The Late Show (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Series · ★ 3.8
Released in 1988, The Late Show is a notable series.
What it’s about. The Late Show is a British television arts magazine programme that was broadcast on BBC Two weeknights at 11.15pm—directly after Newsnight—often referred to as the "graveyard slot" in terms of television scheduling. The series was commissioned by BBC Two Controller Alan Yentob, who had a background in serious arts documentaries, but the production team — led by Michael Jackson. The series combined a number of format elements from earlier BBC arts magazine programmes such as Monitor and Late Night Line-Up. With the cancellation of The Old Grey Whistle Test the series became one of the few spaces on BBC television for live music performances. The series originally featured a round-table discussion hosted by Clive James on Friday nights. However this format was dropped after the second season. The show pulled in heavyweight popular music acts live or pre-recorded, including Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Public Enemy, Joni Mitchell, The Stone Roses, Dick Dale, and Jeff Buckley.
Who’s in it. The Late Show stars Tony Benn and John Mackenzie.
How it landed. With an audience score of 3.8/10, The Late Show has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Late Show page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Late Show (1988)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Late Show change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Late Show worth watching?
- The Late Show holds an audience score of 3.8 out of 10. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Late Show?
- The Late Show stars Tony Benn and John Mackenzie.
- When was The Late Show released?
- The Late Show was released in 1988.