joining us by telephone to talk about this is the comptroller of the bbc pollard -- the comptroller of the bbc tv. what do you see looking back at this 20 years? >> we now regard the decision to televise this as a matter of inevitability. very few look back and think they did something remarkable. at that time, it was a momentous decision. it had been turned down many times, until eventually the decision was taken to go for it. >> the leadership at that time -- what was its position? emma margaret thatcher was >> margaret thatcher was against televising the house of commons. they thought it would turn it into something quite different. the vote was taken, despite her influence. >> there was an 18 month trial period. >> there was a long period after the vote before televising actually started. when it started, it was a 12 month trial period. then we could change anything we asked for. it always comes in by way of what is called the trial period. you test the water. >> since the house of commons went on television, it has been seen every sunday night here on c-span. my question to you is