If $T:A_{0}\rightarrow B$ boundedly and $T:A_{1}\rightarrow B$ compactly, then a result of Lions–Peetre shows that $T:A\rightarrow B$ compactly for a certain class of spaces $A$ which are intermediate with respect to $A_{0}$ and $A_{1}$. We investigate to what extent such results can hold for arbitrary intermediate spaces $A$. The ‘dual’ case of an operator $S$ such that $S:X\rightarrow Y_{0}$ boundedly and $S:X\rightarrow Y_{1}$ compactly, is also considered, as well as similar questions for other closed operator ideals.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 46B70; 47D50