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Feedback episodes

  • 07/07/2017

    In the past two weeks, former party leaders Iain Duncan Smith and Ed Miliband have been taking turns replacing Jeremy Vine on his Radio 2 show. But why did they say yes to this risky venture? And what did they learn from spending time on the other side of the microphone? Ed and Iain join Roger Bolton to look back at their time on air.

    The BBC has, for the first time, published an annual plan that lays out its commitments for the year ahead. But what does it mean for BBC radio listeners? Colin Browne, Chairman of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, discusses the strategy and shares some concerns about the BBC's approach to accountability and transparency.

    Only Artists has replaced Midweek in the schedule. But many of Midweek's fans are disappointed that the new series chose to leave Libby Purves' sharp interviewing behind. Meanwhile, other listeners love how the new programme gives artists more time and space to explore their work. Only Listeners debate the change.

    Finally, BBC Radio 4 is in the middle of a season of dark and disturbing Dangerous Visions, dramas and readings that present an alternative vision of the future. The man behind it, BBC Radio 4's commissioning editor for Drama and Fiction Jeremy Howe, sits down with Roger to discuss the appeal of dystopia, the place of Kafka in a slate of science fiction and where the season will go next.

    Producer: Will Yates

    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min
  • 30/06/2017

    As Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen has one of the BBC's most difficult, and often dangerous, jobs. He sits down with Feedback's Roger Bolton to reflect on his career and his Radio 4 series, Our Man in the Middle East.

    Last week, Ed Miliband impressed listeners with an assured week sitting in for Jeremy Vine. This week it's been the turn of former conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith. Feedback listeners pass judgment on how he measures up to his predecessor in the Radio 2 hotseat.

    Over the last month, Feedback has been inundated with comments taking issue with how the BBC has covered recent major incidents and terror attacks. The BBC's Director of Editorial Policy and Standards, David Jordan, responds to listeners' questions and explains the BBC's guidelines for dealing with tragic and complex events.

    Finally, listeners share their thoughts on Radio 4's Dangerous Visions, a season of dark, disturbing and dystopic drama and readings.

    Producer: Will Yates

    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min
  • 23/06/2017

    Ed Miliband has spent the week in an unfamiliar position; sitting in for Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. Iain Duncan Smith, the former conservative leader, has his turn next week. So far, most listeners are loving the experiment. Roger Bolton sits down with programme editor Phil Jones to get his take on how his new presenter has performed, and to ask why Radio 2 felt using politicians instead of more experienced broadcasters was worth the risk.

    Last week, Andrew Scott came on to explain why the BBC felt it necessary to make signing in to the iPlayer website compulsory. But many listeners remain unconvinced.

    Sue Lawley has presented the Reith lectures for 16 years. She speaks to Roger about what makes a great Reith lecture, why she willingly left a dream job fronting Desert Island Discs and reveals the Reith lecturer who ran out of material with 10 minutes left to fill.

    Also, listeners weigh in on whether the BBC should be more careful with its use of language when reporting major incidents; and is Radio 4's Only Artists up to the challenge of replacing the much missed Midweek.

    28 min
  • 16/06/2017

    Roger Bolton explores whether recent major incident coverage has been too graphic and intrusive and why the BBC is making signing in to iPlayer Radio compulsory, and also goes behind the scenes at Dame Hilary Mantel's Reith lectures.

    In the light of major terror attacks in London and Manchester, followed by the tragic fire in West London, listeners give their reactions to the BBC's coverage. Did the reporting veer too often towards sensationalism or was it upsetting but essential? Roger chairs a listener discussion on when it's appropriate for BBC Radio to seek out and broadcast first hand accounts of those caught up in traumatic events.

    The BBC has been phasing in compulsory sign in for iPlayer Radio - and many listeners are very unhappy, claiming it's inconvenient and unnecessary. Roger takes their concerns to myBBC launch director Andrew Scott.

    And the Reith Lectures are one of BBC Radio's great institutions. They've been running since 1948 and have changed little since. Roger heads to Stratford upon Avon to go behind the scenes at a recording for this year's lectures and talks to Dame Hilary Mantel and Sue Lawley about the the format's lasting appeal.

    Producer: Will Yates

    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min
  • 09/06/2017

    On the morning after the night before, Roger Bolton talks to the BBC's Head of Newsgathering, Jonathan Munro, about the corporation's election coverage, responding to audience complaints about bias and over-aggressive interviewers.

    Also, listener Marcia Hughes gets to the heart of Radio 4's Soul Music with producer Maggie Ayre.

    And audio addict Anthony Frost explains why his all-consuming passion for radio means he finds it difficult to find time to talk to his wife.

    Producer: Will Yates

    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min
  • Balancing Brexit, Libby Purves, A youthful Moral Maze

    Now Article 50 has been triggered, Roger Bolton speaks to BBC News Editor James Stephenson about whether the BBC can move on from broadly balancing remain and leave sentiment in its discussion of the Brexit process.

    With Radio 4's Midweek programme at an end after 35 years, presenter Libby Purves is Roger Bolton's latest guest for our Open Mic interviews about the careers of some of your favourite radio broadcasters.

    Also, can young panellists teach old hands some new tricks on Moral Maze? Listeners praise The thoughtful sixth formers who took over from the regular panel in the latest edition are praised by the audience for listening closely and politely challenging witnesses - and each other.

    Presenter: Roger Bolton

    Producer: Katherine Godfrey
    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    31 min
  • Westminster coverage, the end of Midweek and the editor of The Archers

    Roger Bolton puts listener questions about coverage of the Westminster attack by Khalid Masood, to the Deputy Editor of BBC News, Toby Castle.

    And Roger reports from the Nations and Regions Media Conference in Salford on the important BBC radio headlines from the event. While there, he talks with the Editor of The Archers, Huw Kennair-Jones. Huw answers listener questions on all manner of subjects from sex and fruity language, to whether he wants to run another Helen and Rob-style hard-hitting subject in the near future.

    Also this week, some listeners wonder whether the BBC has been too cowed by criticism from MPs to report sufficiently impartially on the recent Unite for Europe march. And there's a fond farewell to BBC Radio 4's Midweek programme after 35 years.

    Presenter: Roger Bolton

    Producer: Katherine Godfrey.
    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    31 min
  • Westminster attack

    Roger Bolton hears listeners' responses to BBC Radio's coverage of the Westminster attack.

    Also, following a letter from more than 70 - mainly Conservative - MPs to the BBC which called the Corporation's coverage of Brexit pessimistic and skewed, BBC Economics Editor Kamal Ahmed discusses his role in uncertain economic times.

    This week, a documentary took listeners inside a hospital in northern Israel for 24 hours. Tim Samuels' Sleepover: Inside the Israeli Hospital followed doctors at Ziv hospital treating patients who had crossed over the border from Syria. Many listeners said it shone a light on a little-known story, while a few others raised concerns about what they saw as a lack of political context in the programme. Roger speaks to Tim Samuels.

    And Feedback reporter Rob Crossan is in Gateshead for an on-location recording of BBC Radio 3's long-running Jazz Record Requests programme from the Sage, as part of the network's Free Thinking Festival. Rob speaks to presenter Alyn Shipton about just how particular listeners are when it comes to specific versions of records and asks the audience whether it makes a difference to see as well as hear the programme.

    Presenter: Roger Bolton

    Producer: Katherine Godfrey.
    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min
  • Keeping it impartial

    This week a storm of controversy has surrounded Woman's Hour presenter Jenni Murray. Many listeners feel a newspaper article she wrote breached the BBC's guidelines on impartiality and compromised her presenter role. Others supported her right to free speech. We hear from listeners on both sides of the argument.

    John Humphrys has also attracted criticism. During a Today programme interview he suggested that referring to MP Jo Cox's murder as an act of terrorism could "muddy the waters". Listeners say he "muddied the waters" himself and was inaccurate. They share their views on his remarks.

    On Wednesday, Philip Hammond got to his feet to deliver his first Budget. TV and radio teams braved the rain and mud, crowding onto College Green to cover the story. We follow Emma Barnett and the 5 Live Daily team to find out the secrets of broadcasting the budget from a flimsy tent in the pouring rain.

    And finally, Val McDermid has been pondering the horrifying prospects of a world where antibiotics no longer work. Her drama Resistance was inspired by a two-day Experimental Stories workshop hosted by the Wellcome Trust and Radio 4, where radio producers and writers met scientific researchers to develop dramas. Starring Gina McKee, listeners loved the dram's dystopian vision. Val McDermid talks about why she chose a music festival as the setting for her unnerving story.

    Presenter: Roger Bolton

    Producer: Katherine Godfrey
    A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

    28 min

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