AGE outnumbered youth on the streets of Chudleigh last Friday as hundreds filed into the parish church for the live broadcast of BBC Radio 4's Any Questions.
The event, hosted by Chudleigh Parish Church and Chudleigh History Group, marked the 750th anniversary of the church's dedication to St Martin and St Mary in 1259.
The panel on this momentous occasion were Exeter MP and health minister Ben Bradshaw, shadow health minister Andrew Lansley MP, Liberal Democrat spokesman on culture, media and sport Don Foster MP, and Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Charity Commission.
Guests were warned to arrive well in advance and by seven the church was packed. Friends settled in for the wait, the inevitable opener being 'Have you put in a question?' For here was a chance not just to hear the experts but to set the agenda and speak on national radio.
As facilities in the church were limited, we had also been warned to make ourselves 'comfortable' beforehand as, once the show began, we would not be allowed to move from our seats. As the minutes ticked, some recklessly swigged from water bottles while two rows ahead I saw two ladies had sensibly equipped themselves with a hip flask.
Through speakers came a medley of Radio 4 theme tunes: The News Quiz, Brain of Britain, the Archers, Just a Minute, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, it was amazing how warm and furry these old friends made you feel.
The warm-up, a brave Radio Devon presenter, had the task of finding out who listened to Radio Devon and what would make us listen more.
'When I asked this at Ottery St Mary, I felt like a Christian being thrown to the lions,' he quipped.
The producer read out the names of those whose questions had been picked. The lucky winners shuffled to the front as if they had won the raffle. The panel took their seats in front of the rood screen. Jonathan Dimbleby encouraged us to 'react', coaching us to clap, laugh and raise our hands for any straw polls. The pips sounded, the voice of London read the news, the light swtiched on and we were live!
From then on, it was just like listening to the radio, except that we were on the radio. The banking crisis, the government u-turn on MPs expenses, mixed hospital wards. The speakers were as fluent as they always are, Jonathan as nimble at turning up the heat. We even got the chance to register our protest at the BBC's decision not to air the Gaza appeal (not feeling quite so warm and furry now).
'And there we have to leave it. Next week join us when we are going to be in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands; from here in Chudleigh Parish Church, goodbye.'
The light was extinguished and our moment of fame was over.