Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

Prof Lee Edwards on Lisa Nandy’s BBC charter speech, the charter “consultation” and what accountability should look like

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:01:07 GMT

Prof Lee Edwards, chair of the Media Reform Coalition and Professor at the LSE, discusses Lisa Nandy’s speech on a permanent BBC charter, the handling of the charter review consultation, the new Director General and wider questions about how the corporation is held to account.

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Tony Hall on New DG Matt Brittin and What’s Next for the BBC

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:41:13 GMT

Former BBC Director General Tony Hall, who led the corporation through the last Charter review, discusses the appointment of Matt Brittin as the new Director General. We discuss the responsibilities and pressures of the role, the BBC’s use of technology and digital platforms, its approach to arts, religion and other public service content, options for future funding and World Service support, and the relationship between the Director General, the BBC Board and regulators in a changing media and political landscape.

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Rizwana Hamid on Muslims, the Media and Regulation

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Rizwana Hamid is the Director of the Centre for Media Monitoring, which has just published its report, The State of British Media 2025: Reporting on Muslims and Islam. The report concludes that coverage of Muslims and Islam in much of the UK press is marked by systematic bias, negative framing, and contextual omissions, particularly in some right‑leaning outlets.

We discuss the report’s view that British media coverage of Muslims and Islam has worsened in recent years; the role of GB News, The Telegraph, The Spectator and others in shaping these portrayals; and how public service broadcasters compare. We explore how the Centre compiled its analysis, and the role of ignorance, religious illiteracy, unconscious bias, and the under‑representation and pigeonholing of minoritised journalists in newsrooms.

We also look at media coverage around Israel–Palestine since October 2023, the influence of better‑resourced advocacy groups, and the report’s call for more effective regulation.

Read the report: https://cfmm.org.uk/resource/the-state-of-british-media-2025-reporting-on-muslims-and-islam/

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Colin Browne Guides You Through the BBC Charter Consultation

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:18:19 GMT

Colin Browne, Chair of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer (VLV), discusses what the BBC Charter review means for the future of public service broadcasting in the UK, and why it’s vital that ordinary licence fee payers respond to the government’s consultation by midnight on Tuesday 12 March. Step by step, we explore where VLV supports or challenges the BBC’s own proposals on independence, funding, public accountability and participation in BBC decision making. We also look at how well the BBC is serving “at-risk” public service genres such as religion, the arts and children’s content—especially now that Ofcom’s monitoring role has been diluted.

PLEASE take part in the consultation. Links to the consultation and suggested answers below.

This is the link to the government's consultation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/britains-story-the-next-chapter-the-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation/britains-story-the-next-chapter-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation#:~:text=The%20current%20Charter%20came%20into,the%20next%20decade%20and%20beyond.

This is a list of organisations we have interviewed over the last few years and their suggested answers:

VOICE OF THE LISTENER AND VIEWER

https://vlv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/BBC-Charter-Review-Consultation.pdf

BRITISH BROADCASTING CHALLENGE

https://britishbroadcastingchallenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/BBC-Charter-Consultation-Suggested-Answers.pdf

THE CHILDREN’S MEDIA FOUNDATION

https://www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CMF-bbc_charter_response-final.pdf

SANDFORD ST MARTIN TRUST

The Sandford St Martin Trust: https://sandfordawards.org.uk/religion-and-the-future-of-the-bbc-have-your-say/

CAMPAIGN FOR THE ARTS

https://www.campaignforthearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/A-Stage-for-the-Nation.pdf

BBC WAC (Written Archives Centre) CAMPAIGN

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n5aXNHY6D5dq9elIYUdLfh9XG_T9AMki/view

MEDIA REFORM COALITION

https://www.mediareform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Alternative-Green-Paper-March-2026.pdf

INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING TRUST urges the BBC to maintain its commitment to international news but to broaden the range of stories covered, and also to give its non-news content a more international flavour

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Rabbi Jonathan Romain on BBC Reporting of Israel and British Jews

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Rabbi Jonathan Romain discusses how Britain’s Jewish communities are represented in UK media, particularly the BBC, against the backdrop of the current Middle East crisis. We examine the diversity of opinion among British Jews on Israel and the Netanyahu government, the meaning and use of the term "Zionism", and the distinction between criticism of Israel and antisemitism.

We also explore the rising reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK, the impact of events in the Middle East on community relations, the development of interfaith work between Jews and Muslims, and the level of religious literacy within BBC newsrooms and public service broadcasting more widely.

Have your say in the government's consultation by 10 March: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/britains-story-the-next-chapter-the-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation/britains-story-the-next-chapter-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation

Suggested answers:

British Broadcasting Challenge: https://britishbroadcastingchallenge.com/

The Sandford St Martin Trust: https://sandfordawards.org.uk/religion-and-the-future-of-the-bbc-have-your-say/

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Greg Childs: Do YouTube deals spell the end of public service children’s TV as we know it?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Greg Childs, director of the Children’s Media Foundation, discusses the decline of traditional children’s television in the UK, the rise of YouTube and TikTok as children’s primary viewing platforms, and what this shift could mean for public service broadcasting.

We explore how changes to advertising rules and algorithms are transforming the economics and nature of children’s content, the BBC’s new deal with YouTube, and the growing debate over whether regulation should aim to “build better” online spaces or restrict children’s access to social media.

Suggested answers:

British Broadcasting Challenge: https://britishbroadcastingchallenge.com/

The Sandford St Martin Trust: https://sandfordawards.org.uk/religion-and-the-future-of-the-bbc-have-your-say/

Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch

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Jamie Angus: Ex-BBC World Service Director on Iran Coverage, Funding and Future-Proofing

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:15:36 GMT

Jamie Angus, former Director of the BBC World Service, discusses the ethical and editorial dilemmas of BBC reporting from Iran under strict conditions and the funding crisis facing the World Service. We also explore his new Henry Jackson Society report to the Public Accounts Committee, setting out a future for the BBC World Service focused on shifting audience priorities, digital distribution, and new revenue ideas from AI licensing to commercialising BBC Monitoring.

Suggested answers:

British Broadcasting Challenge: https://britishbroadcastingchallenge.com/

The Sandford St Martin Trust: https://sandfordawards.org.uk/religion-and-the-future-of-the-bbc-have-your-say/

Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch

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Elizabeth Anderson: Are We Ready for a Digital‑Only BBC in 2034?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, discusses how the UK’s move towards a digital‑first media landscape could affect viewers and listeners. We explore what is meant by digital poverty in the UK today, the startling numbers affected, and what the impact could be if traditional broadcast TV (including Freeview) is switched off around 2034 – and how that might affect radio too. What could this mean for access to news, information and entertainment?

We examine the relationship between internet connectivity, affordability and basic digital skills – and how that shapes the debate on different options for funding the BBC, and its claim to be a universal public service broadcaster in an online‑only world. We also consider the role of MPs, government and industry in developing a serious digital inclusion strategy and ensuring people are not left behind.

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Phil Riley, radio executive, on BBC “radio licences”, local radio and the 2034 digital switch‑off

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Phil Riley is one of commercial radio’s most experienced executives, former chief executive of Chrysalis Radio and now co‑founder and chief executive of Boom Radio, the station created for Britain’s baby boomers. We discuss current ideas for funding the BBC – including proposals around BBC Sounds and a possible “radio licence” – and what they could mean for both the BBC and commercial radio.

We also explore the wider future of radio and public service broadcasting, including the growth of podcasts, streaming and small‑scale DAB, the implications for radio of the proposed 2034 switch‑off of digital terrestrial television, and the changing role of BBC Local Radio and local journalism.

“Of all the heritage mainstream media, radio is in the best shape of all of them in terms of its ability to survive.”

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Rob Crilly, ex-US Chief Correspondent at the Daily Telegraph, on Trump’s First Year, the Media War, and a Pivotal Weekend in Minnesota

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Rob Crilly, former Chief US Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail Online, now author of the “Washington Secrets” newsletter at the Washington Examiner, joins us again one year on to assess Donald Trump’s first year in office. We talk about covering a president who sets the agenda via late-night tweets, how the White House manages access and mixes up the briefing room, and what it means for organisations such as the BBC to face a billion‑dollar lawsuit and accusations of “fake news”.

We explore Trump’s impact on legacy and public service media (from the BBC to NPR, PBS and Voice of America), the strategy of aggressive denial and attack, the use of leaks and loyalty tests inside the administration, and the growing business and political pressures on newsrooms from CBS to the Washington Post. We also examine Trump’s personal enrichment and conflicts of interest, whether American democracy and its institutions are strong enough to withstand him, and why Rob believes last weekend’s events in Minnesota could prove a pivotal moment in his presidency.

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Prof Lee Edwards on BBC Charter Review – A Missed Opportunity?

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Lee Edwards, Professor of Strategic Communications and Public Engagement at the London School of Economics, and Chair of the Media Reform Coalition, discusses in detail the government’s green paper on the BBC’s future: the consultation process and timetable; proposed changes to BBC funding—including the possibility of a household levy; principles of universality and public service; and questions about government involvement in BBC governance.

We also examine the balance between public purpose and commercial pressures, the BBC’s role in local media, ideas for public engagement and accountability, and consider the funding of the BBC World Service. There is also practical advice on how listeners can respond to the consultation and join the wider debate.

The problem is the lack of funding. That does not have to be resolved by advertising or subscription. The lack of funding is about the British government and public’s willingness to buy into and support a substantial public service media organisation.

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Sir Max Hastings, ex Daily Telegraph editor, on defending the BBC from the right wing press

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:05:27 GMT

Sir Max Hastings, historian and former editor of the Daily Telegraph and London Evening Standard, discusses Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC, the roots of hostility toward the broadcaster, and the impact of ongoing financial cuts—including what the BBC should prioritise. We also explore editorial challenges, leadership dilemmas, the vital role of the World Service, media coverage of the Middle East, and the future of public service journalism. Drawing on his long career, Sir Max offers candid reflections and opinions on where British media must go next.

“I haven’t been allowed to write about Gaza or about what’s going on in Israel by several major British newspapers - and I have asked to do so - because my views would be unacceptable. That it is terribly depressing.”

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Michael Delahaye on the BBC’s influence and the struggle for independent journalism after the Soviet era

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:10:00 GMT

Michael Delahaye, veteran BBC journalist and author of "After the Fall: The Battle to Save Independent Media in the Post-Soviet World," joins us to share his firsthand experiences supporting independent journalism across Russia and the former Soviet republics.

We discuss the challenges faced by journalists in a country without a history of independent journalism, the impact of Putin, the lack of a media market, the role of the West, the significance of the BBC World Service and the ongoing fight for media freedom in increasingly autocratic environments.

“I did find, quite surprised me, that a lot of these young journalists thought, “Hold on,” they were saying to me, “But, but look, you know, this is a time of transition. We do have a patriotic duty here, and, you know, we should actually aid the transition. It’s all very fine going attack dogs against authority, but we've got to bear in mind that this is, quote, an emerging democracy. It is fragile.”

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Prof Patrick Barwise Unpacks the BBC Green Paper and Trump’s Legal Threat

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Patrick Barwise is Emeritus Professor of Management and Marketing at London Business School, former chair of Which, the UK consumer organisation, and co-author of 'The War Against the BBC'.

We review the government's newly published green paper on the BBC—covering its governance, funding models, independence, commercial and political influences, public accountability, what's missing and participation in the consultation. And we discuss whether the BBC should settle with Trump.

“I would like to see the government literally saying, ‘We will fund that defence.’ I think that this is actually an opportunity for the government to demonstrate that we will not let our main public broadcaster be just sort of bullied in this kind of a way.”

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The British Academy BBC report: time for big changes

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Professors Georgina Born and Justin Lewis are co-authors of the British Academy report on the future of the BBC and public service media. From the UK to Scandinavia, Canada to Australia, the report presents evidence about what works and what doesn’t. We discuss some of their findings: the importance of democratic governance, the decline of the licence fee, and the need for independent funding mechanisms.

We explore the role of public service media, the threat from global big tech, governance and political independence, alternatives to the licence fee, the idea of a permanent charter, strategies for engaging young audiences, and the need to develop new approaches to public service media in the digital age.

"The BBC has been built and developed over 100 years. It could be abandoned in one term of one government under our current structure, which I think we would all come to regret if it happened."

Find the British Academy report here: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications/future-of-public-service-media/

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Jon Williams, ex-BBC Foreign News Editor, on Freelance Journalism, Media Challenges, and Lawsuits

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Jon Williams, Executive Director of the Rory Peck Trust, former foreign editor at BBC News, and managing editor of ABC News in the US and RTÉ. We discuss the work of the Trust; the challenges facing freelance journalists; the rise in deaths and imprisonment of journalists; dealing with propaganda wars and media companies; and how broadcasters should handle lawsuits.

“As news organisations have got less and less money to base foreign correspondents overseas, then more and more they're turning to freelancers to fill that gap, and the awards are … both an act of recognition and an act of resistance to this climate of misinformation that we find ourselves in.”

Find out more about the Rory Peck Trust: https://rorypecktrust.org/

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Dan Thomas, FT Global Media Editor on the Sky/ITV Deal and the Future of UK Media

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Dan Thomas is the global media editor of the Financial Times and its former business editor. We discuss the turbulence shaking up the UK media industry: the high-stakes merger talks between ITV and Sky – what that means for the future of public service broadcasting, the challenges posed by increasing media consolidation and what lies ahead for major players like Channel 4.

We also discuss the current leadership crisis at the BBC and the potential impact of the government's long-awaited green paper.

"Sky buying ITV—you know, the biggest UK commercial public sector broadcaster—is massive. This wouldn’t have been thinkable, really, not so long ago. And it changes the whole public sector broadcasting landscape. It has huge ramifications for what happens to the BBC. It has huge importance for Channel 4."

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Stewart Purvis, ex-ITN Chief, Richard Ayre, ex controller of editorial policy at the BBC and Prof Stephen Cushion at the VLV conference

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 17:21:11 GMT

At the Voice of the Listener and Viewer autumn conference, the second session chaired by former BBC World Tonight presenter Ritula Shah, dealt with enhancing impartiality in news. Professor Stephen Cushion, Director of Research and Impact at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, presented new research on impartiality standards in news, followed by a discussion on the implications of the rise of opinion-led TV and radio for audiences.

The panellists, apart from Professor Cushion, included Professor Stewart Purvis CBE, former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Executive of ITN, and Richard Ayre, former Controller of Editorial Policy and Deputy Chief Executive of BBC News. They discussed the recent crisis, political appointments to public bodies, the role of Ofcom and its interpretation of impartiality rules, and the allocation of air time to political parties.

There were also questions on global news in broadcasting, fact-checking, editorial guidelines, whether the Reith lecture should have been edited and governance.

“Samir’s best is not good enough at the moment.”

Subscribe to the VLV here: https://vlv.org.uk/

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Mark Damazer, former BBC Trustee and Prof Steven Barnett at the VLV conference

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:58:07 GMT

After a turbulent few weeks for the BBC, the Voice of the Listener and Viewer held a timely panel titled “What Next for the BBC?” at its conference on Wednesday. The speakers were Mark Damazer — former Controller of Radio 4, Deputy Director of BBC News, BBC Trustee — and Stephen Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster.

They tackled the growing crisis of governance at the Corporation: the politicisation of the BBC Board, the influence of political appointees and how shifts in governance over the years have reshaped the BBC’s independence. They explored the tension between board culture and structural reform, questioned the effectiveness of Ofcom’s oversight, and assessed proposals for a new, genuinely independent appointments body.

They also faced questions on the BBC’s response to recent criticisms — including the Prescott memo - and the pressures facing BBC leadership.

Subscribe to the VLV here: https://vlv.org.uk/

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Andy Webb, Dianarama author on Princess Diana, BBC 'Cover-Ups' & Bashir

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Andy Webb is the author of Dianarama: The Betrayal of Princess Diana. We discuss his years-long investigation into the BBC Panorama interview with Princess Diana, the controversial methods used by journalist Martin Bashir, the ongoing questions of BBC accountability and transparency, and the significant challenges he faced accessing the BBC’s archives in pursuit of the full story.

"It could be plausibly argued that Diana would be alive today—64 years old, the grandmother of five kids—had the BBC, in April of 1996 or thereabouts, told her what they knew."

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Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive on BBC Resignations, Trump’s Legal Threats, and Broken Governance

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:13:47 GMT

Richard Ayre is a former Controller of Editorial Policy and Deputy Chief Executive of BBC News, and later became a member of the BBC Trust. We discuss the BBC's crisis: how the organisation should respond to legal threats from Trump; the resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness; the actions and inaction of the editorial guidelines and standards committee; and the wider impact on BBC journalism.

Richard also explains the process for appointing a new Director General, the implications for Charter Renewal, and the failures of the current governance system.

"Ministers have the power now to insert onto the shortlist people of their own choosing, irrespective of what any independent panel says. It's corrupt. It invites corruption. We have to take all public appointments out of political hands, and that includes the non-executive directors of the BBC."

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Pat Younge, ex-BBC Chief Creative Officer, on BBC bias, broadcasting reform, and media power

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Pat Younge, former BBC Chief Creative Officer and board member at ITV Studios, responds to allegations of bias made against the BBC’s Panorama programme; outlines proposals from the British Broadcasting Challenge for renewing the BBC’s charter and ensuring its long-term independence and relevance; and discusses the impact of media consolidation by wealthy, powerful figures in the US and how this affects the UK media landscape, especially Channel 5. We also discuss broadcast funding models, governance reforms, the importance of universality and trust, the role of citizen assemblies and the prominence of news and current affairs.

“The BBC is like the sun around which our entire broadcasting universe revolves. So we need to get the BBC right. If everything else is going to be right.”

Find out more about the British Broadcasting Challenge: britishbroadcastingchallenge.com

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Matt Frei, Channel 4 News presenter on democracy's fragility, media's transformation, and journalism's enduring mission

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Matt Frei is the Europe editor and presenter of Channel 4 News who delivered the annual Steve Hewlett Memorial Lecture. We discuss his speech, the state of democracy in the United States and whether what is happening there can happen here, BBC's coverage of Gaza and the propaganda war, challenges facing traditional news organisations and whether there is a place for GB News, the domination of the news cycle by Trump, his personal journey from Germany to becoming a prominent British journalist, and the complex media landscape in the era of social media and political polarisation.

"The audience wants stories to be told to them. It's how we do it and to how many people. That's really the issue here. But the internet, the diversification, the anarchy of what we have before us is a golden opportunity to tell more stories to more people, or a different group of people in different ways, and that's fantastic, and we should celebrate that."

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Prof Stephen Cushion on Ofcom, Politicians as Presenters, and Media Impartiality

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Professor Stephen Cushion, Director of Research at the Cardiff School of Journalism, discusses this week's decision by Ofcom on politicians presenting news programmes, the BBC's request to reduce the number of current affairs programmes in prime time, and his new research which analyses impartiality in news reporting, the representation of political parties, the impact of social media and news consumption, and generational attitudes towards impartiality.

"The rules are changing, aren't they? We're at a bit of a crossroads. Do we want to be more an opinionated type of TV and radio programming, or do we want to preserve these due impartiality guidelines."

Find out more about Prof Cushion’s research: https://www.enhancingimpartiality.com/

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Prof Paul Dixon: The Military’s Influence on Britain’s Democracy

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Prof Paul Dixon, Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester and Queen Mary College, University of London, discusses his new book, “The Militarisation of British Democracy: The Iraq and Afghan Wars and the Rise of Authoritarianism.” We explore the military’s influence on UK politics and society, the idea of a "militarist coalition," debates over defence spending, media coverage of military issues, and recent and historical conflicts including Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Northern Ireland.

"I had the luxury as an academic to go back and look at key instances where there were moral panics generated about Selly Oak hospital or the parades at Abingdon or alleged abuses of soldiers in Leatherhead Leisure Centre, and show that there was a lack of substance to a lot of those stories that were used to promote the militarisation of the UK. And what I found in looking back was that there wasn't very much analysis of those moral panics to get to the bottom of actually what was going on and whether there was real substance to these panics.”

Buy the book: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-militarisation-of-british-democracy.html

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Mary Hockaday, ex-Controller BBC World Service: Funding and Editorial Independence at the World Service

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Mary Hockaday, former Controller of BBC World Service, discusses the future of the BBC World Service amid funding pressures and political challenges, the debate over government and defence funding, the challenges of budget cuts, and the global influence and value of the World Service.

“For me, the most important thing in all of this is almost wherever the money comes from, that the principles of independence, editorial independence, are absolutely sacrosanct.”

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Stewart Purvis, ex-ITN Chief, on impartiality, Lisa Nandy's intervention and 'nipple-gate'

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Stewart Purvis is the former Editor in Chief and Chief Executive of ITN and a former content regulator at Ofcom. We discuss Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s intervention in the debate on GB News, issues of impartiality in news, and the role of Ofcom and government in media regulation. As ITV celebrates its 70th birthday, we also look back on Stewart’s long career, the challenges facing ITN, and his so-called “nipple-gate” moment involving Princess Diana.

"Lisa Nandy has actually put the case extremely well, of what is going on: that really these are polemics, and that they really count as news. So now Ofcom is in a difficult position."

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Mark Damazer, former BBC Trustee, on the BBC’s international audio strategy and its future

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Mark Damazer is a former controller of Radio 4, Deputy Director of BBC News, BBC trustee, writer, commentator, and chair of the Booker Prizes. We spoke to him about the BBC’s plans for its international audio services, the challenges of monetising content overseas, the implications for the BBC’s global reach and influence, the value of its radio archive, the future of public service broadcasting, and the role of consultation and vision in shaping the BBC’s direction.

There's still quite a lot that's been lost, and you feel really quite strongly; they've been making it up as they go along, and they've had a lot of trouble communicating to these audiences outside the UK, interested in BBC audio, what it is that they're actually doing.

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Robin Aitken, former BBC journalist on Impartiality, Internal Culture, and Trust in the BBC

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Robin Aitken is a former BBC journalist, author, and contributor to The Daily Telegraph. In this episode, he discusses his chapter in the book "The BBC: After the licence fee?"

We discuss the BBC’s internal culture, its approach to impartiality, the representation of religious perspectives, its coverage of events such as Brexit, audience trust in the BBC and factors affecting licence fee payments.

“There is an assumption in the BBC, broadly speaking, that public is always better than private; that a social democratic government anywhere in the world is always going to be preferable to what the BBC often terms ‘Far Right,’ and the way that they use those terms is itself such a giveaway.”

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Dr Alice Donald: Media Myths, Chicken Nuggets, and the ECHR

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Dr. Alice Donald, Professor of Human Rights Law at Middlesex University, is one of the author's of a report that was recently published this week from the Bonavero Institute at Oxford University on media coverage of the European Convention on Human Rights.

We examine the findings of the report, the prevalence and impact of misreporting, the role of the convention in areas beyond immigration, the political debate surrounding potential withdrawal and the impact on the Good Friday Agreement, and the responsibilities of public service journalism in informing the public.

The fact that his son liked British chicken nuggets had no bearing on the case, that it was nowhere near strong enough evidence to mean that the man shouldn't be deported. So, a) it wasn't the basis, and b) the decision was overturned anyway. But it continued to be reported.

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Prof John Wyver, on the campaign for access to the BBC Written Archives

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Professor John Wyver, Professor of Arts on Screen at the University of Westminster, joins us to discuss his involvement in the recent campaign opposing changes to access at the BBC Written Archive Centre.

We explore the archive’s purpose, the proposed access restrictions and their impact, the consultation process, potential alternative solutions, and the broader challenges facing public service broadcasting and the arts at the BBC.

There is no public catalogue of this archive, which seems to me is totally extraordinary for such an important repository. But also, some two-thirds of this archive have not been made available for anybody to research, so two-thirds of it remains closed in secret.

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Prof Catherine Johnson on disappearing public service programming

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Catherine Johnson, Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Leeds, is co-author of the report Behind the screen, how streaming is changing public service media, which was published this week and produced by the University of Leeds, the International Broadcasting Trust (IBT), the Campaign for the Arts and the Sandford St Martin Trust.

We discuss its findings and the challenges in measuring public service programming on streaming platforms, refusal of data by public service broadcasters, discoverability and personalisation issues, the decline in certain genres, the impact on independent producers, recommendations for improving transparency and accountability, the role of government and regulators and incentivising PSBs to broaden content.

“I said, at an event recently, "We've got 10 years to save public service media." And someone from the sector came back and said, "No, we've got three years to save public service media."”

Read the full report here: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/229430/

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Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive on the Corporation's crisis week: Gaza, MasterChef, and editorial challenges

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Richard Ayre is a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC News, before becoming a member of the BBC Trust. Richard is also a former member of the OFCOM content board.

In this week's episode, we discuss the BBC's Gaza documentary scandal, the MasterChef presenter dismissals, criticism from the Culture Secretary and OFCOM, challenges to BBC editorial oversight and the corporation's annual report.

“It’s outrageous that the Secretary of State lifts the phone and demands answers from the Director General."

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Marcus Ryder, CEO Film and TV Charity on the Greg Wallace controversy and the mental health crisis in the industry

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:38 GMT

Marcus Ryder, CEO of the Film and TV Charity and former head of current affairs at BBC Scotland, discusses the recent Greg Wallace controversy, workplace behaviour, mental health, and power dynamics in the film and television industry.

"The very fact that so many people have come forward means that there's a large number of people who, up until recently, were experiencing something that they felt they couldn't properly talk about."

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Rhodri Taflan Davies, BBC Director of Nations and Ritula Shah ex BBC presenter in conversation at the VLV conference

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:10:00 GMT

The Voice of the Listener and Viewer conference held at the end of April featured a session with Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’s Director of Nations. He spoke about the BBC’s storytelling and regional production, and was then questioned by the session’s chair — VLV Trustee, Classic FM presenter, and former BBC Radio 4 World Tonight presenter, Ritula Shah. Together, they explored challenges in TV production and co-production partnerships, tax credits and charter renewal, local radio, decentralising production, universality and the BBC’s mission, funding and the future of the BBC, as well as the BBC’s culture review and how it is addressing misconduct.

View and listen to the whole session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP4g1oVCv-I

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Miqdaad Versi on the report "BBC on Gaza-Israel: one story, double standards"

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:05:00 GMT

Miqdaad Versi, Director of Media Monitoring at the Muslim Council of Britain discusses the Centre for Media Monitoring's comprehensive report "BBC on Gaza-Israel: one story, double standards". We discuss the report's methodology and its use of AI to analyse over 35,000 pieces of BBC content over a year and examine its key findings, on the disproportionate coverage of Israeli deaths, fewer Palestinian interviews, inconsistent use of language and the suppression of genocide allegations.

"We want to engage positively and constructively. I'm not here to just attack the BBC. I'm here to constructively improve."

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Iain Dale, LBC presenter on his Thatcher biography, her impact on the media and the future of public service broadcasting

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 21:05:16 GMT

Iain Dale is a broadcaster, political commentator, and presenter on LBC. We discuss his new short biography of Margaret Thatcher, written to introduce the former Prime Minister to a new generation. We explore her fraught relationship with the BBC, her influence on broadcasting policy, and what that legacy means today. We talk about the future of public service broadcasting, the BBC’s dominance, the rise of opinion-led channels like GB News, and whether the market can still deliver trusted journalism in a polarised age.

"The BBC has consistently failed to recognise that there is another point of view, and that point of view exists predominantly outside London."

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John Ware, veteran investigative journalist on Gerry Adams' defamation case, the BBC and Middle East coverage

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 23:10:00 GMT

John Ware, veteran investigative journalist and former BBC Panorama reporter, with decades of experience covering complex and controversial subjects from the Troubles in Northern Ireland to antisemitism in British politics, discusses Gerry Adams’ defamation case against the BBC, the silence from parts of the Jewish community, BBC coverage of Gaza and the Middle East, the role of public service broadcasting, and the impact of agenda journalism.

"The BBC’s coverage actually is quite timid”

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Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Everyone TV, on Freely and the future of free television in the UK

Wed, 28 May 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Jonathan Thompson is Chief Executive of Everyone TV, the organisation that runs free television in the UK.

In this episode Jonathan discusses the launch of the UK's newest streaming platform, Freely, which brings together live and on demand content from the UK's public service broadcasters. We explore what Freely offers, its accessibility, and its role in preserving public service broadcasting. We explore critical issues facing UK television: how to maintain content diversity, attract younger viewers, and ensure public service content remains prominent in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape.

"Somewhere near a third of homes are purely internet TV households."

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Dr Tom Mills, Media Reform Coalition on how to mutualise the BBC

Thu, 22 May 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Dr. Tom Mills, Chair of the Media Reform Coalition and co-author of the report “Our Mutual Friend: The BBC in the Digital Age”, discusses a detailed proposal for the mutualisation of the BBC—an idea supported by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. He explains what it would mean for audiences to become active participants in the Corporation’s governance, how such a model could work in practice, and what it could offer in terms of accountability, representation, and resistance to political interference.

“I think that the bigger risk actually is if the current governance system is maintained and you're under political pressure from the government and from organised interests in society.”

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Patrick Spence, exec producer 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' on the crisis facing British drama

Thu, 15 May 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Fresh from his BAFTA award, Patrick Spence, executive producer for Mr. Bates vs The Post Office discusses how the series was commissioned, why it was a success, how it was funded, the decline of certain TV drama genres, the crisis in the industry, the need of government support: levy vs tax breaks, the impact of tariffs, regional production, the streamers’ role and his upcoming project The Hack.

“If I was offered Mr. Bates vs the Post Office now as a prospective development, I would not take it on."

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Rozina Breen, CEO, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, on the Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit

Fri, 09 May 2025 07:44:11 GMT

Rozina Breen is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and formerly head of news at BBC Five Live and BBC North.

A speaker at the recent Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit, Rozina discusses the event, the growing challenges facing journalism under the Trump administration, the importance of local and regional journalism, the BBC and the role of partnerships, the importance of fact based reporting and why TBIJ is necessary.

“” The fire has always been there. We just haven't been paying attention.” And my belief is that there are fires in almost every constituency across the UK right now, and investigative journalism in the UK is much needed.”

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Jonathan Dimbleby, veteran broadcaster, on unravelling historical myths, democracy's fragility, and long-form interviewing

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:10:00 GMT

Jonathan Dimbleby is a veteran British broadcaster known for his long-form interviews on BBC and ITV, and as host of Radio 4’s Any Questions.

In this episode, we discuss his latest book on World War II, the use of a journalistic background in writing history, challenging historical myths, the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Britain, the rise of populism and parallels between current political trends and historical threats to democracy, the critical role of public service broadcasting, the decline of the long-form interview, and why, after an organiser of a meeting of Jews associated with Belsen extended an invitation to Jonathan to speak, “we ended up mutually agreeing that I wouldn't speak at this occasion.”

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Nick Kent on his BBC Two documentary "Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz" and public service broadcasting

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:08:15 GMT

Nick Kent is the chief executive and creative director of Oxford Films, which made this week’s BBC Two documentary "Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz". We discuss the challenges making an impactful 60 minute documentary which explores the Holocaust's broader historical context, the role of language and visual imagery, ethical considerations in portraying the Holocaust and the importance of public service broadcasting.

“We're living in a time when the BBC is in jeopardy, and what's at stake now is higher, I think, than it's ever been, in terms of what the BBC can provide.”

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James Cridland, editor Podnews and radio futurologist on BBC Annual Plan and monetising BBC audio

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:10:00 GMT

James Cridland is the editor of Podnews and a radio futurologist— a writer, consultant, and public speaker on radio’s future. We discuss the BBC’s Annual Plan, its financial challenges, the impending changes to BBC Sounds' international access, the intricate challenges of rights management, potential revenue streams, and the delicate balance between public service broadcasting and commercial imperatives.

“The only change going on here is that we're getting rid of the BBC Sounds app, and you have to use the not-very-good-as-a-replacement bbc.com/audio. So, if you're using a smart speaker or TuneIn, then, reading that paragraph, you would expect that you will still be able to have a listen, which is brilliant. But they've kind of hidden that under a bushel. They only put that on the website last week, but that's a significant thing, if that's what that means.”

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Kirsty Lang BBC presenter on changes to BBC Sounds for listeners abroad, the impact of cuts and a call to arms

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Kirsty Lang began her BBC career in 1986 and worked as the Central Europe correspondent for the BBC World Service and as a reporter on Newsnight. After a stint as The Sunday Times’ Paris correspondent, Kirsty went on to present Channel 4 News. Since 2002, she has been a stalwart of Radio 4, presenting Front Row, Last Word, and Round Britain Quiz.

We discuss the BBC's financial squeeze, its plans to restrict international access to domestic radio services, the importance of BBC programming as a form of soft power, the broader implications of budget cuts on public service broadcasting, and what it's like to be the quizmaster on Round Britain Quiz.

“Democracy is under threat. It has never been so under threat in my entire lifetime."

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Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator, on the fall out of the landmark decision against Ofcom in favour of GB News and the RTS awards controversy

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Prof Stewart Purvis is the former content regulator at Ofcom, a former Editor of Channel 4 News and ITN Chief Executive. As the Vice President of the Royal Television Society we discuss: the RTS Awards controversy withdrawing an award for Gaza journalists, Stewart’s experience reviewing BBC Middle East coverage and the fallout from the landmark GB News vs. Ofcom legal case and the ability of foreign governments to influence British broadcasting.

"What's at stake is the future of broadcast journalism. The system is creaking, and we need to decide whether we're going to resolve some of the issues which have arisen."

RTS Awards:

“What I would hope would come out of this was, as soon as we've got some clarity about whether there is any connection at all between what happened at the BBC documentary and the entrance for the RTS awards, and particularly the rightful winners of this special award that those Gaza journalists should get an award.”

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Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The i Paper columnist, on the BBC's Gaza coverage and media bias

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown describes herself as a "lefty, liberal, anti-racist feminist, Muslim" who was born in Uganda and came to the UK in 1972. She is a journalist, columnist for The i Paper, and commentator. Yasmin is a strong advocate for human rights who supports Israel's right to exist while being critically engaged with its policies. On this week’s podcast we discuss the BBC’s handling of its withdrawn Gaza documentary, the challenges facing independent journalists in Gaza, the lack of critical journalism in the UK compared to Israel, the influence of pro-Israeli groups in the British media and the role of public service broadcasting and its responsibilities.

“Balance is used as a way of not doing its journalism properly. And I love the BBC, but …. I think we need the BBC to become what it says it is: the most trusted outlet. It is no longer that trusted outlet.”

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Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive on BBC's Chair Samir Shah and DG Tim Davie parliamentary appearance and the Gaza documentary fallout

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:03:30 GMT

Richard Ayre is the chair of the UK's independent press regulator, Impress. Before that, he spent about thirty-five years at the BBC as a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC News, before becoming a member of the BBC Trust. Richard is also a former member of the OFCOM content board. In this week's episode, we discuss BBC's DG Tim Davie and Chair Samir Shah's appearance in front of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's select committee: the fallout from the Gaza documentary which was pulled after it was discovered the 13-year-old narrator had a family connection to Hamas, future funding models, the World Service, and the possibility of a generational charter.

“There was a meeting between BBC executives and executives of the production company—a face-to-face meeting—to comply this film before it went out, and the BBC didn't press for an answer or didn't get an answer to the question about the connection of the kid's. That's very worrying, and that, I imagine, is where the BBC’s inquiry is now going to unearth some bodies—or people likely to be bodies.”

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Tony Hall, Former BBC Director-General, on Royal Charter renewal and anti-Semitism allegations

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 22:46:19 GMT

Tony Hall was the Director-General of the BBC from 2013 to 2020, during which time the BBC's Royal Charter was last renewed. We discuss the differences between that charter renewal process and the current one, as well as the key issues surrounding the upcoming renewal: a long-term vision, a permanent charter, a new funding model, accountability, and engagement with licence fee payers. We also address the allegations of anti-Semitism within the BBC.

"I have never seen fundamental anti-Semitism in the time I was at the BBC. It's not how people work. Yes, there can be errors. Yes, there can be misjudgements, but fundamental anti-Semitism, or any other fundamental take on life that comes out in the BBC journalism I've never seen, and I don't believe it's there."

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Dan Thomas, FT Global Media Editor on Sky's digital shift, BBC charter renewal debates, and the future challenges facing public service broadcasters

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Dan Thomas is the Global Media Editor at the Financial Times who broke the story on Sky News’ strategy and newsroom overhaul. We discuss the strategic decisions facing all the major news organisations as they adapt to changing audience behaviours, regulation of social media, the future of all the public service broadcasters, BBC charter renewal, the BBC’s news operations in the US and digital switch over.

“Sky News have been on the on the sort of watch list, as it were, for some time. They've got what can only be described as an existential crisis, right? And this is not just unique to Sky, it’s applicable to all sorts of linear, traditional broadcasters, but Sky News, they've got a particular problem. People don't really want to watch news on TV anymore, not in the way they used to. And they've had to come up with something.”

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Rob Crilly, Chief US Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail, on Trump's presidency - an insider's view

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:24:32 GMT

Rob Crilly is the Chief US Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail who has covered Donald Trump since his bid for the presidency in 2015. Part of the White House press corp and regularly travelling with the president, Rob offers unique insights into Trump’s personality, communication style, and the impact Trump has had on American politics and journalism. We discuss the challenges of covering the Trump presidency with his disregard for facts, the Trump’s administration’s efforts to sideline traditional media for “new media”, the lack of opposition and Trump’s relationship with Keir Starmer.

“He's extraordinarily personable, and maybe it comes from his background as a property mogul, and he's essentially a salesman, but he sort of knows how to put people at their ease.”

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Peter Kosminsky, director of 'Wolf Hall' on financial support for British dramas, his career and being sacked by the BBC Plays department

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:35:35 GMT

Peter Kosminsky, the renowned British film and television director who recently directed the much-acclaimed Wolf Hall, discusses his career journey—from being sacked by the BBC Plays department to finally becoming a successful documentary-maker and filmmaker. He describes the creative process behind Wolf Hall, the challenges British filmmakers face in securing funding from streaming services for projects focused on British subject matter, and his proposal for a UK cultural fund, financed by a levy on streaming service subscriptions, to support the production of high-quality British dramas.

On his Grenfell project:

"Are we really saying that British television is incapable of making a drama about this critical subject to a British audience, because a bunch of American streamers don't think it's interesting enough to finance?"

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Adjoa Andoh, Royal Shakespeare Company and Bridgerton actor on BBC radio drama cuts

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Adjoa Andoh is one of Britain's most celebrated actors, with an extensive career spanning stage, screen, and radio. She has appeared in iconic TV series like Doctor Who and Netflix’s Bridgerton, as well as making her Hollywood debut in Clint Eastwood's Invictus.

In this episode we discuss the importance of radio drama, concerns about the significant cuts to radio drama production, the potential impact on the creative industries eco system, and the value of public service broadcasting.

"We're sort of the frog being boiled slowly. We're slowly losing things, and then you're suddenly aware there don't seem to be as many plays on, but you're not quite sure how; and this is terrible."

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Bill Nighy and Adjoa Andoh on BBC radio drama cuts

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:00:50 GMT

This week we’ll be hearing from some of our nation’s greatest actors Bill Nighy and Adjoa Andoh on why they think the BBC should reverse the proposed cut to BBC Radio 3's sole drama slot and why they are seeking reassurances that there will be no reduction in the amount of drama on Radio 4. Make sure you don’t miss out on this episode which will be published later this week.

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David Lloyd local radio expert on the outcome of his complaint on BBC Radio Devon's coverage of the Plymouth riots

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:04:34 GMT

David Lloyd is a veteran of the local radio industry, with over 40 years of experience in roles at LBC, Virgin Radio, and the BBC. He also brings regulatory expertise from his time at the UK Radio Authority, now part of Ofcom. Today, he's a broadcaster and co-founder of Boom Radio, a relatively new UK station catering to baby boomers.

In this episode, we discuss the state of BBC local radio, including the details of Lloyd's complaint about BBC Radio Devon's failure to adequately cover the 2024 riots. We also explore the potential role of alternative providers and the impact of the BBC's proposed spin-off service on Lloyd's own station, Boom Radio.

“I think the BBC can do a lot better on the resources available, even as reduced. They've still got £120 million now furnishing a lot of very part-time radio stations—that's a lot of money. In other hands, that could actually deliver some incredible local radio, which, yes, is the BBC the right person to be running local radio if it really takes them that much money to deliver it poorly?”

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David Elstein, founding Chief Executive of Channel 5, on BBC mutualisation, funding models, PSB content, and tax breaks

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 09:57:17 GMT

David Elstein was the head of programming at BskyB, the director of programmes at Thames Television, before launching Channel 5 as its chief executive in 1997. Since then, he has chaired innumerable boards and organisations including the British Screen Advisory Council and Open Democracy. David was part of the last Conservative government's inquiry into the BBC’s future funding model, which was later scrapped by Labour.

In this episode, we discuss the idea of ‘mutualisation’ of the BBC, the effects of government policies on public service broadcasting, funding models, access and content concerns, BBC efficiency, and the “fantasy economics” in BBC annual reports. We also examine the impact of tax breaks on the UK’s creative industries.

“Instead of funding public service content, we've funded high end content made for the American producers in our studios. We are now kind of contract labour for Warner Brothers, Paramount and Fox. I mean, it's mad.”

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Sir Richard Eyre, theatre and film director and former BBC Governor on radio drama cuts and the BBC's cultural remit

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:10:22 GMT

Sir Richard Eyre, the renowned theatre and film director, who has served as a BBC Governor, shares his concerns over the cuts to radio drama programming, the broader challenges facing the BBC's cultural remit, the tensions between the BBC's public service mission and commercial pressures, and role of the BBC in nurturing and sustaining the UK's cultural landscape.

"I would say the BBC is the most important cultural organisation in the world, and the Director-General of the BBC should be standing up, saying that, and putting his heart and soul and practical application into making sure that the BBC lived up to that proclamation. Well, they don’t, and they’ve pitifully ignored the arts. They've cut the arts department in television, and now, they're cutting drama on in radio."

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Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, DCMS ctte chair on BBC charter renewal, funding, World Service and Greg Wallace

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:15:33 GMT

Conservative MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage is the Chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee. We discuss the upcoming debates around the renewal of the BBC's charter, the crucial issues of the corporation's funding, impartiality, and role in public service broadcasting, as well as the future of the BBC World Service and the Greg Wallace revelations.

“We're entering a winter period when there's a number of pensioners who've just had their winter fuel tax removed, when energy prices are rising because the energy fuel cap has come to end, and to suddenly find that you've your licence fee’s going up as well. I just thought the timing was unfortunate.”

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Peter York, author 'A Dead Cat On Your Table' on culture wars, media power and the BBC

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:05:51 GMT

Peter York is a cultural commentator, author, and former Style Editor of Harper's & Queen magazine. He is best known for co-authoring the iconic Official Sloane Ranger Handbook in the 1980s. More recently, Peter has shifted his focus to more serious topics, including co-authoring The War Against the BBC with Professor Patrick Barwise.

This week, we discuss Peter’s latest book, A Dead Cat on Your Table, which delves into the world of "culture wars," the role of media personalities, influencers, and think tanks. We also explore Elon Musk's potential $100 million donation to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party and assess the extent to which the BBC is constrained in addressing "culture war" issues due to government pressure and funding concerns.

“It's the one structural fault that dates from the 20s. The government has too much power over the BBC’s funding and too much power over the BBC in other ways too. And you look at the manipulations of the last decade, and you can absolutely see that.”

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Andrew Graystone, writer and broadcaster, on his exposure of the abuse of John Smythe and the assisted dying bill debate

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:05:05 GMT

Andrew Greystone, writer and broadcaster, has played a pivotal role in exposing the abuse committed by John Smythe within the Church of England. In this discussion, he addresses the ongoing debate around the assisted dying bill, the media's approach to religion in ethical discussions, and the decline of religious literacy among journalists. He also shares the story behind uncovering Smythe’s abuse, the Church of England’s response, and discloses further revelations are set to break next year.

“I know that there are at least three major church abuse stories affecting the Anglican Church that will break in 2025. Now Lambeth Palace knows that as well; the Church of England knows that as well. Why do they want to wait for everything to be dragged out of them, rather than putting it on the table?"

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Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on high standards, distinctiveness and the impact of cuts

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:06:09 GMT

Roger Mosey, a former Editorial Director of the BBC, Head of TV News, and Director of Sport, discusses his lecture to the Commonwealth Journalists Association on the challenges facing public service media, the mainstream media's lack of understanding of political landscapes in the UK and US, clickbait, interactivity and audience connections, as well as cuts and talent drain at the BBC.

"The BBC’s Charter says it must engage the public to a very high standard with the issues of the day and inform our democracy. And that's non-negotiable. It's got to do it, and it does many times do that. It doesn't do it enough, and I think its political coverage is particularly weak. Why? Because the Westminster bubble dominates the political coverage, and there's too much about who's up, who's down, and there's too much about short-term headlines."

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Prof Cathy Johnson discusses TV distribution and the dangers of exclusion

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:10:00 GMT

Professor Catherine Johnson from the University of Leeds discusses her role on the recently announced DCMS committee, which is examining the future of TV distribution. New research indicates that some viewers could be excluded from the general shift towards online viewership. We also explore the rise of YouTube, ways to ensure access to public service content, and how a household tax might work.

“There is a ticking time bomb here, to be honest, in relation to digital terrestrial. So most other countries have upgraded their digital terrestrial infrastructure, or committed to upgrading their digital terrestrial infrastructure.”

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Prof Steven Barnett discusses BBC chair Samir Shah's speech: devolve, democratise, depoliticise

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:35:22 GMT

Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, discusses BBC Chair Samir Shah's inaugural speech. We explore what devolving, democratising, and depoliticising means, loosening regulation, re-evaluating the roles and remits of other public service broadcasters, and alternative funding models.

“I'm not sure a permanent charter is the way to go, but I think some kind of independent body to whom the responsibility is devolved for making funding decisions and for appointing the BBC chair, I would incidentally add the Ofcom chair, which is accountable to Parliament but is out of the control of government. I think those are really important changes that are necessary.”

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Jamie Angus, ex director of BBC World Service discusses the budget announcement on World Service funding and BBC cuts

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:10:24 GMT

Jamie Angus is the former director of the BBC World Service and the former editor of 'Today' and 'Newsnight' who now works in the Middle East. We discuss what the budget announcement means for funding of the World Service, why HardTalk makes the world 'a less stupid place', original journalism, the unintended consequences of commercialisation and US election and Middle East coverage.

"The BBC is not protecting its essential news services enough when it comes to allocating the cuts. The case for the BBC’s existence relies on its utterly distinctive public service remit.”

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Richard Sambrook ex BBC Director of News and the World Service on BBC cuts, disinformation and World Service funding

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 23:15:13 GMT

Richard Sambrook, former Director of BBC News and the World Service, and now an Emeritus Professor of journalism at Cardiff University discusses the challenges the BBC faces in dealing with the rise of disinformation, the balance between free speech and responsibility, the BBC's 'follow the sun' strategy, World Service funding and the impact of budget cuts on BBC News.

"I do have the concern that what sometimes gets lost in the mix is the depth and significance of BBC journalism, as opposed to simply competing with what everyone else is doing. I'm sure if I were to talk to Deborah Turness or anyone else, they would come up with a whole list of examples that would illustrate how they are maintaining depth and significance. But I think, to the public, when they look at some of these cuts, that’s what worries people."

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Gareth Benest, International Broadcasting Trust, on shrinking global coverage

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:10:28 GMT

In the same week that BBC Director General Tim Davie pitched for an increase in government funding for the BBC World Service, while simultaneously axing the global interview programme Hard Talk in another round of cuts, we speak with Gareth Benest, Director of Advocacy at the International Broadcasting Trust. We discuss the decline in international coverage by UK broadcasters, his analysis of the shrinking breadth of countries featured in news and current affairs programming, and the potential impact of new media legislation, algorithms, and public service broadcasting.

“Last year, it surprised me that there was, as far as I could see from the logging that I did of linear schedules, there was not a single programme outside of news broadcasts about Rwanda. The most spoken about African country, perhaps in the history of UK media, last year, there wasn't a single documentary. There wasn't a single current affairs programme that actually gave UK citizens an opportunity to understand the country.”

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Jim Waterson, former Guardian media editor, discusses his new venture, billionaire media owners, and radically rethinking public service broadcasting

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:10:33 GMT

On our 100th episode anniversary we talk to another journalist who has started out on a new venture. The Guardian’s former media editor, Jim Waterson, has set up London Centric, a news outlet focused on in-depth coverage of London. We discuss his reasons for taking this step, the challenges traditional media faces, billionaires owning media outlets, the sale of The Observer, regulation, adapting to modern consumption habits and the merging of public service broadcasters.

“I'm sure, Beeb Watch listeners are very aware of Project Kangaroo and the missed opportunities of the late 2000s when there was a plan to combine all the public service broadcasters in one streamer that would have gazumped Netflix. I think that's the sort of radical thinking you should be looking at with this licence fee negotiation.”

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Mark Urban ex BBC Newsnight diplomatic and defence editor on BBC coverage of the Middle East, Newsnight changes and life outside the BBC

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:07:56 GMT

Mark Urban spent many years as the diplomatic and defence editor at BBC Newsnight before leaving in May, after 34 years at the corporation. Prior to joining the BBC, Mark was the defence correspondent for The Independent newspaper for four years. He is the author of several military books and served briefly in the British Army. He is now a writer for The Sunday Times. We discuss allegations of BBC bias against Israel in its Middle East coverage, the challenges and cultural biases in reporting conflicts, changes made to Newsnight, and his life after the BBC.

“If you put those two things together, which is a tight focus on victims and a scepticism about the ethicacy of the military instrument, then it's pretty obvious in this current situation that Israel is going to have problems. And I think this is more to do with the way that journalists as a sort of cohort or professional culture define a story, and less to do actually, specifically with the BBC.”

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Lawyer Trevor Asserson discusses his report which criticises the BBC for bias against Israel in its Middle East coverage

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:02:51 GMT

The controversial Asserson Report sparked headlines in The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail for its critique of the BBC's Middle East coverage at the height of the Israel-Hamas war. The report has drawn both praise and sharp criticism. We’re joined by the report's author, British-Israeli lawyer Trevor Asserson, to discuss its origins, funding, methodology and its interpretation of impartiality.

“I think the faults that we've demonstrated are probably found throughout the BBC’s coverage of other news stories as well. It's very unlikely that they're being impartial elsewhere, but I can tell you that they're not impartial in their coverage of this story.”

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David Aaronovitch broadcaster and journalist on the Jewish Chronicle, The Asserson Report alleging BBC bias and media coverage of the Middle East

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:09:23 GMT

Journalist and broadcaster David Aaronovitch worked for the BBC in a senior capacity before becoming a columnist for The Times and the presenter of numerous radio programs, including Radio 4’s The Briefing Room. He now publishes longer articles on Substack under Notes from the Underground and contributes to Tortoise Media. In this episode, we discuss the fallout from the Jewish Chronicle scandal, where fabricated articles led David and other prominent writers to resign. We also explore accusations of BBC bias in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza war, and the broader challenges facing journalism today.

“If you want to look at lack of balance in the world, look at what's reported and what isn't reported, and how what's not reported is effectively given a kind of second or third class status. I regard this as a big journalistic problem.”

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Richard Ayre, former senior BBC executive, on BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Chair Samir Shah's parliamentary appearance

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:42:06 GMT

Richard Ayre spent thirty-five years at the BBC, serving as the former controller of editorial policy, deputy chief executive of BBC News, and a BBC Trustee. Richard is also a former member of the OFCOM Content Board and is currently the chair of the UK's independent press regulator, Impress.

We discuss BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC Chair Dr. Samir Shah’s appearance before the House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee, where they were scrutinised for their handling of the Huw Edwards scandal and local news. Their views on BBC funding and governance were also revealed.

“I think paying him the additional annual increment was indefensible—completely indefensible—and there was no legal risk at all.”

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Sir Trevor Phillips Sky presenter and Times columnist on BBC culture, their approach to ethnic minorities and the importance of local coverage

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 23:05:29 GMT

Sir Trevor Phillips presents Sky TV’s Sunday Morning programme and is a columnist for The Times newspaper. He was previously a reporter on the Thames TV This Week, head of current affairs for London Weekend Television, Chair of the London Assembly, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, and Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as well as having run several businesses.

In the first episode of our seventh series we discuss why Trevor never became a BBC staffer, what the events over the summer revealed about the culture of the BBC, the BBC's approach to ethnic minorities, multiculturalism, his career, his friendship with the Chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, and the importance of public service media and local coverage.

"We're talking on the day that the Grenfell Inquiry Report is going to be published. There is no way in a million years that Grenfell, 30 years ago, would not have been a story before the fire, because, certainly, the programme that I presented, the ITV London programme, would have been all over it, year after year."

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Sir Peter Bazalgette, former chair of ITV, on the funding and future of PSBs and the case for mergers

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 23:10:44 GMT

Sir Peter Bazalgette was until recently part of the previous Government’s committee to review how the BBC was funded. In his distinguished career he has been responsible for shows such as Big Brother, Changing Rooms and Ready Steady Cook, he’s also a former chair of Arts Council England and in September 2023 he stepped down as chair of ITV. He is now co-chair of the Creative Council. On this week’s programme we discussed the Media Act (was anything left out), BBC funding and the future of public service broadcasters.

I see Freely, which has recently been launched as an online way of getting all the public service broadcasting in a streaming service, I see that is just the beginning. I think there needs to be further mergers. And it'll be interesting to see what happens to Channel Five. Now that it looks like the owners Paramount are selling out, because I don't think it's going to be a priority for the new American owners. And it may well change hands in the next six to nine months.

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Prof Dominic Wring on general election coverage audit, media bias, legacy v social media and populism

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:24:04 GMT

Academics from Loughborough University’s Centre for Research in Communication and Culture have conducted news audits for every General Election since 1992, and their audit for this election is out now. We talked to one of its authors, Professor Dominic Wring, about whether the public was well served by the media, whether legacy media still has a role when against social digital media, populism, media bias, media scholarship and devolution.

"When we talk about people getting news from social media, when they're talking about that, often those are things that are recycled from legacy sources."

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Dame Elan Closs Stephens former BBC acting chair on what she would like from a new Culture Secretary

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 23:10:32 GMT

Dame Elan Closs Stephens was the acting chair of the BBC after the resignation of Richard Sharp in June last year until her retirement in March. She was a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010, first serving as Member for Wales on the BBC Trust, until its dissolution in 2017, and then as the Welsh member of the BBC Board.

On this week's episode we discussed what Dame Elan would like from a new Culture Secretary, her tenure as chair, impartiality, budget cuts and the decision making process, BBC future funding and regulation, Ofcom, BBC election coverage and appointment of BBC chairs.

“I would like to go for some sort of cross party commission, I think it would give the chair more freedom to embrace, to be seen to be embracing different sides.”

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Olivia O'Leary former BBC and RTÉ broadcaster on the UK election, funding PSB's, Newsnight and the future of journalism

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:48:14 GMT

Olivia O’Leary has been a television and radio broadcaster on both the BBC, ITV and RTÉ – the Irish public service broadcaster in her native Ireland. In 1985, Olivia became the first female presenter on BBC’s Newsnight. She later returned to Ireland, presenting once again ‘Today Tonight’ – RTÉ’s flagship current affairs programme. She has also presented BBC Radio 4’s ‘Between Ourselves’ and delivered a regular column on RTÉ Radio 1’s drive time.

This week, we get an Irish perspective on the UK election, discuss the complex relationships between Ireland and the UK, and examine how RTÉ, the Irish public service broadcaster, is faring after a series of scandals and the challenges they are facing with funding. Also, as a former presenter, Olivia shares her views on the changes to Newsnight and the future of journalism.

“The government has refused to make a decision on the future funding of public service media, and particularly RTÉ. They've kept putting it off, putting it off, putting it off. Our old licence fee system, because of the scandals last year, is now under enormous pressure. One fifth of people never paid it anyway. And even a bigger percentage don't pay it now.”

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Adam Boulton ex Sky News political editor on election coverage, Farage media manipulation, impartiality and his career

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 23:30:18 GMT

Veteran journalist Adam Boulton spent more than thirty years at Sky News, twenty-five of those as political editor. He has been host for General and US elections coverage, invigilated the first leaders’ debate in 2010 and has the distinction of having interviewed every UK Prime Minister since Sir Alec Douglas-Home. He continues to write for Sky but is also now broadcasting on Times Radio, where he co-hosts the weekend flagship politics show Sunday Morning.

This week we discussed general election coverage, how coverage has changed over the years, Nigel Farage’s media manipulation, impartiality and Adam’s colourful career.

“I do think we collectively in broadcast and I think the BBC in particular, do have a case to answer over Nigel Farage. The truth is that he played the media, like a fiddle didn't he?”

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Peter Snow veteran BBC journalist on the general election campaign, Newsnight and election night coverage

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 23:30:19 GMT

Peter Snow is a former BBC Newsnight presenter (1980–1997), ITN Diplomatic and Defence Correspondent (1966–1979), documentary maker, and historian. Known for his iconic "swingometer" on election night, we discuss the drama of election night, the current election campaign, Newsnight, and being called a 'traitor'.

“I think this election campaign is the worst I've ever seen for sort of fake bribery. Honestly, it's a disgrace the way it's going on."

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Prof Catherine Johnson discusses what a Labour government might mean for PSB, the Media Bill and digital terrestrial switch off

Thu, 30 May 2024 13:46:23 GMT

Catherine Johnson is the professor of Media and Communications at the University of Leeds, author of the book Online TV, and a member of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports College of experts. With parliament now dissolved, we discuss what happened to the Media Bill and in what form did it survive - what was left in and out? Also, we examine Ofcom’s role in regulating media and resource allocation, what a Labour government might entail for public service media, BBC Charter renewal and funding review and the big issues that are coming down the line for public service broadcasters.

“I suspect what we'll see is the device manufacturers and the public service broadcasters effectively marking their own homework. ‘This is what we said we do. This is what we've done, here's the evidence’. And then we will have to take that on trust.”

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Jane Martinson ex Guardian media editor on Sir Paul Marshall, media ownership and impartiality

Thu, 23 May 2024 07:05:18 GMT

Jane Martinson, author of ‘You May Never See Us Again: The Barclay Dynasty: A Story of Survival, Secrecy and Succession’ is the former media editor at the Guardian and now Marjorie Deane Professor of Financial Journalism at City University.

In the week the general election is called we discussed the potential takeover of The Telegraph by Sir Paul Marshall and its implications for the Conservative Party, his beliefs, media impartiality, the influence that media owners wield, the dominance of right wing media outlets and the future of journalism.

“What I can see in reading, what Paul Marsh has written himself and also actually watching GB News's content is, if you fetishize almost, the freedom of speech, and at one's own belief, over the notion of science and experts. Isn't that at the heart of this? And isn't that where it also meets some of the biggest problems in media at the moment?”

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Audio expert Matt Deegan discusses BBC's podcast advertising plans, children's audio and the latest radio listening figures

Thu, 16 May 2024 00:17:42 GMT

Matt Deegan is the co-founder of the award-winning Fun Kids, a digital radio station for families and children, which has just won the bronze award in the Radio Academy’s UK Station of the Year category. Given that the gold award went to BBC Asian Network and the silver to Talksport, this is a considerable achievement for a small independent network. Matt is also the co-founder of Folder Media and the British Podcast Awards and is one of the most respected commentators on all things audio.

In this episode, we discuss the lack of BBC radio content for children, the BBC’s podcast advertising plans and their impact on the commercial industry, the latest radio listening figures, and the future of BBC radio and podcast growth.

“The BBC already gets £5.7 billion of income from a variety of sources. It does not need £1 million a year out of the podcast business. I could go in and find seven managers to fire, and I could save a million pounds.”

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Jamie Angus, ex director of BBC World Service and 'Today' editor discusses Ofcom, consequences of WS cuts and funding solutions

Thu, 09 May 2024 10:30:46 GMT

Jamie Angus is the former director of the BBC World Service and the former editor of 'Today' and 'Newsnight' who now works in the Middle East. We discuss Ofcom's oversight of broadcasters, the consequences of previous World Service cuts, and the impact of new ones. We also explore long-term solutions to the issue of its funding, which is under review by a parliamentary committee.

“I think it's clear that GB News are operating under a slightly different model to public broadcasters.”

“Al Arabiya ourselves have launched our own FM radio services. And we've additionally picked up some of the BBC’s medium wave hours, which they no longer use, so our radio services are broadcast regionally. We've also hired a number of ex BBC Arabic radio staff.”

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Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator challenges Ofcom's conclusions on its audience research and its guidance on politicians as presenters

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:12 GMT

Stewart Purvis, former content regulator at Ofcom and former Editor of Channel 4 News and ITN Chief Executive, discusses Ofcom’s guidance on general election coverage published last week. Stewart delves into the research on which Ofcom based its guidelines, spells out what the guidance means in practice, and reflects on Ofcom as an organisation.

“Ofcom was pretty much claiming that what the audience had told it justified the position it had taken. But then when you got down into the detail, it didn't really say that at all.”

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Comedian Steve Punt discusses his departure from the BBC Radio 4 satirical news programme 'The Now Show' and the evolution of radio comedy

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:28:00 GMT

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis took their bow from BBC Radio 4’s satirical news programme ‘The Now Show’ last Friday after 25 years. Steve Punt discusses the last programme, the development and success of this long-running radio comedy show, the impact of our changing news consumption, political bias, radio comedy’s evolution and the new podcast format and his plans for the future.

“There was a little BBC drinks do afterwards. And as Hugh pointed out, it was literally just crisps. Someone had gone to Marks and Spencers and they bought one of every flavour of crisps. So, he made a little speech thanking the BBC for the magnificent spread.”

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Max Cotton discusses his BBC 'Growing Solo' documentary series on his year long food self-sufficiency experiment and the importance of food and farming literacy

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 23:29:59 GMT

Max Cotton is a former BBC political reporter who has spent a year finding out if he can grow and produce 100% of his food on his smallholding near Glastonbury. We discuss his BBC Radio 4 documentary series on the experiment 'Growing Solo', as well as exploring food and farming literacy, food security and self sufficiency in the UK.

"As a group of people, BBC journalists, they could tell you everything you possibly want to know about Labour education policy, and they don't know what the difference between hay and straw is. And I think that's a sad reflection of where we are."

BBC Radio 4 'Growing Solo' starts on Monday 22 April at 1345. You will be able to find the series here:

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Rory Cellan-Jones ex BBC Technology Correspondent on Tim Davie’s speech, 'Movers and Shakers', 'Ruskin Park' and #SophieFromRomania

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:14:48 GMT

Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC Technology and Business Correspondent examines Tim Davie’s, the BBC’s Director General speech on the BBC’s future priorities. He also explores life after the BBC, discussing his, ‘Movers and Shakers’ Parkinson’s podcast, his family memoir ‘Ruskin Park’ and his forthcoming book on #SophieFromRomania - his beloved rescue dog turned internet sensation.

“We are all being given a personalised experience and an experience that is personalised is not necessarily much of a communal one.”

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Chris Banatvala, former Ofcom Director of Standards discusses Ofcom, GB News, impartiality and freedom of expression

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:43:08 GMT

In the week that Ofcom finds GB News in breach of its code five times but will face no sanction, we talk to Chris Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding Director of Standards, and Content Board member, who was responsible for drafting and enforcing its codes. He is now an independent member of the Sky News Board, Channel 4’s online independent complaint reviewer and advises broadcasters and international regulators. We discuss GB News, Ofcom, impartiality and the chairing of public bodies.

“I think it’s the drip, drip, drip effect, which could ultimately spell the end for PSBs. And I think politicians, policymakers, the public have to stand up for public service broadcasting and what it means.”

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Magnus Brooke, ITV Group Director of Strategy discusses the future of Public Service Broadcasting and the funding of 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:21:06 GMT

Magnus Brooke is Group Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ITV where profits are down by 60%. The digital revolution is changing broadcasting fundamentally and destroying former business models. So does ITV have a future as a Public Service Broadcaster? We also discuss the Media Bill and the added responsibility on Ofcom's shoulders - and whether it's up to the job. And the funding of ITV's smash hit 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'.

“You can't fund dramas on television now, just out of the receipts of broadcasting. And that does create pressure on dramas that are very UK specific. I don't know whether we'll recoup in international distribution what we paid out on ‘Mr. Bates’, we may not ultimately”.

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Peter Taylor, veteran BBC journalist discusses his latest documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA'

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 01:02:29 GMT

One of Britain’s finest reporters Peter Taylor, with numerous books, documentaries and awards spanning a career of over 50 years, on his latest BBC documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’. We discuss the human cost of IRA informers, the role of Scappaticci codenamed “Stakeknife”, Operation Kenova and covering Northern Ireland.

“The curtain is still firmly down on this dreadful period. And I think people should know about it and what the cost of it was.”

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'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’, veteran journalist Peter Taylor discusses his latest BBC documentary

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:31:59 GMT

“The curtain is still firmly down on this dreadful period. And I think people should know about it and what the cost of it was.”

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Baroness Kidron former film and documentary director on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:41:16 GMT

Baroness Kidron is one of the country's foremost drama and documentary directors. Her long list of credits includes ‘Storyville’, 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', 'Victoria and Abdul' and 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'. She now sits as a crossbench peer and is the founder of the Five Rights Foundation. For the past five years, she has been one of the most instrumental figures in ensuring better protection for children through the passage of measures such as the Online Safety Bill. On this week's programme we discuss Bridget Jones, controlling the tech giants, ad funded public service broadcasters and what can be done to protect children from online abuse.

“The tech companies go in and out of the White House, and in and out of Downing Street, like they've got a cat flap.When I started on this journey, 11 years ago, I was treated like a middle-aged woman who didn't understand the new rock and roll. I am actually quite pleased to say that a lot of people have joined me in saying, actually, this is bad for democracy.”

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Former film and documentary director Baroness Kidron on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:30:36 GMT

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Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust on the Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 01:00:37 GMT

Anna McNamee, an award-winning Canadian journalist and writer with a background in BBC radio, is the Executive Director of the Sandford St Martin Trust, dedicated to promoting excellence in religious broadcasting. We discuss the new Media Bill, the importance of religious literacy, the decline in programming on religion and ethics, commissioning practices, and the critical need to ensure public access to broadcasting.

“This is legislation, which is made for commercial broadcasters, it has commerciality at its heart, it's about leaving enough, not even a little bit of wriggle room, but loads of space so that broadcasters can respond and do whatever they want.”

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The Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting with Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:27:22 GMT

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Prof Catherine Johnson discusses the decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 01:00:02 GMT

Catherine Johnson, Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Leeds, author of the book ‘Online TV’, and a member of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports College of experts discusses the decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding.

“I think part of the problem is that Ofcom was set up primarily as a competition regulator and has increasingly taken on the roles of a public service regulator. I sometimes don't feel that as a as an organisation, it really has that sort of fundamental understanding of public service media as a system.”

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The decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding – we talk to Prof Catherine Johnson

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:04:23 GMT

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David Lloyd co-founder of Boom Radio and local radio expert discusses changes in BBC local radio and Ofcom's oversight of them

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 11:27:03 GMT

In the week the BBC announced that it's preparing to launch new spin-off digital radio stations for Radios 1, 2, and 3 to provide more choice to audiences underserved by the BBC, we're talking to the co-founder of Boom Radio - a station that emerged to fill the gap left by Radio 2. David Lloyd, who has worked in radio for over 40 years, from LBC to Virgin to BBC local radio, and has regulatory experience from his years at the UK Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom), discusses changes in local radio and Ofcom’s oversight of them.

"The regulator, in changing the BBC’s operating licence, is required to seek the views of as many people as you can. ... if you look at the number of people who replied, it is paltry, the number of individuals is a handful, the number of people who mentioned BBC local radio is two or three."

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Co-founder of Boom Radio and local radio expert David Lloyd discusses changes in BBC local radio and Ofcom's oversight of them

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:11:53 GMT

In the week the BBC has announced that it's preparing to launch new spin-off digital radio stations for Radios 1, 2, and 3 to provide more choice to audiences underserved by the BBC, we're talking to the co-founder of Boom Radio - a station that emerged to fill the gap left by Radio 2. David Lloyd, who has worked in radio for over 40 years, from LBC to Virgin to BBC Local Radio, and has regulatory experience from his years at the UK Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom), discusses changes in local radio and Ofcom’s oversight of them.

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Sir Craig Oliver former BBC editor and No 10 director of communications on Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb, GB News and mental health

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Sir Craig Oliver is a former editor of BBC News at Six and Ten and was the Downing Street director of politics and communications under David Cameron. We discuss the release of the BBC Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb’s position on the BBC board, GB News and his career.

“I don’t think we need GB News ….. what we're realising increasingly, is we need sources of news that are at least trying to be impartial.”

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Former BBC editor and No 10 director of communications Sir Craig Oliver on Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb, GB News and mental health

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:22:46 GMT

“I don’t think we need GB News ….. what we're realising increasingly, is we need sources of news that are at least trying to be impartial.”

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Alan Rusbridger former Guardian editor in chief discusses his Prospect article "How the government captured the BBC"

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:06:52 GMT

Alan Rusbridger, former Guardian editor and now editor at Prospect magazine has written an article with the headline ‘How the government captured the BBC'. Has it? We discuss the concept of impartiality, the government appointed board member Sir Robbie Gibb’s attempt to interfere in the appointment of the chair of Ofcom, his influence on the corporation, the make-up of the BBC board and criticism from the Jewish Chronicle.

“Sir Robbie Gibb is the only person with editorial experience, who sits in ultimate judgement on BBC impartiality. That's a very strange state of affairs.”

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Former Guardian editor in chief Alan Rusbridger discusses his Prospect article "How the government captured the BBC"

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:40:01 GMT

“Sir Robbie Gibb is the only person with editorial experience, who sits in ultimate judgement on BBC impartiality. That's a very strange state of affairs.”

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Jim Naughtie BBC Special Correspondent discusses the US election, challenges of reporting when democracy is at stake and media integrity in the UK

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:15:31 GMT

Jim Naughtie has covered each US presidential election over the past five decades. He was a political correspondent on The Scotsman and then The Guardian, before becoming a presenter of Radio 4’s The World at One and then of The Today Programme – which he stood down from in 2016. Currently, he is a Special Correspondent for BBC News and presents Radio 4’s Book Club. We discussed the implications of the Iowa caucus result, the challenges that public service broadcasters face covering an election when democracy is at stake, media integrity and comparing Fox News and GB News and the responsibilities of Ofcom.

“I think it's extraordinarily difficult for them. But it's also extraordinarily important that they somehow get it right.”

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BBC Special Correspondent Jim Naughtie discusses the US election, challenges of reporting when democracy is at stake and media integrity in the UK

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:13:23 GMT

“I think it's extraordinarily difficult for them. But it's also extraordinarily important that they somehow get it right.”

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Investigative journalist Andy Webb on his struggle to obtain BBC emails relating to Martin Bashir's Diana interview

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:28:19 GMT

The circumstances surrounding the securing of the Panorama interview with the late Princess of Wales have been one of the biggest controversies to beset the BBC. On this week’s programme we’re taking stock on the imminent release of emails by the BBC which concerns its handling of the Martin Bashir scandal. There has been quite a battle in the courts as the Corporation attempts to withhold and redact some of the emails requested under the Freedom of Information act by that very determined journalist and film maker Andy Webb. We talk to him about his fight, what he thinks he might learn from the emails and despite an apology from the director general Tim Davie to Lord Spencer why he thinks this matter is still worth pursuing.

“I'm interested in what I alleged to be a cover up which was instituted in 2020. But more to the point, it is, if indeed, this cover up exists, it's a cover up that is being fostered very, very expensively at the public expense, in as much as the licence fee is public money, it is happening now. This is huge sums of money which are being spent now, in order to prevent, in my view, the disclosure of these particular emails.”

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Andy Webb investigative journalist, on his struggle to obtain BBC emails relating to Martin Bashir's Diana interview

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:59:19 GMT

The circumstances surrounding the securing of the Panorama interview with the late Princess of Wales have been one of the biggest controversies to beset the BBC. On this week’s programme we’re taking stock on the imminent release of emails by the BBC which concern its handling of the Martin Bashir scandal. There has been quite a battle in the courts as the Corporation attempts to withhold and redact some of the emails requested under the Freedom of Information act by that very determined journalist and film maker Andy Webb. We talk to him about his fight, what he thinks he might learn from the emails and why despite an apology from the director general Tim Davie to Lord Spencer why he thinks this matter is still worth pursuing.

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Full interview with Stewart Purvis former Channel 4 News editor and Ofcom regulator on the big issues facing the BBC in the New Year including the Martin Bashir controversy

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:51:50 GMT

Stewart Purvis, a former Editor of Channel 4 news and ITN Chief Executive was also one of the content regulators at Ofcom and oversaw standards cases involving the BBC between 2007 and 2010. In 2005 he was a member of a BBC commissioned independent panel assessing the impartiality of BBC news and current affairs coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2015 he was a member of the BBC Charter Review Advisory Group as well as many other roles including a non executive director of Channel 4. In our final programme of the year, we look at the issues that the BBC will be facing over the Martin Bashir controversy, Samir Shah’s appearance in front of the DCMS select committee, Robbie Gibb, BBC coverage of the Israeli/Gaza war, GB News and Ofcom's position ahead of an election year. We’ll also be announcing the top three downloaded programmes of the year.

“This is becoming a saga, that's becoming a soap opera. And I feel there is a real muddle going on inside Ofcom as to what to do about it. So much so that I'm in the unusual position of actually saying that when Ofcom earlier this week, found that GB news had breached the rules, I don't agree with them."

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Stewart Purvis former Channel 4 News editor and Ofcom regulator on the big issues facing the BBC in the New Year including the Martin Bashir controversy

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:00:46 GMT

“I have a personal eyewitness evidence, because she once told me personally that she wanted to give an interview to Panorama.”

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Mark Damazer former BBC Trustee on Samir Shah's nomination as BBC chair, the Lineker tweets and government's strategy towards the BBC

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:01:19 GMT

Mark Damazer is a former BBC Trustee, deputy head of BBC News and controller of Radio 4, now chairs the Booker prizes. In the week that the Government's nomination for BBC chair, Dr Samir Shah, is scrutinised by the DCMS select committee we discuss his appointment, what will be in his in-tray, the Lineker tweets, the Government's decision to renege on their funding commitment to the BBC, charter renewal, consultation, transparency and the licence fee as a funding mechanism.

“It’s less than four months ago, that John Hardy, the former chief executive, at ITN came up with this new set of guidelines. And I think we can agree, what Gary Lineker is doing, at the very least, is pushing at the edge of it.”

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David Aaronovitch broadcaster and journalist on BBC coverage in the Middle East, BBC's role in public service media, cuts and journalism

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:18:12 GMT

David Aaronovitch, worked for the BBC in a senior capacity before becoming a writer for the Independent and later a columnist on the Times. He's made numerous documentaries and currently presents BBC Radio 4’s The Briefing Room. He publishes longer articles on his substack 'Notes from the Underground' and contributes to Tortoise Media. We discussed the complexities and roots of the current conflict in Israel and Gaza, BBC coverage of the war, the BBC's role in public service media, potential cuts and his departure from the Times and current interests.

"One of the big problems that I think that the BBC has had and other, is that they've not been able to be fully truthful about the circumstances under which they report from Gaza. I've really felt this incredibly strongly."

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Pat Younge former chief creative officer at BBC TV and non exec director at ITV Studios on the future of PSB, diversity in broadcasting and coverage of Israel-Gaza war

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:01:39 GMT

Pat Younge is a former chief creative officer of BBC Television and a Non Executive Director at ITV Studios Ltd. Amongst his many roles he’s also currently Chair of the Cardiff University governing body and runs his own production company. In our interview we discussed why he is also chair of the British Broadcasting Challenge - why it was set up, the future of public service broadcasting, funding and local journalism. We reflect on his career, why he received elocution lessons and how diversity in broadcasting has changed. We also touch upon the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza war.

"I, as a black person, also have a real empathy with what Jewish staff members are going through....... If you are a Jew working at the BBC or a Jewish person in the UK, when you see those scenes from Gaza—the dreadful, horrific things that Hamas did, and I have no problems calling that a terrorist attack—I can understand why a Jewish person will see those things in a very different way. Someone who doesn't have the lived experience or the family intergenerational experience of what it's like to be targeted for something you have no control over."

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Greg Childs, former BBC executive producer on the crisis in children's programming, the importance of public service content and solutions

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:01:38 GMT

Greg Childs worked for over 25 years at the BBC, mainly as a director, producer and executive producer of children’s programmes. He created the first Children’s BBC websites and, as Head of Children’s Digital, developed and launched the children’s channels, CBBC and CBeebies. Greg left the BBC in 2004 and worked across other broadcasters. He's now Director of The Children’s Media Foundation and Editorial Director of the Children’s Media Conference. We discuss the crisis in children’s TV programming, it's decline in UK media, the importance of it, funding and the regulation of tech giants.

"ITV have admitted to us that when they took the decision to shut down CITV channel and move it all online, they were getting programme viewing figures of around 4000 children per programme."

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Michael Crick, broadcaster and author on GB News, Nigel Farage, impartiality, Newsnight and his career

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:01:56 GMT

It was once aid that the five most terrifying words in the political lexicon were “Michael Crick is in reception”. Michael has worked extensively across the main public service broadcasters – starting at ITV. He then moved to Channel 4 becoming political correspondent and Washington Correspondent. He joined the BBC as a reporter at Panorama and eventually became political editor of Newsnight before returning to Channel 4 News as political correspondent. He has now stood back from daily journalism to concentrate on writing and commentating. We discuss being kicked off GB News, impartiality in public service broadcasting, Newsnight, Nigel Farage and we reflect on his extensive career.

“It spends too much of its time, I would argue, dealing with questions of race and gender and trans rights. And if you will just listen to Radio 4, you would think that the number of ethnic minorities in this country were say, half the population and I think there's a liberal left leaning amongst the makers of BBC Radio 4.”

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Sophie Chalk, VLV policy adviser discusses the implications of the new Media Bill on public service broadcasting

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 14:42:11 GMT

Sophie Chalk is the policy adviser for VLV (Voice of the Listener and Viewer), an independent charity representing the interests of the audience in supporting high-quality broadcasting in the UK. Earlier this year, they appeared before the DCMS select committee’s inquiry into the future of Public Service Broadcasting. Have their concerns been taken on board and reflected in the Media Bill, which was announced in the King's Speech on Tuesday? We discuss the implications of the bill on public service broadcasting including prominence, regulation, local radio, content, and impartiality.

"There's a lot of concern about impartiality regulation at the moment. Ofcom is overwhelmed with inquiries that it's running into GB News. We think there is a real opportunity to define more closely what ‘news’ is. But the government hasn't picked up on that opportunity yet."

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Ritula Shah, former BBC Radio 4 presenter of the World Tonight on overpaid news presenters, BBC cuts and news centralisation

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 13:51:31 GMT

Ritula Shah spent 35 years at the BBC as a producer on 'Today,' presenting 'The World Today,' 'Woman’s Hour,' 'PM,' and chairing 'Any Questions.' However, Ritula is best known for her decade-long tenure as the presenter of the ‘World Tonight' on Radio 4 until earlier this year. We discuss why she left, covering the Israel/Hamas conflict, impartiality, preserving 'Newsnight' at the expense of successful Radio 4 strand programmes, and presenter pay.

“I think that many of my colleagues are rather overpaid.”

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Richard Sambrook ex BBC Director of News, the World Service and Global News on coverage of the Israel/Gaza conflict, newsgathering and transparency

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:33:38 GMT

Richard Sambrook, the former BBC Director of News, the World Service and Global News is now emeritus Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University. We discuss Tim Davie, the BBC director general's appearance before the 1922 parliamentary committee, the BBC's coverage of the Israel/Gaza conflict, their news gathering process and transparency, BBC cuts and their impact on services and journalism training.

“The BBC tends to be overly defensive. That's it’s kind of default position. But I think it's increasingly important, they are able to get out there and explain what they're doing.”

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Edward Stourton, BBC presenter and former foreign correspondent discusses journalism and religion

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:08:31 GMT

Edward Stourton has worked in broadcasting for more than forty years, and has been a foreign correspondent for the BBC, ITN and Channel Four. He was a one of the main presenters of Radio 4’s Today programme for ten years and still regularly presents The World at One, The World this Weekend and Analysis. He’s also been the main presenter of Sunday – the radio 4 programme which looks at the religious and ethical issues of the week. He's recently written a book about it with his producer Amanda Hancox which we discuss as well as another very personal book Ed has published this year called 'Confessions:Life Re-examined'.

“I am endlessly impressed by the young people I work with, because it seems to me, they've got absolutely the sort of hunger and curiosity and healthy scepticism and love of the job that I like to think I and my mates had when we were all starting off all those years ago. And they don't dismiss things, they ask. They want to know about Hamas, they want to know about what most of us would consider its distorted religious inspiration.”

“I think I'm just so soaked in Catholicism, that it's just me and trying to drag it out of me would be a hideously painful process. So, I just think it's easier to acquiesce is my sort of my watchword, just give in and believe - it's just easier. And it's helpful, I think it does provide you with a structure and approach to life.”

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Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on BBC Israel-Gaza war coverage and use of the word 'terrorist'

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:46:18 GMT

Roger Mosey was head of BBC TV News and is a former editor of the Today programme. We discuss the BBC's reluctance to use the term "terrorist" and the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza war.

“You have to recognise that you can't be morally neutral, you can't think that everything is a 50 50 call. So it's tough doing it. I think this is about the most difficult thing the BBC has to cover, after many years, decades of difficulty in covering Ireland.”

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Sir Mark Thompson, former BBC Director General and soon to be CEO and chair of CNN, the US news channel, discusses democracy and free speech

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 23:01:39 GMT

By the time he was 40, Sir Mark Thompson had held some of the top jobs at the BBC. He went on to become Chief Executive of Channel 4 before returning to the corporation as Director General in 2004. In 2012 he went on to The New York Times where he turned around its fortunes. Another challenge now beckons - CEO and chair of CNN, the US news channel where he starts shortly. Roger Bolton talks to his former colleague about impartiality, free speech, BBC bias, democracy, public service broadcasting, religion, Russell Brand and Mark's career.

"I like rule breakers, I like bad boys, and the female equivalent of bad boys. In other words, people who break the rules, break convention, and speak for me."

"The United States is a country which continues to have a functioning indeed, at many levels, vibrant democracy. And interesting enough, I think there's a lot of lessons to teach the United Kingdom about democracy."

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Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive and former Ofcom content board member on the new BBC social media guidelines, Ofcom and Russell Brand

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:09:19 GMT

Richard Ayre, former controller of BBC editorial policy and a former member of the OFCOM content board is now the chair of the independent press regulator Impress. On this week's programme we discuss the newly published BBC social media guidelines in response to the Gary Lineker controversy last March. We also look at Ofcom's regulation of GB News and the Russell Brand affair.

“Gary is a highly intelligent guy, the fact that he's welcomed these guidelines today, the fact that he never apologised or rode back from the things he said six months ago, suggests to me that if he's welcoming the guidelines, he doesn't think they would stop him saying what he's quite proud of having said six months ago.”

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Katy Searle, former BBC director of news programmes and current affairs on Russell Brand, news cuts, Ofcom and GB News

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 23:01:26 GMT

Katy Searle has recently left the BBC after a long career in news – over three decades. She was in charge of all of the BBC’s political output for 8 years up until last year, during which time huge savings had to be made. More recently Katy was director of news programmes and current affairs. We discuss the Russell Brand scandal, Ofcom's decision on GB News, impartiality and the impact of cuts on the organisation.

"If you look at how long the Brand's investigation took, they spent two years doing that. Now, I wonder whether that's something that the BBC would be able to do, to devote that time. Of course, it's got some brilliant successes in the past, but it's vital that the BBC continues to do that and makes that a real focus."

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Nick Ferrari, LBC breakfast presenter on competition with 'Today', local radio, impartiality and a colourful career

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:00:21 GMT

Nick Ferrari, LBC breakfast presenter and one of the UK's longest serving commercial radio presenters discusses impartiality, local radio, journalistic license and competition with the 'Today' programme.

“Within the M25 we put up a fight against ‘Today’, we're not bad, but they are an absolute giant. Once you start getting out of the M25, I more than keep my own against ‘Today’. And you go to some cities, and actually, I will outperform the show in some cities.”

He also looks back on a remarkable and colourful career that started as a 7 year old in his father’s news agency, and included helping to launch LIVE TV.

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Samira Ahmed, BBC 'Newswatch' and 'Front Row' presenter on BBC coverage of the Huw Edwards story, accountability and pay inequality

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:11:48 GMT

Samira Ahmed is the presenter of Radio 4’s arts programme ‘Front Row’ and for eleven years has presented 'Newswatch' – the sister programme and television news equivalent to 'Feedback' - which also aims to hold the BBC to account on behalf the licence fee payer. We discuss BBC coverage of the Huw Edwards story, the ability of 'Newswatch' and 'Feedback' programmes to hold the BBC to account and pay inequality.

"Let's face it, it's mostly older white men coming out to speak on this and a lot of it has been very defensive."

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Professor Steven Barnett on the BBC presenter scandal

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:58:34 GMT

Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster is a writer and broadcaster who has been involved in policy analysis at the highest levels, both nationally and internationally, for the last 35 years. Roger and Steven discusses the BBC presenter scandal: the actions of the BBC and Sun newspaper, BBC coverage of the story, privacy laws and whether the BBC is facing an existential crisis.

“I think it's self-indulgent and I think it's self-obsessive. And it's self-indulgent to the point of actually acting counter to the BBC's proper news values which should be to think about stories that are important."

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Andrew Neil, veteran broadcaster discusses politicians as presenters, PSB and his future

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:01:22 GMT

Andrew Neil, the former Sunday Times editor has become arguably the best political interviewer in the business, someone whom Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were desperate to avoid. This week we’re talking to the man who spent 25 years at the BBC presenting programmes such as This Week, Sunday Politics, The Daily Politics, and Politics Live. Andrew Neil then left the corporation and became the lead presenter and chairman of GB News, but not for long. After only 8 programmes he left. Due to cuts at Channel 4 his current 'Andrew Neil Show' has been cut for at least this year. We discuss public service broadcasting, left wing bias, impartiality, GB News and plans for the future.

"A serving Conservative politician interviewing a Conservative government minister I'm actually surprised. It has surprised me how tolerant Ofcom has been of this kind of stuff. Certainly, when I was involved in trying to put together GB News it never struck me that Ofcom would allow that sort of thing to happen. Indeed, I always regarded Ofcom as something of an ally and keeping us within the bounds of proper mainstream broadcasting.”

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Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator on Ofcom regulations and politicians as presenters

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 16:24:17 GMT

Ofcom, the UK communications industry regulator was in front of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport select committee on Tuesday on the same day as Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes published an article in the Daily Telegraph. In recent years, an increasing number of politicians have fronted or guest presented current affairs programmes. Professor Stewart Purvis, former content and standards partner at Ofcom and ITN Chief Executive watches the proceedings in parliament and discusses Ofcom regulations and their adherence.

"This distinction they're making between news and current affairs is not a genuine one. It is almost a device to enable politicians to present programmes."

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Henry Hill, deputy editor Conservative Home discusses Conservative attitudes to the BBC, BBC reform and the growing trend of partisan news channels

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:45 GMT

Henry Hill is the deputy editor of the Conservative Home website. He discusses the growing trend of partisan news channels, regulation, funding models, impartiality, political interviews and Conservative attitudes to the BBC and BBC reform.

“If support for the BBC on the right collapses, whether you think that that collapse is justified or not, whether you think the criticisms are justified or not, it then becomes regardless of that, very difficult to justify having a corporation and a broadcaster with all of those privileges. So, it's really important for those of us on the right who support the BBC to try and get Conservatives to engage seriously with the question of ‘okay, this is a really important principle, whatever our criticism of the BBC, what do what do we want it to look like?’.”

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Tony Hall, former BBC Director General on the need for a debate on public service media, local radio changes, investment in news and GB News

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:05:55 GMT

Tony Hall – Lord Hall of Birkenhead - was the director general of the BBC from 2013 until 2020. He joined the Corporation as a trainee in 1973 rising to director of BBC News and current affairs in 1990 and continued to lead BBC News until 2001. During his tenure he launched BBC Parliament, BBC 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC News Online, before taking some time off to run the Royal Opera house in Covent Garden. He also spent time on Channel 4’s board. Tony calls for a debate on public service media and discusses local radio changes, the merger of the two BBC news channels, classical music cuts, Channel 4, appointing a new BBC chair, impartiality and GB News.

"At the core of the BBC is news, I think the BBC should be investing more in its news operation to be honest with you."

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Martin Rosenbaum, former BBC Freedom of Information specialist on FOI, accountability and the Hutton Inquiry

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 12:46:28 GMT

Martin Rosenbaum was the leading specialist in utilising Freedom of Information at the BBC. As the former executive producer of political programmes at Westminster, he oversaw programmes such as 'Political Thinking' with Nick Robinson, and the 'Week in Westminster' as well as editing and producing numerous political documentaries. He had a ringside seat at the BBC during the Hutton Inquiry, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly the government advisor who became embroiled in the controversy regarding the government's claim about Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was one of the most damaging controversies in the BBC's history which led to the resignation of both the director general Greg Dyke and the chair Gavyn Davies. We discuss whether FOI changed journalism and politics and the lessons learnt from the Hutton Inquiry.

"We were trapped in a kind of groupthink, of feeling, 'We must really stand up to them. We've got to demonstrate our independence.' They didn't have the voices saying, 'Hang on a minute, is this intelligence really right?' We didn't have the voices saying, 'Hang on a minute, are you absolutely sure that every detail in this story is correct?'"

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Tim Suter, former BBC managing editor and a founding partner at Ofcom on the new Media Bill, quotas and accountability

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:40:18 GMT

Tim Suter, is a former managing editor of current affairs at the BBC, who later became a specialist adviser at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport which brought in the last media bill in 2003. That’s the one which which set up Ofcom, the UK’s media and communications regulator, of which Tim became a founding partner. He now runs his own consultancy, Perspective Associates. We discuss what the new Media Bill means, the dismantling of quotas for public services broadcasters, the remit of Channel 4 and accountability.

"This piece of legislation leaves an accountability shaped hole that the public media institutions urgently need to fill."

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Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator on GB News and the BBC's relationship with government

Thu, 25 May 2023 11:59:46 GMT

Stewart Purvis is probably the pre-eminent broadcast news journalist of his time. A former editor of Channel 4 news, he went on to become ITN’s Chief Executive – and then the poacher turned gamekeeper. The now Professor Purvis served as one of the content regulators at Ofcom and oversaw standards cases involving the BBC between 2007 and 2010. In 2015 he was a member of the BBC Charter Review Advisory Group and has been a non executive director of Channel 4 among many, many other things. We discuss GB News, the BBC's role and cuts, the merger of the BBC news channels, the Charter Review in 2015 and the BBC's relationship with government.

“My concern about their decisions on GB News is…that looks like a policy decision. That we, the British government and Ofcom are going to change the approach on British television to impartiality.”

“I would hope that with the departure of Richard Sharp as the chairman of the BBC Tim Davie will be free with the next chair, whoever it may be, to work out their agenda for debate. To take account quite properly of the government's view, but not to be on their knee to the government’s agenda of the day, which I think is close to what the BBC has been in recent months, at least in policy terms, if not in on the air terms, in what they perceive to be what the government wanted them to do about impartiality.”

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Rob Burley, former BBC editor of Live Political Programmes discusses his new book and the art of the political interview

Thu, 18 May 2023 18:16:26 GMT

Before leaving the BBC in 2021 Rob Burley had worked with all the big political beasts at the Beeb - Andrew Neil, Jeremy Paxman, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel - and as editor of Live Political Programmes oversaw 'The Andrew Marr Show', 'Politics Live' and 'Westminster Hour'. We discuss his recently published book called - 'Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying To Me' – which details everything from the art of the political interview, to revelations about the BBC's relationship with government and coverage of the EU referendum.

"Where I think you're right is we didn't get into properly or maybe it’s very hard to, a discussion about the world as it will be in the future if you if you take a particular choice".

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Tom Mangold, former BBC investigative journalist discusses his craft and his past

Thu, 11 May 2023 16:00:16 GMT

Tom Mangold is one of Britain's top investigative journalists. From Fleet Street he moved to the BBC in 1964 and became a war correspondent covering numerous conflicts including Vietnam, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. He then found himself at Panorama for 26 years making over 100 documentaries. He looks back on a career where he cultivated the Krays, became friends with Stephen Ward who was at the heart of the Profumo scandal and dissects the challenges that investigative journalism is under.

"The extent to which the use of libel actions against organisations doing investigative journalism, the way in which the libel courts are now being used makes it less and less easy to do good investigative journalism."

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John Bridcut, highly acclaimed documentary maker on the royal family, impartiality and classical music

Thu, 04 May 2023 11:14:42 GMT

John Bridcut has produced highly regarded documentaries throughout his career on a range of subjects including ‘How the BBC began’, the British monarchy - encompassing the Queen's coronation, Prince Philip, and King Charles - as well as documentaries on classical composers such as Elgar, Delius, and Britten. His latest documentary, focusing on British composer Sir Michael Tippett, is set to air in June on BBC 2. John also authored a report in 2007 for the BBC on the safeguarding of impartiality in the 21st century. In our discussion, we delve into the BBC's coverage of the monarchy, impartiality, and coverage of classical music.

“There's a sort of ivory tower mentality, where everything happens in Broadcasting House and is parcelled out in sort of diktats. I think it's a really dangerous course.”

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Simon McCoy, former BBC presenter on the merger of the news channels, impartiality and GB News

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:47:05 GMT

Simon McCoy was known as a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast, News 24 and latterly the BBC News at One. Before joining the BBC he was also royal correspondent at Sky in the early nineties covering the break down of Diana and Charles' marriage. After 17 years at the corporation Simon joined GB news for just under a year in 2021. We discuss royal coverage, impartiality, GB News, Richard Sharp's position as BBC chair and the merger of the BBC's two news channels.

"When the BBC is under such pressure, when you're talking about an institution which people in their hearts do care about, but see daily a lowering of standards, and then you're watching a domestic news channel, and it is a domestic news channel overnight coming from Singapore from Washington - and I'll be pilloried for this - but with no British accents on it. You’ve got BBC licence fee payers paying for that. I think there is going to be a problem with that."

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Marcus Ryder from the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity calls for tighter regulations for public service broadcasters

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:55:27 GMT

The draft Media bill was finally published at the end of March - what does it mean for diversity and the public service broadcasters? We discuss language, data and the loosening of regulations with Marcus Ryder, previously head of BBC Scotland Current Affairs Programmes who is now the head of External Consultancies at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity.

“I think that it is in BBC, Channel 4’s and other public service broadcasters’ interests for them to tighten regulation, because if they don't tighten regulation, then the publics service broadcasters quickly become like any other channel."

"It's funny when Channel 4 was under threat and thought it was about to be privatised, all of sudden it went back to its roots so you had some very courageous programmes."

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Peter Taylor, part 2. The veteran BBC journalist reveals his personal experience of covering Ireland for over 50 years

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 08:00:34 GMT

On the run up to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Peter Taylor veteran BBC journalist reveals his own personal story as a journalist covering Ireland for over 50 years and voices his concerns for the future of journalism.

"Sadly, when I look at the people, my colleagues who've left the BBC, the BBC is in danger of losing that critical level of experience which we pass on, we veterans want to pass on, are eager to pass on, to the next generation and the next generation but one.”

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Peter Taylor, veteran BBC journalist discusses his latest book on the intelligence services and the peace process in Ireland.

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:15:35 GMT

One of Britain’s finest reporters Peter Taylor, with numerous books, documentaries and awards spanning a career of over 50 years, discusses his latest BBC 2 documentary based on his book published this week; 'Operation chiffon: The Secret Story of MI5 and MI6 and the Road to Peace in Ireland'.

"We spent a couple of weeks just living inside the Maze prison. We were locked up with prisoners and in talking to them, it was quite clear that they were thinking beyond the so-called armed struggle."

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Jamie Angus, former director of BBC World Service and 'Today' editor on consequences of the loss of BBC Arabic radio, impartiality, Lineker fall out and future funding

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:50:06 GMT

Jamie Angus left the BBC last July after a stellar career involving editing the Today programme and Newsnight. He later became director of the World Service, running the teams which produce news in 42 languages to a weekly audience of 500 million around the world. Now he's chief operating officer at Al Arabiya news channel in the United Arab Emirates and is moving into the space left by the axing of BBC Arabic radio. We discuss cuts in the World Service and news, impartiality, the future funding of the BBC and the Gary Lineker affair.

"If you look at some of the things he's tweeted even since this row - they seem pretty close to the line, if not over the line to me - and I'm not quite sure how this is going to get resolved in the longer term."

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Margaret Hodge, Labour MP speaks out against the new Israeli government's reforms

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 17:17:27 GMT

Protests in Israel continued over the weekend against the government's plans which would give Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, the power to overrule Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority and the power to nominate judges. Israel has no second chamber and no written constitution, so if this measure goes through there can be no appeal. Dame Margaret Hodge, who is the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement discusses what needs to be done after her trip to the regions.

“I do think it’s probably the Americans have got to try and muscle their way in to trying to calm it down and get negotiations going between Israelis and then between Israel and Palestinians.”

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Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on the Lineker fallout, Downing St emails, Fiona Bruce and appointing a new chairman

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:06:12 GMT

Roger Mosey, former editorial director of the BBC, head of TV news and director of sport discusses the handling of the Gary Lineker and Fiona Bruce controversies, the BBC board and its vision and the leaked emails and WhatsApp messages showing BBC editors asking their journalists to avoid using the word “lockdown” in reporting at the start of the pandemic and to be more critical of Labour after pressure from Downing Street.

“I was worried too. And I talked to some quite senior people in the BBC on the broadcasting side and they were also worried."

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Paul Hughes, former BBC Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and BBC Singers criticises announced cuts

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:31:27 GMT

On Tuesday the BBC announced cuts to its orchestras and choirs. Its in-house chamber choir, the BBC Singers will come to an end and there will be a 20% reduction of roles in the BBC's English orchestras - Symphony, Concert and Philharmonic. Paul Hughes, the former BBC Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and of the BBC Singers left his post last July after 23 years. He gives his reaction to the decision making process, the impact on the choral and orchestral landscape, the value the BBC places on classical music and whether the corporation is living up to its public service remit.

“I don’t know what public service means in the BBC context now. If the BBC is not to do that which others can’t do, what are they for?"

Roger also gives his reaction to Gary Lineker's tweet on the Government's refugee policy.

You can read Roger's Guardian opinion piece here

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Simon Mayo, former BBC radio presenter discusses Ken Bruce's departure from Radio 2

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 17:34:24 GMT

Ken Bruce is the most popular presenter in the UK with over 8 million listeners on Radio 2 and he's about to join former colleague Simon Mayo at Greatest Hits Radio. Simon discusses Ken's departure from the BBC.

"The situation has been handled badly."

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Colin Browne, chair of the VLV (Voice of the Listener and Viewer) discusses the lack of consultation and engagement with the licence fee payers

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:04:18 GMT

“In 2015 at the time of the Charter Review, more than 40,000 people responded to the BBC Trust on its consultation. The latest BBC consultation there was something like 25 responses because people didn’t know about it.”

Colin Browne, chair of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer argues that there is now the absurd position that the BBC’s competitors have more power to influence the BBC’s ability to make changes, rather than those who fund it.

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Dr Tom Mills, author of 'The BBC: Myth of a Public Service', on the Richard Sharp controversy, the hierarchy of the BBC and its organisational and reporting culture

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:43:49 GMT

Dr Tom Mills, a sociologist at Aston University, has written a book called 'The BBC: Myth of a Public Service'. It claims to set aside both liberal and conservative fantasies about the institution, and says that far from being a sanctuary for independent journalism, the BBC is intimately connected to the power it is supposed to hold to account. We discuss issues raised in the book on organisational culture, reform, accountability as well as the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of the BBC chairman Richard Sharp.

"I've never read any serious defence of the way the BBC is currently arranged."

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Richard Ayre, former BBC Trustee discusses BBC chairman Richard Sharp's appearance in front of the DCMS select committee

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 16:48:17 GMT

On Tuesday Richard Sharp the BBC chairman faced questions from the Department of culture, media and sport select committee. They were examining the process of the appointment of the BBC chairman, and as the committee which approved his appointment were they given the relevant information it could and should have known about.

Richard Ayre, a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC news and a former member of the OFCOM content board discusses with Roger Bolton the chairman's appearance.

“After the performance today, I think within the BBC, there will be very, very considerable disquiet among the staff, and among many licence fee payers. And I think they'll be right to be disquieted. And I think it may well be that Sharp feels the right thing to do is to step down in the fullness of time.”

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Paul Mason, former BBC Newsnight and Channel 4 economics editor discusses economic coverage and impartiality

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:40:50 GMT

As part of its impartiality plan, this week the BBC published its report looking at the broadcaster's coverage of taxation, public spending, government

borrowing and debt. The authors found no evidence of bias towards one particular political position, but there were things "that put impartiality at risk". Paul Mason discusses the report's findings and reflects on his own experiences working at the BBC and Channel 4.

"Newsnight had famously missed the AOL /Time Warner merger, the biggest merger in history - didn't think it was a story."

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Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive and BBC Trustee on the controversy surrounding BBC chairman Richard Sharp's appointment

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:25:14 GMT

Controversy is currently surrounding BBC chairman Richard Sharp amidst allegations that he helped Boris Johnson when the then Prime Minister found himself in personal financial difficulties, and while Mr Sharp’s application to become BBC chairman was approaching the final stages. He did not declare the alleged conflict of interest to those involved. Richard Ayre, a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC news and a former member of the OFCOM content board discusses Richard Sharp's position and the need to reform the appointment process.

"Was there a conflict of interest at that time when he approached the Cabinet Secretary? You bet there was."

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Baroness Tina Stowell, chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital select committee on the departure of Ken Bruce, impartiality and the BBC's strategic purpose

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 12:12:16 GMT

Conservative peer Baroness Tina Stowell has had an extraordinary career since she left school with 5 O Levels. Leader of the House of Lords under David Cameron, following a period as Head of Corporate Affairs at the BBC, and now chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Select committee – a committee that is vital to the future of broadcasting.

Baroness Stowell tells us her views on funding, impartiality, whether the BBC is serving the whole of the country, the impact of Ken Bruce's departure and the BBC's strategic purpose.

"People need to know now, why it should remain part of our future."

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Dorothy Byrne, former head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, on privatisation, sympathy with Conservative plans for reform and the need for radical ideas in broadcasting

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:27:13 GMT

Dorothy Byrne was until recently Editor at Large at Channel 4, having been its head of news and current affairs for many years. We discuss the government's decision not to privatise Channel 4 and its plans for reform. Should the channel start making its own content and should more right wing voices be heard? And is there a need for radical ideas in broadcasting.

“I think it is interesting to me, that I'm so in sympathy with much of what the Conservatives are saying they now want to do for Channel 4.”

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Sir Peter Bazalgette, former chair of ITV, on ITV ceasing to be a PSB and a case for privatising Channel 4

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:57:01 GMT

“The public service broadcasting system is undoubtedly facing an existential threat,” so says Sir Peter Bazalgette. He has been responsible for shows such as Big Brother, Changing Rooms and Ready Steady Cook and in September he stepped down as chair of ITV. We discuss the importance of the Media Bill and the existential threat to broadcasters, privatisation of Channel 4, the BBC's vision and the need for a proper debate about what we want from the BBC.

“ITV has a number of options. I know it wants to remain a public service broadcaster or a public service media company [PSM], and it treasures the regional and national news and all the other things it does, but it is one of its options. It’s a healthy company, it's got a very strong international production company, it's got strong cash flows, low debt, and so it has a number of options. And one of those options could be not being a PSM.”

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Roger Bolton interview, part two. Roger discusses why he is a Christian and answers questions on Brexit coverage, diversity and BBC cuts

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:00:23 GMT

In the second part of his interview with Richard Ayre, a former member of the BBC trust board, Roger discusses why he is a Christian and answers questions on Brexit coverage, diversity and BBC cuts and coverage.

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Roger Bolton interviewed on his broadcasting career: his departure from BBC Radio 4's Feedback, editing Panorama and Nationwide, 'Death on the Rock' and much more

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 10:00:05 GMT

After over 50 years in broadcasting, and being fired twice by the BBC, Roger Bolton is interviewed on his career by Richard Ayre, a former member of the BBC trust. Roger talks about his departure from BBC Radio 4's Feedback, editing Panorama and Nationwide and discusses the controversy surrounding his 'Death on the Rock' programme in 1988 which examined the deaths of three IRA members in Gibraltar by the British Special Air Service.

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Nick Jones, former BBC industrial and political correspondent on strike coverage, ‘that’ Mick Lynch and Mishal Husain interview and comparisons with the last winter of discontent

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:27:25 GMT

As we experience a wave of strikes in the coming weeks from nurses, train, postal, bus, ambulance and highway workers amongst others, how well is the BBC reporting on this myriad of industrial conflicts we are now faced with, and how does it compare to yesteryear?

Nick Jones, who spent thirty years as a BBC industrial and political correspondent until 2002 gives us his views and reaction to ‘that’ interview between Mick Lynch, head of the RMT trade union and presenter Mishal Husain on the Today programme earlier this week .

“I think that with these Punch and Judy interviews where everybody's going at one another, we just don't really get that insight which we should get. So, I feel the broadcasters of today, it's a disservice, we're not providing the level of background and information which we could provide, we know we could provide. And if only we had the resources, I think we still could provide.”

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Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on Harry and Meghan coverage, sports rights, BBC funding and the future of public service broadcasting

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:30:00 GMT

On Thursday the first three of six Netflix documentaries about Harry and Meghan were released and BBC News led with the story. Did BBC News fall for the PR and were its correspondents impartial in their coverage?

And in the same week the BBC hierarchy began a coordinated campaign to secure its future. The Chairman, the former hedge fund boss and Conservative donor, Richard Sharp gave his first interview as chairman to the Sunday Times, and a few days later his Director General,Tim Davie, made his pitch to the Royal Television Society.

Roger Mosey is now Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, but while at the BBC he was Head of television News, Editor of the Today programme and Director of the Beijing 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games coverage. We discuss Royal coverage, sports rights, BBC funding and the future of public service broadcasting.

"I think Richard Sharp is saying some interesting and good things. But I worry about the fact he is a major Tory donor. Chairmen of the BBC, have always come from a political background, so it's nothing new in that. But I think it does compromise their ability to articulate a genuine public service case for the BBC."

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Ernie Rea, the BBC’s ex-Head of Religious Broadcasting casts a critical eye over religious coverage

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:17:36 GMT

In a week when the 2021 census revealed a 5.5 million fall in the number of people who described themselves as Christian and that 22.2 million people declared they had “no religion” at all, the BBC’s ex-Head of Religious Broadcasting, Ernie Rea, casts a critical eye over the BBC’s coverage of religion and ethics.

“When you think that about 82% of the population of the world cling to a faith tradition, and what an important part that faith tradition plays in the politics, the culture, the society all over the world - it’s absolutely plain the BBC should be covering it, should be exploring it, should be criticising it…It should be part of the of the asking questions to power, but it's not doing it.”

Ernie and Roger discusses whether broadcasters underestimate the interest of ordinary people in matters of faith, belief and spirituality, the divide between radio and television coverage, the commissioning strategy and whether OFCOM should be considering relaxing quotas for religious programming.

Stephen Fry, the renowned atheist, also addresses the question of how well broadcasters cover ethics and religion.

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Peter York, social commentator, co-author of 'The War Against the BBC', busts BBC myths, discusses astroturfing and urges the BBC to defend itself

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 12:53:13 GMT

Peter York, best known for co-authoring 'The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook' back in the 80’s has written another book ‘The War Against the BBC’ with Professor Patrick Barwise. On this week’s programme he bursts some BBC myths, discusses astroturfing and urges the BBC to defend itself more robustly and report on the threat to the corporation for the sake of democracy.

“The war against the BBC has been fought for decades. What’s happening now is that those convergent interests are more insistent. It’s what I call the ‘one more shove comrades and we’ll kill them’ situation”.

“The BBC is part of the national picture and if it doesn’t report on a crucial part of the national picture, namely our broadcasting ecology, then there is a democratic deficit”.

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Stephen Fry discusses JK Rowling, cancel culture, the BBC and the future of public service broadcasting

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:22:33 GMT

If anyone deserves to be called a Renaissance man then one of the leading contenders must surely be Stephen Fry, actor, novelist, comedian, campaigner, Norwich City Football fanatic, long time host of QI, gay icon and the list goes on.

Having just closed his twitter account after Elon Musk’s takeover, transferring his loyalties to Mastodon, we talked to him about the BBC, the future of public service broadcasting, JK Rowling and cancel culture, and much else.

“I would...wish them both to retreat, and to consider that it is possible for trans people to live full, accepted lives, according to their terms, in society, and for women to have all the rights and dignities that they demand. But it isn't possible if each side looks on the other as an enemy."

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Alice Enders of Enders Analysts, one of the shrewdest analysts of BBC finance and strategy gives us her insights into the corporation's financial situation in the light of the recently announced cuts to local radio.

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:00:00 GMT

The most recent evidence of the BBC’s financial strait jacket are the cuts to local radio, and the difficulties of deciding what to cut is evident in the continuing outcry at the announcement made last week. Not least in parliament. Alice Enders the director of research at Enders Analysis, one of the foremost media research analysts, spells out the financial challenges that the BBC faces.

“We estimate three million households have already abandoned the licence fee and that is a trend which will increase in the course of the coming months as people have to make really hard decisions”.

As the licence fee comes under scrutiny could subscriptions be an answer or a household levy? How successful is the BBC in attracting the younger audience and grabbing the attention of the public? What is the role of the regulator OFCOM when these cuts to our public service broadcasting are announced? Is the BBC scoring an own goal by alienating the front row of their audience - local radio listeners?

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David Shukman, BBC's former science editor discusses whether COPs are worthwhile and responds to critics of climate change coverage. We'll unpick the impact of the devastating cuts announced in BBC local radio .

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 17:00:01 GMT

Ahead of COP27 and free of BBC constraints, former BBC science editor, David Shukman tells us whether he thinks COPS are worthwhile, reflects on his reporting during his 38 year career at the BBC and responds to the charges made by Charles Moore on last week's programme on climate change coverage.

“Looking back, I don’t think we were robust enough about just saying absolutely bluntly, this is what the very best science is saying.”

And in the week when major cuts have been announced in BBC local radio, Paul Siegert, the national broadcasting organiser for the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) questions the case for such far reaching changes to the detriment of the 5.7m local radio listeners.

“This isn’t about saving money, this is about moving money from A to B…. I think the BBC has underestimated the love that people have for local radio, it’s the jewel in the broadcasting crown…… They are chasing this mythical younger audience and they don’t seem to be that bothered about losing the loyal older audience.”

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Charles Moore, former editor of The Daily Telegraph is asked what he would have done if he had become chairman of the BBC and also discusses impartiality and is the BBC worth saving.

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

What would Charles Moore, former editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator have done if he had become chairman of the BBC? These are one of the many questions put to one of the BBC's most outspoken critics on 'Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch' this week.

We discuss impartiality, group think, climate change coverage and whether the BBC is worth saving and is capable of being saved.

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Melvyn Bragg talks about arts programming and the future of the BBC.

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The BBC has been celebrating its 100th anniversary – if you hadn’t noticed - and on ‘Beeb Watch’ this week Roger Bolton talks to one of it's greatest broadcasters – Melvyn Bragg. They discuss arts programming, BBC World Service cuts and the future of the BBC.

“I think we should start panicking now. There is an encroaching mass, not dependent or related to each other, but it’s out there in force who would benefit if there were no BBC.”

“I’ve talked directly to all of the people at the top of the BBC saying why don’t you make a stronger case?”

“Why do they want to throw it away for? Why don’t they go and knock down St Paul’s whilst they’re at it?”

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David Dimbleby looks back on his decades in broadcasting: on slipping standards in BBC political coverage, fighting back against lazy attacks, the monarchy and retirement.

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 15:54:28 GMT

In the run up to the BBC’s centenary, the Dimbleby broadcasting dynasty has nearly spanned its 100 years. David Dimbleby, Panorama presenter, editor of Question Time for 25 years, the anchor of numerous general election and referendum programmes talks to former colleague Roger Bolton. Looking back over his years in broadcasting, David discusses the rigour of news gathering and political interviewing slipping, fighting to extol the virtues of the BBC, the reluctance to examine the monarchy, being offered an honour, retirement and much more from his decades of broadcasting.

“I would have fought tooth and nail for, first of all the rigour of news gathering and political interviewing, which I think has slid over the years. And I would have fought tooth and nail to extol the virtues of the BBC and the public support for it against the rather lazy attacks on it from both newspapers like the Daily Mail and politicians.”

“There’s so much we actually don’t know about the way the monarchy works. I don’t think it would diminish us at all to know, I think you need to know. If you know and then you can agree, you can acquiesce in it or if you think things need changing, you change it. And that seems to be the Queen’s view but not the BBC’s.”

“For me broadcasting is my life, so I don't want to relinquish it. Why should I give it up? I like doing it, and my lodestar is David Attenborough who’s 96. And I'm only 83. So why shouldn't I go on?”

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Joan Bakewell on faking phone-ins and the evolution of broadcasting.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 13:47:58 GMT

Dame Joan Bakewell is synonymous with our arts broadcasting landscape: former BBC television art correspondent in the 1980’s, columnist for most of the major broadsheets at one time or other and presenter of numerous radio and televisions series. Former colleagues, Roger and Joan discuss how broadcasting has evolved, ageism, ethics and fake phone-ins.

“There was an immediacy about it, which was very enjoyable, people liked that it was real, it was live. People could phone in, we sometimes faked that and phoned in our own messages. Various people used to do that, Barry Humphries being one because he could do multitude of voices, and would pretend to ring up and say, ‘I'm absolutely shocked and disgusted by what's on BBC television at the moment”.

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Mark Mardell former BBC presenter discusses BBC cuts, impartiality and his Parkinson's diagnosis.

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 17:03:05 GMT

Mark Mardell, the former BBC presenter joins Roger to discuss the ongoing financial squeeze at the BBC after the Corporation announced this week that the World Service will lose 382 jobs in order to make a saving of £28.5m. In his 30-year career Mark was Europe Editor, North America Editor and, before he left the corporation nearly two years ago the presenter of Radio 4’s The World At One and The World This Weekend. As well as delving into the challenges the BBC faces, Mark also reveals his Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

“I'm feeling fine and dandy, but I have to share with you that I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which means my voice is rather strange and weak…I've lost a bit of my boom. And I'm getting used to being the quietest person in the room rather than the loudest. But generally it’s in the stage of just being annoying rather than anything terrible.”

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Roger Bolton's first podcast. Did the BBC get the coverage of the Queen's death right?

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 07:57:56 GMT

After over 50 years in broadcasting, and being fired twice by the BBC, Roger Bolton will cast a very independent eye on the public service broadcaster. No views will be censored, no question go unasked.

Whether you care about, or are frustrated by, the BBC, this is the podcast for you.

Whether you love or loathe the BBC this is the podcast for you.

Roger Bolton, formerly presenter of BBC Radio 4's 'Feedback' launches his very first podcast. Free from the constraints of broadcasting on the BBC, with a few more opinions and casting his net a little bit wider to encompass the whole of the BBC, Roger examines the issues that are facing the corporation.

As the BBC receives complaints about the lack of a republican point of view during the coverage of the Queen’s death, Roger has tea with a group of neighbours to gauge their reactions to the BBC's coverage and talks to Richard Ayre a former BBC Trust board member who was put in charge of planning the coverage for a Royal death 40 years ago. Did they already have any plans in place?

Richard Ayre also talks about the challenges the BBC faces and the impact the financial squeeze has on its services.

"The BBC has been saying ever since I was a kid that it was strapped for cash. It’s now visible. It’s visible what’s happening on screen, on radio and online".

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