Feedback

The BBC is a commercial free zone so why do so many guests on BBC radio shows always seem to be plugging something? One Feedback listener tackles the BBC's Director of Editorial Policy and Standards, David Jordan, on the issue.

As the New Year chimes beckoned in 2013, many Feedback listeners bemoan the loss of some of the most well-known and well-loved voices on BBC Radio - from presenters to continuity, across the networks. In their place is a swathe of new talent. We welcome in the New Year with your views on the changes.

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.

In a week when the BBC's own troubles have filled the schedules, what do you think of the way the Corporation has covered its crisis? Have programmes like Today, Call You and Yours and the Media Show restored your faith in the BBC's journalism or indulged in pointless navel-gazing?

Also, Feedback goes to the Radio Festival in Salford to participate in a session about the relationship between programme makers and their audience. The Festival was packed with industry types - but light on listeners. So we decided to take three listeners along to hear their views on the matter.

And as the BBC marks its 90th anniversary, the Radio 4 comedy The Golden Age satirises the early days of broadcasting. But some listeners felt that the comedy missed the mark and was inappropriate given the BBC's recent troubles.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

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

Can the future of radio really be digital when only 5% of the UK's 34 million vehicles have digital car radios? Earlier this week the Drive 2 Digital conference aimed to spread D-Love about digital on the move, but Feedback listeners still have questions. Roger invites one listener to join Tim Davie, the BBC's Director of Audio and Music, and Ford of Britain's Steve Humbles to find out more about DAB coverage at home and on the move.

And Feedback's postbag has been brimming over with messages of alarm after BBC East announced it would be axing its popular The Naked Scientists programme from January. "Vital for public understanding of science", "making listeners more science literate", were just some of the things said about the programme. But does it fulfil the BBC's remit for local radio? Mick Rawsthorne, Head of Local and Regional Programming for BBC East, doesn't think so.

Finally, where would the BBC be without its listeners? Well it would certainly have some bigger gaps in its archive. No 'Music While You Work' or John Peel's early 'Top Gear' Radio 1 shows. That is, at least, until the Listeners' Archive was launched to mark the Corporation's 90th birthday. Since then, home-grown recordings have been sent into the BBC to help plug the gaps. We meet the team sifting through the gems.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

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

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

Are radio programmes about prisoners too sympathetic? In this week's Feedback, Roger meets two programme makers to discuss your questions on the rights and wrongs of radio about prisons.

Rex Bloomstein is the presenter and co-producer of Radio 4's Dying Inside, which looked at the experiences of the growing number of older prisoners, over 40% of whom are men convicted of sexual offences. Rosie Dawson produced The Bishop and the Prisoner following the Rt Rev James Jones, the Church of England's Bishop for Prisons, as he talked to prisoners, politicians and pundits about the prison system.

One listener has tried six times to get a ticket to watch the recording of Just a Minute - and still had no luck. Another was turned away from a recording of the Today programme even though she had a ticket. She compares the BBC to a low-cost airline. We put your concerns about radio recordings to Francesc Rivas, Studio Audience Manager.

As the allegations surrounding Jimmy Savile continue to make the news, we hear your reactions to the way the BBC is covering the story.

Plus the art of reading aloud. After many listeners were underwhelmed by the acclaimed actress Anna Maxwell Martin's rendition of a recent Book of the Week, we ask what makes a good reader?

Producer: Kate Taylor

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

If the Prime Minister hasn't given a speech yet, why report on it? When a politician speaks, what does he really mean? In this week's Feedback, Roger Bolton gets a lesson in political code-breaking from chief political correspondent Ben Wright. Ben takes us behind the scenes at BBC Westminster and answers your questions about the dark art of political reporting.

A heartfelt plea from listeners who can only get long wave - get rid of the cricket! Radio 4's Network Manager Denis Nowlan responds to listeners who are fed up with losing their regular Radio 4 schedule when the cricket is on. And if the men's cricket deserves it's long wave spot, why not the women's? We hear from disappointed fans who feel that airing the women's cricket on digital-only stations keeps the sport away from bigger audiences.

Plus the return of the Chicken Forecast. After a brief clip in last week's programme left listeners clamouring for more, we reveal the full story of the cult phenomenon sweeping the nation.

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

This week saw the end of the Labour Party Conference in Manchester - but not before an interview with Ed Miliband on the Today programme prompted a flurry of angry emails to the Feedback inbox. For many listeners, Evan Davis's technique proved infuriating. Talking over his interviewee, interrupting, grandstanding and answering his own questions, were some of the complaints.

We get a response from the Today programme and also glean insight on the art of the political interview from Radio 4's Week in Westminster presenter, Steve Richards.

Roger Bolton also takes a trip to the BBC's legendary music studios at Maida Vale and is shown the sights and sounds by BBC 6 Music presenter and musician, Cerys Matthews. Along the way he learns about the art of recording live music for radio and what the listeners at home get out of it.

And was it worth flying to New York for an interview? The BBC's disability's affairs correspondent Peter White, presenter of No Triumph, No Tragedy, explains.

Presented by Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor

Is an apology really an apology if you keep repeating the original offence? No it isn't, say many Feedback listeners. After security correspondent Frank Gardner told the Today programme about remarks made to him by the Queen, the BBC has apologised for a breach of confidence. But in this week's Feedback, listeners explain why they feel that by reporting the story, the BBC is in fact repeating the mistake.

Many, if not most listeners find it hard to hear a programme if speech is competing with music. So do producers really appreciate this fact when using music in programmes? Roger Bolton talks to Victoria Shepherd, producer of the series A History of the Future, about the thinking behind her use of music.

And is Ed Stourton "a plonker"? After mispronouncing the name of the Scottish town Banchory in a recent edition of Profile, many of its inhabitants think he might be. Do you know how to pronounce it?

Presented by Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor