It focused on analysis and criticism of current affairs, and featured in-depth short documentary films that set the style for current-affairs magazine programmes.
[1] With him in the studio were Kenneth Allsop, Michael Barratt and Robert McKenzie, a professor of politics at the London School of Economics (LSE).
Critical to the point of confrontational, it abandoned the orthodox reverential rules of engagement with politicians and took a tougher, more modern approach to interviews.
"[2] Huw Wheldon, the then BBC Controller of Programmes, said that 24 Hours "has become such a valuable part of our coverage of national and international affairs, that we feel we must give it a regular and predictable placing.
David Attenborough ... who wants to put his BBC2 programmes on in such a way as to provide real choice for viewers, is driven mad by Twenty-Four Hours which has had to keep jumping about all over the place.