Feedback

Serious news or tabloid tittle-tattle? Some Feedback listeners feel those photos of the Duchess of Cambridge got too much coverage on Radio 4's news output. Roger put your concerns to Mary Hockaday, Head of the BBC Multimedia Newsroom.

And the BBC's new Director General George Entwistle, barely settled behind his desk, finds Feedback knocking at the door with a bulging volume of listener comments and suggestions. Mr Entwistle has already announced that he holds the audience closest to his heart, so listen in George, the Feedback audience has plenty of ideas for you.

And a new era of the Radio 1 Breakfast show begins on Monday when Nick Grimshaw starts his reign. But what makes a great Breakfast Show? Feedback sends out a man well equipped to find out - avid Radio 1 fan, 16 year old Ollie Dean. Speaking to previous hosts Sara Cox and Tony Blackburn and the man brave enough to produce Chris Evans, Dan McGrath, Ollie uncovers some vital advice for new boy Nick.

And finally, have you ever wondered what happened to Tony Blackburn's on-air canine friend Arnold? Tune in to find out.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor

Were the Olympic and Paralympic Games just a crazy summer fling? Or will the enthusiasm of the audience have a lasting impact on the way BBC 5Live covers sport, particularly minority sport? Roger Bolton puts your questions to 5Live controller Adrian Van Klaveren. Roger also meets Breakfast presenter Rachel Burden, editor Scott Solder and 5Live's Head of News Steve Mawhinney to discuss what difference the move to Salford has made to the sound of the programme.

As Chris Moyles leaves the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, listeners want to know how different mornings will be with new presenter Nick Grimshaw at the mic. BBC Radio 1's Director of Programmes, Rhys Hughes, reveals all. And he addresses the pressing question of outrageous bias when it comes to selecting Breakfast presenters: why are so many from the North?

And as this week sees the announcement that BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day will not be opened up to non-religious speakers, Roger puts listener comments to Aaqil Ahmed, the BBC's Head of Religion and Ethics.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Produced by Kate Taylor

When it comes to music, variety is the spice of life at BBC Radio 2. Its database of tracks carries some 14,000 hits from every decade since the 40s. But it's the network's much vaunted playlist that every band and musician is itching to get on. This list of around 30 songs guarantees regular plays on the BBC's most popular radio station. Every week the great and the good of BBC Radio 2 gather for the playlist meeting, and this week Roger gets in on the action. Will it be the end for The Beach Boys? Will rockstars Muse make it on? Or is there a surprise joker in the pack? Feedback finds out.

Roger will also talk to Radio 2's Head of Music, Jeff Smith, to discover just how the playlist is put together - and finds out what makes the ultimate Radio 2 song.

And listeners respond to Radio 4's Chain Reaction, the series in which public figures choose who they want to interview, with their subject, in turn, turning interviewer. Too chummy? Or entertaining, unguarded and revealing discussions? Roger talks to the programme's producers, and to interviewee, turned interviewer - Caitlin Moran (warning some answers may include Bernie Clifton and his ostrich).

And finally, you say twenty-twelve, I say two-thousand and twelve - let's call the whole thing off. Luckily the BBC Pronunciation Unit is on hand to help Roger out.

Presented by Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor

Is BBC radio suffering from an increase in technical problems? Many listeners think so, and over the last few months have sent in a flood of examples as part of Feedback's Operation Drop Out. Dropped lines, disappearing interviewees and correspondents who sound like Daleks. Roger asks technology controller Peter Coles what is going on. And the Today programme's Foreign Affairs Correspondent Mike Thomson reveals how a dropped line left him AWOL in North Korea.

History was made this week when Radio 4's Woman's Hour and 5Live's Men's Hour got together for a joint programme, broadcast simultaneously on both networks. Was it love across a crowded studio? And what did the listeners make of it? Roger gets the gossip from presenters Jane Garvey and Tim Samuels and editors Alice Feinstein and Gloria Abramoff.

In the hunt for Feedback's very own jingle, we reveal some lyrical, wry and frankly epic listener compositions. Do keep them coming.

And finally, we plan to hand a bound volume of your suggestions to the new Director General George Entwistle on his first day in the job, Monday 17th September. So let us know what you think should be in his in-tray.

Presented by Roger Bolton

Produced by Kate Taylor

Do you know which Hitchcock film features a scene set at the very top of the statue of Liberty? No? Well, according to several listeners the producers of Radio 4's landmark series The New Elizabethans don't either. Listeners think they have spotted a clutch of factual inaccuracies in the series.

In the first of the new series of Feedback, Roger asks the editor Andrew Smith if they are right. He also discusses the reservations of one listener who actually featured in the series, the New Elizabethan Professor Stuart Hall.

How is the BBC performing in the marathon that is this summer of sport? In the brief lull between the Olympics and Paralympic Games we hear your verdict on the coverage. And why were listeners abroad unable to hear many Radio 4 programmes when the Games began?

Plus the latest instalment of Operation Drop Out, and Feedback wants to have its very own jingle. All musical (and non-musical) styles accepted. Please send us your magnum opuses. Or should that be magna opera?

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Produced by Kate Taylor

Are sensational storylines ruining The Archers? Some listeners think familiar characters are acting out of character, simply to crank up the tension. Roger Bolton meets Acting Editor John Yorke and longstanding Archers' writer Keri Davies, to ask at what point does the dramatic veer into the unbelievable?

With only three weeks to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Roger talks to 5 Live's Controller Adrian Van Klaveren about the network's preparations for covering the world's biggest sporting event. He also puts other listener questions to 5 Live's boss. Is the network over-infatuated with Richard Bacon? And is the station alienating its older listeners?

Finally, what is it with the Today programme presenters and telling the time? Why so many slip ups? Feedback visits Justin Webb at the Today studios to investigate and ensure the correct time-telling instruments are present and correct.

This is the last in the current series of Feedback, but the team are still keen to hear from you over the break, so do get in touch.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor

The History of an Epic Struggle: last week marked the end of Richard Holloway's 20-part Honest Doubt series, which explored 3,000 years of faith jostling with doubt. It had a profound effect on many Radio 4 listeners. A one-sided attack on Christianity, or an insightful exploration of an often controversial subject? Roger talks to Richard Holloway, and the editor behind the commission, Radio 4's Jane Ellison.

From the spiritual to the virtual, big changes to all 55 of the BBC Radio websites are scheduled for the Autumn, but web users are getting a sneak peak by using a Beta version of the sites - a test version which runs alongside the old sites. Roger uploads a friendly, virtual companion to help him navigate the new websites and discovers what changes will be made in conversation with Mark Friend, controller of BBC Audio and Music Interactive.

And, we follow up on Drop Out Watch. Keen-eared listeners have been in touch with more examples of content cut short by technical glitches. And Roger receives a listener comment about....himself. No one, not even Mr Bolton, can escape the forensic attention of Feedback.

Producer: Kate Taylor

Does Radio 1 have too many celebrity presenters? Are they too old? And is Chris Moyles going to leave the Breakfast Show? In this week's Feedback two listeners meet controller Ben Cooper and quiz him about his station. Plus, as Radio 1's Hackney Weekend music festival comes to East London, Roger finds out what Radio and 1Xtra are doing to encourage new radio talent. Presenter Chantelle Jones tells him why she thought someone from her background could never be on the radio.

Last weekend Radio 4 had a Bloomfest to mark Bloomsday, celebrating James Joyce's novel with a five and a half hour dramatisation. Was it awesome or awful? We put your reactions to the commissioning editor for drama, Jeremy Howe, and ask him if he plans to give any other novels the one day treatment.

Plus, we launch Drop Out Watch. Many listeners feel the number of programmes dropping off air or correspondents disappearing mid-sentence is increasing. Is it? If so, what's the cause? Send us any examples from any BBC network and we will attempt to diagnose the condition.

Presented by Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor

Do you ever sing along to the radio? Many listeners to BBC Radio 3's Choral evensong confess they love to join in with the hymns - but recently they have suddenly found themselves singing solo. The programme has disappeared off the air without warning on no less than four occasions. Roger Bolton asks Christine Morgan, Head of Radio for Religion and Ethics, to explain what went wrong. Could it happen again?

Roger is granted an audience with the golden-throated denizens of Continuity, and puts your questions to announcer Corrie Corfield. What does the job involve? What do they do if something goes wrong? And do they fight to the death for the chance to read the clips on the News Quiz?

And after BBC Radio 4's World at One accidentally misattributed an archive clip to Richard Dimbleby, one sharp-eared listener calls Roger to reveal just who the mystery voice is.

Producer: Kate Taylor

A right Royal let down? In this week's Feedback, listeners get the chance to express their views on the BBC coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. We hear from many of you who got in touch with the Feedback team to comment on the BBC's handling of the event across the main radio networks. Roger Bolton looks for answers from Alan Yentob, Creative Director of the BBC, and speaks to Kevin Marsh, a former Editor of Today, about how coverage of major events like this are planned.

Is Albert Square really coming to Ambridge? John Yorke, controller of BBC drama production, is acting editor of the Archers and his comments about darker storylines have sent ripples through the programme's loyal fan base.

And Roger talks to Tony Phillips, the Commissioning Editor behind BBC Radio 4's landmark series The Listening Project. The idea of capturing the nation in conversation has entranced many - but raised questions about scheduling and presentation.

Presenter: Roger Bolton

Producer: Kate Taylor