As in the television programme, this model gathers a panel of speakers. It is best not to follow the actual television format exactly by gathering celebrities and asking them about anything and everything! One exception to that though might be if you wanted to ask a panel of sheikhs about matters of Shari'a, for example.

A more successful altered format:

• Have a maximum of four speakers.
• Have them each speak on a related topic for 10 or 15 minutes.
• Take questions from the floor, either spontaneous or written in a break after the short talks. Present the questions to the panel as appropriate. It may not be necessary to put every question to every speaker.

Pros:

• Allows for more diversity of topic and opinion
• Allows for audience participation
• May allow for more spontaneity in addressing issues that have arisen just before the event
• More speakers may prove more of a draw, and you may attract a larger audience

Cons:

• There may be less depth if each speaker only speaks a short time.
• More energy will be needed to keep speakers overrunning their time if it is as short as 10 minutes. Also if it is that short, they may not bother to prepare well and end up rambling more
• It might be more expensive if you have to pay four speakers