Next week sees the debut of a multimillion-pound pairing of star television hosts. But does ITV have the formula right? Brian Viner on the science of on-screen partnerships

I've always fancied watching an election unravel from the "inside". When I got the call asking me whether I'd like to be on the BBC boat party, moored underneath the London Eye, I jumped at the chance. I suppose, in my mind, I expected it would be like being in JFK's hotel suite (not alone, not dressed as a lady). We would all be huddled around the telly swapping insider gossip about what was going on.

The audience was justifiably restive after an uncharacteristically defensive performance by Tony Blair

An unrepentant Tony Blair failed to apologise to the bereaved in the gallery – and even suggested Iran should be targeted next

The Evidence: The former prime minister took a robust approach to the questioning from the Iraq inquiry panel. But not all his answers added up to a completely convincing performance. Michael Savage reports

Sketch

Here are some of the key questions raised:

Tony Blair would like to be remembered for transforming Britain's schools and bringing peace to Northern Ireland, but for many his premiership was defined by the Iraq War.

The former PM will never escape the verdict of the court of public opinion

On the Iraq war, Tony Blair says he did what he thought was right. Had he listened, he would have thought differently

Those who trusted Blair have been left with their arses hanging out of the window

Paul Waugh is only doing it to disrupt my real work. Now he decides to take issue with something I wrote before Tony Blair's appearance on the Fern Britton programme.

Former PM was happy to discuss invasion with Fern Britton on TV show – but the Chilcot inquiry will hear his crucial testimony behind closed doors

At the Iraq hearings, a succession of clubbable mandarins reject any responsibility for the 2003 invasion. Brian Brady and Jane Merrick report