Feedback

Confusion, frustration, abdication and revolution in this week's Feedback.

Vanessa Whitburn the longest-serving editor of The Archers is leaving after 22 years. She tells Roger about bullying from listeners, hints at plans for the Ambridge murder that never was and confesses that she often keeps quiet about her job for fear of being hijacked at social events.

Also this week, Radio 4 listeners have been treated to a series of five "playful and surprising audio interventions" - three-minute creations by contemporary artists. More like "baffling" and "bizarre" say many listeners. Tony Phillips the man who commissioned the works, explains the thinking behind them.

Is The Bottom Line too focussed on fat cats? In these times of austerity is there enough room on Radio 4 for the voice of rest of the workers? The programme's presenter Evan Davis takes it on the chin.

And why did Radio 4 ruin the afternoon of so many Formula 1 fans?

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Producers: Karen Pirie and Katherine Godfrey

Do BBC reporters know their Higgs boson from their Bunsen burner? Many of you think BBC science reporting is woefully inaccurate. Roger Bolton talks to David Shukman, a year into his role as the BBC Science Editor, to find out what steps the BBC is taking to equip reporters with scientific knowhow.

Last week the Crown Prosecution Service published its first ever study into false allegations of rape and domestic violence, which said that such claims are a very small percentage of the overall figure. So why did Newsbeat major on the victims of false claims? Roger talks to Newsbeat presenter Chris Smith.

And Radio 2 presenter Stuart Maconie takes us inside the People's Songs, Radio 2's social history of post-war Britain told through 50 pop records, largely determined by listeners. We meet some of the listeners whose stories of love, lust, and life made the run-down.

Also, how can a ten-year-old know what it's like to be eighty? Well, the young actors in a new Radio 3 drama, called The Startling Truths of Old World Sparrows, were very convincing according to many listeners who wrote to Feedback to say how moved they were. The play took the testimony of three octogenarians and used child actors to voice their thoughts. Roger speaks to Fiona Evans, its writer, to find out more about this ground breaking approach.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

This week in Feedback, we ask when music should be censored by the BBC. After a listener spotted that Oliver's Army by Elvis Costello had the 'n' word cut out abruptly during a 6Music show, we decided to look into how and why music is edited for offensive language. Roger Bolton visits Radio 1 and 1Xtra to meet DJ Trevor Nelson and Head of Music George Ergatoudis. George explains how they fulfil listener demand for the more controversial hip hop, rap, and pop songs, without offending the audience. And DJ legend Mike Read weighs in on the debate.

And are analogue listeners missing out on the best of new drama on BBC radio? This weekend the star-studded adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere finally arrives on Radio 4 and 4 Extra amid much excitement. But its scheduling has raised some eyebrows from Feedback listeners. Neverwhere begins on Saturday on Radio 4 but episodes two to six will only be available on the digital station Radio 4 Extra. We asked Tony Pilgrim, Head of Planning and Scheduling for Radio 4 and 4 Extra, to explain why.

Also, how should the Today programme cover mental health issues? After a recent item about new findings from the human genome project, which suggested a genetic component to some mental illnesses, we heard from listeners who felt the report needed more balance.

And you come to comedian Jeremy Hardy's defence.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Producers: Karen Pirie and Katherine Godfrey

In Feedback this week, you ask: where are all the right-wing comedians? Left-wing comic Jeremy Hardy returned to airwaves last week with his series of lectures 'Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation'. Never one to be shy about his political views, Jeremy had many of you laughing but others felt the joke just wasn't funny anymore and called for balance on the network. Roger puts your points to Caroline Raphael, commissioning editor for Radio 4 Comedy, and asks her whether she is actively looking for right-wing comics.

And what's it like to report for the Today programme for the first time? Last week, Sally Marlow, an academic researcher from King's College London, had her first report on Today. Sally was one of 30 'expert women' who took part in a BBC Academy Training Day in January, which sought to encourage more women experts for TV and radio in areas such as science, engineering, business and politics. We asked Sally and her Today producer to fill us in on the process and find out whether the training day helped.

Also, how much attention do you pay to sound effects in dramas? We hear from listeners who think they've spotted mistakes and programme makers discuss the role of realism in drama.

And listeners applaud Libby Purves, who narrated the Afternoon Drama The Silence at the Song's End, based on the writing of her son Nicholas Heiney,

Producer: Kate Taylor

This week in Feedback, we ask whether listeners should be warned about strong language before it is broadcast. Many of you have written to us with your views on potentially offensive language, some in support of the realism swearing can provide, others saying there is no place for it on the wireless. But when Radio 4's Six o'clock news chose to broadcast a racially abusive term, it prompted you to ask why some programmes carry warnings ahead of transmission when others don't, and whether it is acceptable to remove a factual component of a news report. We took your questions to Richard Clark, editor of the Radio Newsroom, to hear how he makes these difficult decisions.

Also this week, could you make it onto the Radio 4 quiz Brain of Britain? When Barry Simmons, a star of BBC 2's Eggheads quiz, appeared on Brain of Britain, many of you questioned why someone who might be termed a 'professional quizzer' was allowed to appear on the long-running quiz. We asked Brain of Britain producer Paul Bajoria to explain how the contestants are chosen.

And how would you feel about starring in a new Radio 4 comedy? Well, if you were in the audience for late-night programme The Guns of Adam Riches, you might find yourself appearing in one of Adam's sketches which rely on audience participation. But how does experimental comedy establish itself amongst stalwarts such as Just a Minute or the News Quiz? To find out, Roger took two Feedback listeners along to meet Adam Riches and comedy producer Simon Mayhew-Archer.

Producer: Kate Taylor

Scaremongering or top notch investigative journalism? We hear your views on the BBC's horsemeat coverage. Roger Bolton asks Sheila Dillon, food journalist and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Food Programme, and Jeremy Hayes, the editor of Farming Today and the Food Programme to address your questions and finds out about their approach to covering this complex story.

Also in this week's Feedback, is it ok to make jokes about Jimmy Savile on the BBC anymore, whether they are new jokes or from the BBC archives? Last weekend, BBC Radio 4 Extra aired an impression of Jimmy Savile from the 1980s in an archive programme - twice. We find out how this happened and ask David Jordan, the BBC's Director of Editorial Policy and Standards, does the BBC censor the past?

7 million of us wake up to it on a weekly basis, so when the Today programme failed to appear last Monday, it's no wonder many Feedback listeners were thrown off kilter. As a result of industrial action, BBC Radio 4 replaced its usual news programmes like Today, The World at One and PM, with a selection of programmes including a 45 minute documentary about Pope Benedict XVI, re-runs of Soul Music and Loose Ends. We ask Radio 4's Head of Scheduling, Tony Pilgrim, how do you (temporarily) replace Humphrys and co.?

And when is bad language ok? Well, according to our inbox, when it's in Radio 4's broadcast of V. by Tony Harrison. The swearword-laden poem received its first ever radio broadcast last Monday, 25 years after it caused a media storm when it was first broadcast on Channel 4.

Plus.we have a listener story to warm the cockles.

Producer: Kate Taylor

Radio 4's forum for comments, queries, criticisms and congratulations.

Presented by Roger Bolton, this is the place to air your views on the things you hear on BBC Radio.

This programme's content is entirely directed by you.

Producer: Kate Taylor

Is BBC Radio 4 dancing to the tune of the McCartney family? Many of you wrote to Feedback with complaints after You and Yours welcomed Mary McCartney, daughter of Linda and Sir Paul McCartney, onto the programme to discuss the re-launch of the family's vegetarian food brand - just a few days after Sir Paul joined Sheila Dillon on the Food Programme for an extended interview about his life in food. Was this advertising? Roger speaks to BBC Radio 4's compliance editor Roger Mahony about the rules.

What's the difference between curating a music show and being a DJ? Roger Bolton feels the beat as he puts your questions about specialist music programmes to radio legend Whispering Bob Harris and BBC 6 Music producer Paul Sheehan.

Also this week - is iPlayer radio out of tune with its users? We put your issues about iPlayer, listening online, podcasts and all things on demand to the man in charge, Daniel Danker.

And was the Today programme off the mark when they decided not to broadcast news of a crucial victory by the England Women's cricket team and instead announced that rain had stopped play for the men's team in New Zealand?

Producer: Kate Taylor

BBC Radio 2 has just announced record audience figures, but is the network satisfying all its listeners? Following changes to Sunday Half Hour, a new presenter for the Folk programme and a clutch of technical difficulties, Roger Bolton puts your concerns to Controller Bob Shennan.

Also, Roger speaks to the Head of the BBC's Newsroom, Mary Hockaday, to get her views on the story that won't go away - the gender imbalance on air. With other major broadcasters signing up to a pledge to give female presenters, correspondents and experts at least 30% of the airtime, we ask if there should be a quota of women in the BBC news.

Aye Aye Cap'n! Plugwatch is back. You've been on the lookout for book plugs across BBC Radio.

Producer: Kate Taylor

Why aren't there more female experts on BBC Radio programmes? Feedback puts your questions and comments to Philip Sellars, Editor of Documentaries at Radio 4, and Deborah Cohen, Editor of the Radio Science Unit. And we report from the BBC Academy's Women Experts Training Day, asking women themselves what they think is holding them back.

Too fast - and you're furious. We hear from listeners who scrambled to buy tickets to CarFest - the festival brainchild of Radio 2's Chris Evans - only to have their efforts thwarted by a technical hitch.

Also, who would you appoint as Radio 4's Writer-in-Residence? We hear from Feedback listeners who are dusting off their dictionaries in anticipation and speak to the BBC World Service's very own Writer-in-Residence, Hamid Ismailov, who has some advice for his future Radio 4 counterpart.

And, we give ourselves a slap on the wrist as we correct our grammatical faux pas.

Producer: Kate Taylor