Feedback

Radio 4's Today Programme on Monday morning focused largely on the shooting at a gay club in Orlando. Unfolding details were assessed by a variety of interviewees, but some listeners felt the discussions failed to explore questions around homophobia. They called for Radio 4 aficionado Luke Howard tells Roger Bolton why he felt particularly let down and calls for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender views to be discussed as much as topics on gun laws, terrorism and IS.

The Queen's 90th birthday inspired a more traditional and simple service from Radio 4's Sunday Worship. The broadcast from the church in Sandringham evoked reactions of joy and delight from those listening - as they ask for services in this style to be aired more often. Series producer Philip Billson explains the decisions behind this and whether it's an approach the team will take again.

And, while the latest series of award-winning comedy Fags, Mags and Bags has recently come to an end, listeners have been in touch throughout to declare it a unique, hilarious and addictive listen. Comedy writers Sanjeev Kohli and Donald McLeary respond to praise over the multi-ethnic cast - as well as to criticism over possible stereotypes and complicated language.

Produced by Kate Dixon

Roger Bolton explores listener reaction to BBC radio.

The death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali blazed across BBC output in the last week - but did this coverage fail to portray the two sides of his character? Listeners questioned whether the reporting focused too heavily on his success and iconic image and neglected his more controversial moments. Controller of daily news programmes Gavin Allen explains how these decisions are made in the editorial process and what he feels the news programmes achieved.

In the age of audiences having streaming websites and personal playlists at their fingertips, is there a place for music presenters to curate our listening? BBC 6 Music believe there is as it broadcasts its annual 6 Music Recommends Day. Reporter Rob Crossan goes behind the scenes with musicians and presenters to find out how they put together a 12 hour playlist of brand new music that will please a diverse set of listeners. He speaks to presenters Cerys Matthews, Steve Lamacq and Shaun Keaveny, as well as Head of Music Jeff Smith and Head of Programmes Paul Rogers.

Roger Bolton also puts listener questions to BBC 6 Music Controller Bob Shennan, asking the station has evolved since its launch in 2002 and where it fits into the range of music radio stations.

And in last week's Feedback, the BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith explained how he feels the corporation's impartiality may affect reporting of the EU Referendum. It's a debate that many Feedback listeners felt compelled to join in.

Produced by Kate Dixon.

With one of the biggest national decisions inching closer, listeners give their verdict on the BBC's referendum coverage so far. Some feel that the network is giving more attention to one side of the campaign - particularly in its headline reporting - others are concerned that the BBC is only reflecting a limited set of views. Most pertinently, those following the coverage ask whether the corporation's impartiality restricts its reporters from digging out hard facts. Assistant political editor Norman Smith responds to these queries and discusses how he deals with this turbulent political story.

Have you ever wondered about the class background of the BBC's producers, presenters and even on-air guests? Do you want a run-down of whether interviewees on Radio 4's Today programme are from a certain class hierarchy? These are the probing questions from certain Feedback listeners - some of whom wonder if this gives Radio 4 an overall middle-class tone. Katherine Godfrey, a Feedback producer, drills down into the BBC's statistics and asks what the corporation is doing to better reflect the class composition of Britain.

On-going Radio 4 series Born in Bradford follows one of the biggest medical research projects in the UK. Beginning in 2007, the programmes investigate child development and how this might explain the causes of some diseases. In the latest edition presented by Winifred Robinson (You and Yours), emotional and difficult conversations with pregnant women moved many listeners.

And fans of From Our Home Correspondent explain why this sister programme offers a unique quality to their radio listening.

Produced by Karen Pirie.

Roger Bolton discusses listener reaction to programmes on BBC radio.

This week, sports journalists have been kept particularly busy with speculation over Jose Mourinho's arrival as the new manager of Manchester United. But should the story have been headline news on BBC Radio 4? The Editor of the BBC Radio Newsroom, Richard Clark, responds to listeners' complaints.

Radio 4's School Drama has earned a huge amount of praise - and also generated a degree of drama. The four-part series, starring Tom Hollander, concerned a failing state school trying to turn around its prospects with a production of Romeo and Juliet. The drama was recorded at a real school, with pupils and teachers playing roles. But some listeners are asking why this so-called failing school was actually staged at a fee-paying grammar. Director John Dryden discusses that decision.

Every three months, the broadcast media goes slightly mad over RAJAR. It stands for Radio Joint Audience Research and they measure live radio listening across the UK. The quarterly figures can be good or bad news for BBC Radio controllers but are they still relevant as more and more of us engage with audio through podcasts, catch up and YouTube? Roger speaks to Lyndsay Ferrigan from RAJAR.

For 20 years, BBC Radio 3 has kept listeners across 12 European countries company with its Through the Night programme. The programme has the same music but with different presenters speaking their own languages to local listeners. Feedback speaks to its Slovenian presenter and one of its Romanian listeners, as well as to the Radio 3 editor Paul Frankl.

Producer: Kate Dixon

Roger Bolton hears listener concerns about the timing of Radio 4's World on the Move day during the EU Referendum, Soul Music brings back childhood memories and there's discussion about the end of What the Papers Say.

On Monday, Radio 4 and BBC News dedicated a day to the topic of migration - World on the Move. Plenty of listeners welcomed the focus and admired the ambitious programming, including a special edition of the Today programme with Sarah Montague in Vietnam and a lunchtime address from Angelina Jolie Pitt the who also took questions in the Radio Theatre. But some listeners have accused the BBC of bias in favour of open borders and of airing emotive stories about migrants, questioning the timing of the day in the lead-up to the EU Referendum. The Editor of Today, Jamie Angus, addresses their questions.

There's a fond farewell to What the Papers Say - a Radio 4 programme that looked across the British press coverage of various stories, exposing the best and worst journalism, often in humorous ways. Listeners ask why a programme they valued for its news analysis has been axed and Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror - the programme's first and last presenter - recalls some of his favourite moments, discussing whether the programme has had its day in the digital age.

And listeners remember their childhoods with misty eyes after listening to Soul Music's programme about Feed the Birds - Julie Andrews' haunting song about charity from the Disney film Mary Poppins.

Producer: Kate Dixon

This week the government released its long-anticipated white paper setting out its views on how the BBC's charter should be reformed and implemented over the next eleven years. Listener discuss their questions and concerns with Roger Bolton and Colin Browne from the Voice of the Listener and Viewer - from how the 'distinctiveness' of the BBC will be measured to a welcome note from the government about on-air trails.

Comedian David Baddiel speaks to Roger Bolton about his unusual Radio 4 panel show Don't Make Me Laugh, in which comedians have to do just that - try not to make the audience and themselves laugh by talking about a host of different subjects. One subject in particular - the Queen's sex life - landed the programme in hot water. The timing of the programme on the Queen's 90th birthday caused a stir, but Feedback listeners question whether the subject is acceptable at any time.

And we couldn't begin a new series of Feedback without airing at least some of the multitude of views about The Archers' Rob and Helen storyline. After months of domestic abuse by her husband, and a storyline lauded by many for highlighting coercive control, Helen took matters into her own hands and stabbed Rob. Now she's facing trial and her son Henry is still living with his adoptive father. For some listeners this turn of events is a step too far and unrealistic - others are gripped.

Producer: Kate Dixon

The Archers' plot of Rob abusing Helen has been a source of constant discussion among the Ambridge faithful. Is it too painful to continue? Is it too important to lose? And, is the depiction of domestic abuse true to life? Polly Neate, CEO of Women's Aid, a charity that advised the programme makers on the reality of abuse, joins Roger Bolton to explain whether she feels that the storyline provides a believable picture of a coercive, controlling relationship.

And at 5:30 on 18th March, Radio 4 Longwave listeners were eagerly anticipating the climactic moments of one of English cricket's greatest ever comebacks. But they were whisked away from Mumbai and into the middle of Eddie Mair's PM programme, denying them the game's thrilling finish. Feedback's Rob Crossan finds out why.

A recent edition of the Today programme included a feature from the School Report, in which a 12 year old reporter informed the audience about the introduction of Combined Cadet Forces into his school, part of a wider initiative to bring the CCF into more deprived areas. But we hear from listeners who were incensed by the piece.

Finally, Roger is joined by Mohit Bakaya to discuss Radio 4's latest foray into using visual accompaniments to its traditional radio programming - The Global Philosopher, a high tech debate format hosted by Michael Sandel. But why should Radio 4 even want to go visual? And does adding a visual element mean accepting compromises in the radio programme?

Producer: Kate Dixon.

Roger Bolton asks if Desert Island Discs allowed itself to become too political when it invited nuclear scientist Dame Sue Ion to be a castaway.

Dame Sue Ion has long been a campaigner for nuclear energy, and some listeners felt that the much loved Radio 4 stalwart Desert Island Discs was the wrong platform for her to talk about that political belief. Editor Rebecca Stratford joins Roger to discuss whether Kirsty Young should have posed stronger challenges to Dame Sue Ion on the subject, and how a programme dedicated to one interviewee can maintain impartiality.

A recent episode of Out of the Ordinary on the subject of so-called "Men Going Their Own Way", who claim to have thrown off the shackles of alleged female oppression, received a large listener response. Presenter Jolyon Jenkins discusses whether he dealt fairly with the men he interviewed.

And why has country music become so popular that Radio 2 has just organised a pop-up station devoted to it? In these times of cutbacks, how can the BBC afford it? Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan speaks to Roger about the future of country music on his network.

Finally, listeners respond to the technical issues raised in last week's programme - one gives Roger a telling off, while another suggests that it's when lines go dead that Radio 4 comes to life.

Producer: Kate Dixon

Roger Bolton asks if the BBC has had too much coverage of the US Presidential election - and if it is anti Donald Trump.

The long process of selecting the next President of the United States is well underway, and some listeners are already bored stiff, while others are concerned that BBC reporters have lost their objectivity when it comes to unlikely Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Roger Bolton puts listeners' concerns and questions to the BBC North America editor Jon Sopel.

It's the second year of the scheme to let female composers take over the Radio 3 airwaves on International Women's Day. After tremendous listener response last year, Feedback goes behind the scenes at a live broadcast of the afternoon programme, In Tune, from the Southbank Centre. Why has Radio 3 made such an effort to mark the day? What do these live extravaganzas aim to bring to the listener at home?

Phil Pegum, producer on the BBC's Lent Talks, and Cristina Odone who recently recorded her talk at the Tower of London, join Roger Bolton to discuss making Christian programming appeal to non-Christians and the challenges of recording on location.

Finally, foul ups on PM and Saturday Live have listeners asking whether technical standards at the BBC are slipping.

Producer: Kate Dixon

Roger Bolton discusses audience comments about The Bottom Line with Evan Davis, finds out about Radio 4's new comedy commissions, and hears listener reactions to an explicit drama.

It's been ten years since Evan Davis started presenting The Bottom Line, Radio 4's business chat show which aimed to bring senior and expert voices from the City to a broader audience. Evan reflects on the programme with Roger Bolton and addresses listener concerns that the focus of the programme is too narrowly aimed at the City's highest echelons, that business reporting has been trying to gloss over the city's failures in the financial crash, and about the number of women appearing on the programme.

Last week, some listeners were shocked to turn on their radios at 10:45am and hear four letter words and explicit content in Fear of Flying, Radio 4 dramatisation of Erica Jong's novel about sexual liberation. Was Radio 4 right to air the drama directly after Woman's Hour? Should radio have a watershed, like TV?

Sioned Wiliam is Radio 4's new commissioning editor for comedy and has just released her first full set of commissions. She joins Feedback for the first time since her appointment to discuss the future of comedy on the network. What kind of new voices will she bring to the network? Will she try and put her own stamp on old favourites? And do shrinking budgets mean Radio 4 comedy is under threat?

And the Government has recently released a number of reports, ahead of the White Paper expected to outline their plans to reform the BBC. Colin Browne from The Voice of the Listener and Viewer joins Feedback to explain what the reports reveal and what the implications might be for BBC radio.

Producer: Kate Dixon