Hello, this is the Today in Parliament podcast celebrating a special birthday on Radio 4.

This is the BBC Home Service. Today in Parliament.

Well, we don't make them quite like that anymore.

Hello, I'm Susan Hume with a special edition of today in Parliament to mark the

80th anniversary of the programme. For some of those years, I've been reporting with the rest of the

team here on the drama and the momentous changes to the country that have unfolded before

our eyes in Parliament during that time. Every day for those 80 years, fine judgments have had to be made about balance and fairness,

while still including the most interesting and colourful bits from hours and hours of parliamentary debate.

And since the advent of sound recording in the 1970s, the programme's always started with its own signature tune.

Order, order, order, order, order, order, order, order. Order, order. Order, order. A procession of

common speakers from Silwyn Lloyd to Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

But first, let's step back not 80, but 300 years when reporting what went on at Westminster

could land you in big trouble.

There was a ban on reporting parliamentary proceedings actually technically involved until

1971.

A ban till 1971? Catherine Ricks from the history of Parliament Trust explains.

In the 18th century, resolutions were laid down saying it was a breach of privilege to report Parliament and Parliament was still taking action against reporters up until the 1770s.

So was there any reporting at all?

How did they do it if they did anything? There were reporters, yes. So in the very early years, so we were talking the 17th century, there were newsletters and people would just pick up gossip. I mean, it certainly wasn't daily reporting, as we imagine it now. And then in the 18th century, it was reporting after the end of a session, so they would compile from

what people had told them about what had gone on in Parliament. Well, with the House of Commons

threatening to punish offenders who reported its debates with the utmost severity, it was no wonder

that the young Samuel Johnson, later famous for his dictionary, only compiled his reports on Parliament from a

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