The relationship between politicians and broadcasters has always been fraught with tension. Today, every word and act of those who wield power is instantly broadcast and dissected on 24-hour rolling news channels, blogs and Twitter. But in the past, broadcasters were banned by law from debating anything newsworthy and Parliament imprisoned those who dared to report what MPs had said. Since that censorship ended, the two sides have clashed repeatedly.Live From Downing Street takes us on an absorbing journey through the history of this power struggle, dwelling in fascinating detail on the charismatic key players from radio and television - the Dimblebys, Day, Frost, Walden, Paxman, Humphrys - and those who fought back - Churchill, Wilson, Thatcher and Blair. As the BBC's Political Editor, Nick Robinson is uniquely placed to add his own perceptive insights into the controversial issue of impartial reporting, providing a colourful and gripping account of the hard-fought battles for the right to tell the public about the decisions taken on their behalf.

"2010 is the year that the relationship between politics and television will come of age. In the last election politicians clashed live on TV in the first ever televised Prime Ministerial debate - an unprecedented event in the history of political broadcasting. It follows a year in which media coverage of politics has become more immediate, more intense, and far more personal. The 2010 election marked the culmination of the shift in politics from the street corner, to the box in the corner.