Chancellors' debate: Too polite, Darling?

Last night's debate between Alistair Darling and his would-be replacements was a civil affair – too civil, some might say, with none of the three men landing a knock-out blow. Was the format – which was less constrained than the leaders' debates will be – still too rigid? Did the polite tone make a refreshing change from, say, the yah-boo atmosphere of prime minister's questions? ("After watching dozens of US candidates debates, it's refreshing to see three adults having a civilised debate," Richard Adams writes .) Or was this, as Lucy Mangan has it, a "still, untelegenic" experience ?