As a visual medium, television appears to offer an ideal context for reviewing films. It allows the reviewer to successfully ‘quote’ content and carry out in-depth analysis using clips and trailers. Yet the on-screen relationship between the two media has had a checkered history, and although several UK broadcasters have experimented with the film review show format over the years, few models have stood the test of time.

Channel 4’s Red Triangle Experiment of 1986-7 was a response to tabloid press alarms about some late-night adult programme content. The IBA supported the trialing of an on-screen warning symbol to accompany a season of international art-house feature films. However, a symbol designed to warn some viewers off, was always likely to attract more than might otherwise have stayed up to watch. And more unwanted publicity ensued.