From a poetry point of view, the "in conversation" event between Al Alvarez and Lord Gowrie was the highbrow, less showbiz version of the Clive James and Francine Stock discussion which followed it.

There were differences, not least because Alvarez and Gowrie are recognised critics in their field, but failed to attract one third of the audience which came to hear Clive James pontificate. There were empty seats in the Burgage Hall. The Community Centre was packed.

This says much of the power of television; but the discussion between Gowrie and Alvarez was by far the most interesting offering.

Before the two men chatted, Alvarez read some of his poetry. His earlier verse, from the 1950s and 60s, followed his own famous dictum of avoiding "gentility" in verse.

This doctrine, of course, was taken to extremes by Alvarez's friend, Sylvia Plath; but Gowrie and Alvarez barely mentioned her, or Ted Hughes.

Instead they talked about American writers they had both known, Berryman and Lowell, and the reasons for Alvarez's earlier belief in the need for savagery and chaos in poetry became too clear. We heard how the alcoholic Lowell could only write "on a down, never an up".

But still, perhaps such writers create despite themselves, not because of the demons that drive them?

Alvarez's latest verse tends to be lyrical love poetry, and some if it is very fine.

Gowrie was an attentive, thoughtful companion to Alvarez's transatlantic exuberance.

The men are friends, and sometimes fell into the trap of speaking in the private ciphers of friends. So Robert Lowell was referred to by his pet name of "Cal," which I know irritated some members of the audience.

All in all, however, this was a gripping encounter with the voices of literary history.