up in just a minute - with no hesitation or deviation, but perhaps a little repetition. The week has also seen the launch of the parties' manifestos. A host of proposals were reported in breathless fashion. But who can remember which polices belong to which parties? Leading ad-man Barry Delaney explains how politicians can get through to voters who aren't paying full attention. And Dr Tim Grant of the Centre for Forensic Linguistics at Aston University crunches the manifestos' words and phrases in his computer. Finally, the campaign has been haunted by the 'elephant in the room' - the subject which, some say, the two biggest parties don't want to mention. It's the deficit. How can we ever pay it back? And is it like a monster of horror fiction ? A question for writer Ramsey Campbell -- a man who creates monsters for a living -- and clinical psychologist, Martin Seager, whose job includes helping people cope with their fears. Presented by Clive Anderson, without any loose ends or unreliable evidence. Producers: Peter Mulligan/ Mark D'Arcy/ Leala Padmanabhan. Editor: Martin Rosenbaum.