ðə ʃˈoʊ ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ mˈɪkst ɹᵻsˈɛpʃən fɹʌm kɹˈɪɾɪks, wˌaɪl ðˈɛndˈɛpjuːɾi sˈoʊviət fˈɔːɹən mˈɪnɪstɚ nɪkˈiːɾɚ ɹˈɪʒɑːv, vˈɪzɪɾɪŋ bɹˈɪtən æt ðə tˈaɪm ʌvðə ʃˈoʊz bɹˈɔːdkæst, kɹˈɪɾɪsˌaɪzd ðə ʃˈoʊ fɔːɹ bˈiːɪŋ "ʌnfɹˈɛndli" ænd "nˌɑːt kəndˈuːsɪv tʊ ɐn ɪmpɹˈuːvmənt ɪn ˈæŋɡloʊsˈoʊviət ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənz".
The show received a mixed reception from critics, while then-deputy Soviet foreign minister Nikita Ryzhov, visiting Britain at the time of the show's broadcast, criticised the show for being "unfriendly" and "not conducive to an improvement in Anglo-Soviet relations".