Beauty and the Beast (talk show)

The host of the program - usually an intentionally brusque and outspoken older male - the so-called "Beast" of the title presents each viewer question in turn and a panel of female celebrities - "the Beauties" serve as panellists who provide their advice on the problem and solutions, the panel then discuss the problem and the advice given offering opinions and views.

Baume was later replaced by presenters including Stuart Wagstaff (1966-1968), Noel Ferrier (1969), John Laws (1970), and Rex Mossop (1971-1973).

Other notable panelists on the later versions included The Beauty and the Beast format was adopted by TV One and, later, TVNZ as an afternoon television series that ran from 1976 to 1986.

The show was first aired on Monday 2 February 1976 and recorded in the Dunedin studios from its inception until the end of 1981 when production moved to Christchurch in 1982.

[2] Producer/directors over the years included Wayne Cameron, Judith Thomas, Lorraine Isaacs, Claire Henderson, Brian Stewart, John Wansbrough and Rex Simpson.