Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch on Steno.fm

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

Roger Bolton, formerly presenter of BBC Radio 4's 'Feedback' launches his very first podcast. Free from the constraints of broadcasting on the BBC, with a few more opinions and casting his net a little bit wider to encompass the whole of the BBC, Roger examines the issues that are facing the corporation and public service broadcasting.Find all our podcasts hereAnd please support this podcast by subscribing hereWe also support VLV (Voice of the Listener and Viewer) which represents the interests of audiences to make sure we continue to benefit from high quality radio and TV in the UK. You can f...

S9 E1 · Wed, April 23, 2025
Jonathan Dimbleby, veteran broadcaster, on unravelling historical myths, democracy's fragility, and long-form interviewing
Jonathan Dimbleby is a veteran British broadcaster known for his long-form interviews on BBC and ITV, and as host of Radio 4’s Any Questions . In this episode, we discuss his latest book on World War II, the use of a journalistic background in writing history, challenging historical myths, the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Britain, the rise of populism and parallels between current political trends and historical threats to democracy, the critical role of public service broadcasting, the decline of the long-form interview, and why, after an organiser of a meeting of Jews associated with Belsen extended an invitation to Jonathan to speak, “we ended up mutually agreeing that I wouldn't speak at this occasion.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @beebwatch.bsky.social X @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E13 · Fri, April 11, 2025
Nick Kent on his BBC Two documentary "Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz" and public service broadcasting
Nick Kent is the chief executive and creative director of Oxford Films, which made this week’s BBC Two documentary "Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz". We discuss the challenges making an impactful 60 minute documentary which explores the Holocaust's broader historical context, the role of language and visual imagery, ethical considerations in portraying the Holocaust and the importance of public service broadcasting. “We're living in a time when the BBC is in jeopardy, and what's at stake now is higher, I think, than it's ever been, in terms of what the BBC can provide.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E12 · Tue, April 01, 2025
James Cridland, editor Podnews and radio futurologist on BBC Annual Plan and monetising BBC audio
James Cridland is the editor of Podnews and a radio futurologist— a writer, consultant, and public speaker on radio’s future. We discuss the BBC’s Annual Plan, its financial challenges, the impending changes to BBC Sounds' international access, the intricate challenges of rights management, potential revenue streams, and the delicate balance between public service broadcasting and commercial imperatives. “The only change going on here is that we're getting rid of the BBC Sounds app, and you have to use the not-very-good-as-a-replacement bbc.com/audio. So, if you're using a smart speaker or TuneIn, then, reading that paragraph, you would expect that you will still be able to have a listen, which is brilliant. But they've kind of hidden that under a bushel. They only put that on the website last week, but that's a significant thing, if that's what that means.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E11 · Thu, March 27, 2025
Kirsty Lang BBC presenter on changes to BBC Sounds for listeners abroad, the impact of cuts and a call to arms
Kirsty Lang began her BBC career in 1986 and worked as the Central Europe correspondent for the BBC World Service and as a reporter on Newsnight . After a stint as The Sunday Times’ Paris correspondent, Kirsty went on to present Channel 4 News . Since 2002, she has been a stalwart of Radio 4, presenting Front Row , Last Word , and Round Britain Quiz . We discuss the BBC's financial squeeze, its plans to restrict international access to domestic radio services, the importance of BBC programming as a form of soft power, the broader implications of budget cuts on public service broadcasting, and what it's like to be the quizmaster on Round Britain Quiz . “Democracy is under threat. It has never been so under threat in my entire lifetime." Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E10 · Mon, March 17, 2025
Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator, on the fall out of the landmark decision against Ofcom in favour of GB News and the RTS awards controversy
Prof Stewart Purvis is the former content regulator at Ofcom, a former Editor of Channel 4 News and ITN Chief Executive. As the Vice President of the Royal Television Society we discuss: the RTS Awards controversy withdrawing an award for Gaza journalists, Stewart’s experience reviewing BBC Middle East coverage and the fallout from the landmark GB News vs. Ofcom legal case and the ability of foreign governments to influence British broadcasting. "What's at stake is the future of broadcast journalism. The system is creaking, and we need to decide whether we're going to resolve some of the issues which have arisen." RTS Awards: “What I would hope would come out of this was, as soon as we've got some clarity about whether there is any connection at all between what happened at the BBC documentary and the entrance for the RTS awards, and particularly the rightful winners of this special award that those Gaza journalists should get an award.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thu, March 13, 2025
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The i Paper columnist, on the BBC's Gaza coverage and media bias
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown describes herself as a "lefty, liberal, anti-racist feminist, Muslim" who was born in Uganda and came to the UK in 1972. She is a journalist, columnist for The i Paper, and commentator. Yasmin is a strong advocate for human rights who supports Israel's right to exist while being critically engaged with its policies. On this week’s podcast we discuss the BBC’s handling of its withdrawn Gaza documentary, the challenges facing independent journalists in Gaza, the lack of critical journalism in the UK compared to Israel, the influence of pro-Israeli groups in the British media and the role of public service broadcasting and its responsibilities. “Balance is used as a way of not doing its journalism properly. And I love the BBC, but …. I think we need the BBC to become what it says it is: the most trusted outlet. It is no longer that trusted outlet.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E8 · Wed, March 05, 2025
Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive on BBC's Chair Samir Shah and DG Tim Davie parliamentary appearance and the Gaza documentary fallout
Richard Ayre is the chair of the UK's independent press regulator, Impress. Before that, he spent about thirty-five years at the BBC as a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC News, before becoming a member of the BBC Trust. Richard is also a former member of the OFCOM content board. In this week's episode, we discuss BBC's DG Tim Davie and Chair Samir Shah's appearance in front of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's select committee: the fallout from the Gaza documentary which was pulled after it was discovered the 13-year-old narrator had a family connection to Hamas, future funding models, the World Service, and the possibility of a generational charter. “There was a meeting between BBC executives and executives of the production company—a face-to-face meeting—to comply this film before it went out, and the BBC didn't press for an answer or didn't get an answer to the question about the connection of the kid's. That's very worrying, and that, I imagine, is where the BBC’s inquiry is now going to unearth some bodies—or people likely to be bodies.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E7 · Tue, February 25, 2025
Tony Hall, Former BBC Director-General, on Royal Charter renewal and anti-Semitism allegations
Tony Hall was the Director-General of the BBC from 2013 to 2020, during which time the BBC's Royal Charter was last renewed. We discuss the differences between that charter renewal process and the current one, as well as the key issues surrounding the upcoming renewal: a long-term vision, a permanent charter, a new funding model, accountability, and engagement with licence fee payers. We also address the allegations of anti-Semitism within the BBC. "I have never seen fundamental anti-Semitism in the time I was at the BBC. It's not how people work. Yes, there can be errors. Yes, there can be misjudgements, but fundamental anti-Semitism, or any other fundamental take on life that comes out in the BBC journalism I've never seen, and I don't believe it's there." Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E6 · Thu, February 13, 2025
Dan Thomas, FT Global Media Editor on Sky's digital shift, BBC charter renewal debates, and the future challenges facing public service broadcasters
Dan Thomas is the Global Media Editor at the Financial Times who broke the story on Sky News’ strategy and newsroom overhaul. We discuss the strategic decisions facing all the major news organisations as they adapt to changing audience behaviours, regulation of social media, the future of all the public service broadcasters, BBC charter renewal, the BBC’s news operations in the US and digital switch over. “ Sky News have been on the on the sort of watch list, as it were, for some time. They've got what can only be described as an existential crisis, right? And this is not just unique to Sky, it’s applicable to all sorts of linear, traditional broadcasters, but Sky News, they've got a particular problem. People don't really want to watch news on TV anymore, not in the way they used to. And they've had to come up with something.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E5 · Tue, February 04, 2025
Rob Crilly, Chief US Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail, on Trump's presidency - an insider's view
Rob Crilly is the Chief US Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail who has covered Donald Trump since his bid for the presidency in 2015. Part of the White House press corp and regularly travelling with the president, Rob offers unique insights into Trump’s personality, communication style, and the impact Trump has had on American politics and journalism. We discuss the challenges of covering the Trump presidency with his disregard for facts, the Trump’s administration’s efforts to sideline traditional media for “new media”, the lack of opposition and Trump’s relationship with Keir Starmer. “He's extraordinarily personable, and maybe it comes from his background as a property mogul, and he's essentially a salesman, but he sort of knows how to put people at their ease.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E4 · Wed, January 29, 2025
Peter Kosminsky, director of 'Wolf Hall' on financial support for British dramas, his career and being sacked by the BBC Plays department
Peter Kosminsky, the renowned British film and television director who recently directed the much-acclaimed Wolf Hall , discusses his career journey—from being sacked by the BBC Plays department to finally becoming a successful documentary-maker and filmmaker. He describes the creative process behind Wolf Hall , the challenges British filmmakers face in securing funding from streaming services for projects focused on British subject matter, and his proposal for a UK cultural fund, financed by a levy on streaming service subscriptions, to support the production of high-quality British dramas. On his Grenfell project: "Are we really saying that British television is incapable of making a drama about this critical subject to a British audience, because a bunch of American streamers don't think it's interesting enough to finance?" Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E3 · Fri, January 24, 2025
Adjoa Andoh, Royal Shakespeare Company and Bridgerton actor on BBC radio drama cuts
Adjoa Andoh is one of Britain's most celebrated actors, with an extensive career spanning stage, screen, and radio. She has appeared in iconic TV series like Doctor Who and Netflix’s Bridgerton , as well as making her Hollywood debut in Clint Eastwood's Invictus . In this episode we discuss the importance of radio drama, concerns about the significant cuts to radio drama production, the potential impact on the creative industries eco system, and the value of public service broadcasting. "We're sort of the frog being boiled slowly. We're slowly losing things, and then you're suddenly aware there don't seem to be as many plays on, but you're not quite sure how; and this is terrible." Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Mon, January 20, 2025
Bill Nighy and Adjoa Andoh on BBC radio drama cuts
This week we’ll be hearing from some of our nation’s greatest actors Bill Nighy and Adjoa Andoh on why they think the BBC should reverse the proposed cut to BBC Radio 3's sole drama slot and why they are seeking reassurances that there will be no reduction in the amount of drama on Radio 4. Make sure you don’t miss out on this episode which will be published later this week. Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E2 · Thu, January 16, 2025
David Lloyd local radio expert on the outcome of his complaint on BBC Radio Devon's coverage of the Plymouth riots
David Lloyd is a veteran of the local radio industry, with over 40 years of experience in roles at LBC, Virgin Radio, and the BBC. He also brings regulatory expertise from his time at the UK Radio Authority, now part of Ofcom. Today, he's a broadcaster and co-founder of Boom Radio, a relatively new UK station catering to baby boomers. In this episode, we discuss the state of BBC local radio, including the details of Lloyd's complaint about BBC Radio Devon's failure to adequately cover the 2024 riots. We also explore the potential role of alternative providers and the impact of the BBC's proposed spin-off service on Lloyd's own station, Boom Radio . “I think the BBC can do a lot better on the resources available, even as reduced. They've still got £120 million now furnishing a lot of very part-time radio stations—that's a lot of money. In other hands, that could actually deliver some incredible local radio, which, yes, is the BBC the right person to be running local radio if it really takes them that much money to deliver it poorly?” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 E1 · Thu, January 09, 2025
David Elstein, founding Chief Executive of Channel 5, on BBC mutualisation, funding models, PSB content, and tax breaks
David Elstein was the head of programming at BskyB, the director of programmes at Thames Television, before launching Channel 5 as its chief executive in 1997. Since then, he has chaired innumerable boards and organisations including the British Screen Advisory Council and Open Democracy . David was part of the last Conservative government's inquiry into the BBC’s future funding model, which was later scrapped by Labour. In this episode, we discuss the idea of ‘mutualisation’ of the BBC, the effects of government policies on public service broadcasting, funding models, access and content concerns, BBC efficiency, and the “fantasy economics” in BBC annual reports. We also examine the impact of tax breaks on the UK’s creative industries. “Instead of funding public service content, we've funded high end content made for the American producers in our studios. We are now kind of contract labour for Warner Brothers, Paramount and Fox. I mean, it's mad.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E16 · Tue, December 17, 2024
Sir Richard Eyre, theatre and film director and former BBC Governor on radio drama cuts and the BBC's cultural remit
Sir Richard Eyre, the renowned theatre and film director, who has served as a BBC Governor, shares his concerns over the cuts to radio drama programming, the broader challenges facing the BBC's cultural remit, the tensions between the BBC's public service mission and commercial pressures, and role of the BBC in nurturing and sustaining the UK's cultural landscape. "I would say the BBC is the most important cultural organisation in the world, and the Director-General of the BBC should be standing up, saying that, and putting his heart and soul and practical application into making sure that the BBC lived up to that proclamation. Well, they don’t, and they’ve pitifully ignored the arts. They've cut the arts department in television, and now, they're cutting drama on in radio." Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E15 · Thu, December 12, 2024
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, DCMS ctte chair on BBC charter renewal, funding, World Service and Greg Wallace
Conservative MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage is the Chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee. We discuss the upcoming debates around the renewal of the BBC's charter, the crucial issues of the corporation's funding, impartiality, and role in public service broadcasting, as well as the future of the BBC World Service and the Greg Wallace revelations. “We're entering a winter period when there's a number of pensioners who've just had their winter fuel tax removed, when energy prices are rising because the energy fuel cap has come to end, and to suddenly find that you've your licence fee’s going up as well. I just thought the timing was unfortunate.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month (NB we only charge for one creation per month): www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E14 · Thu, December 05, 2024
Peter York, author 'A Dead Cat On Your Table' on culture wars, media power and the BBC
Peter York is a cultural commentator, author, and former Style Editor of Harper's & Queen magazine. He is best known for co-authoring the iconic Official Sloane Ranger Handbook in the 1980s. More recently, Peter has shifted his focus to more serious topics, including co-authoring The War Against the BBC with Professor Patrick Barwise. This week, we discuss Peter’s latest book, A Dead Cat on Your Table, which delves into the world of "culture wars," the role of media personalities, influencers, and think tanks. We also explore Elon Musk's potential $100 million donation to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party and assess the extent to which the BBC is constrained in addressing "culture war" issues due to government pressure and funding concerns. “It's the one structural fault that dates from the 20s. The government has too much power over the BBC’s funding and too much power over the BBC in other ways too. And you look at the manipulations of the last decade, and you can absolutely see that.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E13 · Thu, November 28, 2024
Andrew Graystone, writer and broadcaster, on his exposure of the abuse of John Smythe and the assisted dying bill debate
Andrew Greystone, writer and broadcaster, has played a pivotal role in exposing the abuse committed by John Smythe within the Church of England. In this discussion, he addresses the ongoing debate around the assisted dying bill, the media's approach to religion in ethical discussions, and the decline of religious literacy among journalists. He also shares the story behind uncovering Smythe’s abuse, the Church of England’s response, and discloses further revelations are set to break next year. “I know that there are at least three major church abuse stories affecting the Anglican Church that will break in 2025. Now Lambeth Palace knows that as well; the Church of England knows that as well. Why do they want to wait for everything to be dragged out of them, rather than putting it on the table?" Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E12 · Fri, November 22, 2024
Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on high standards, distinctiveness and the impact of cuts
Roger Mosey, a former Editorial Director of the BBC, Head of TV News, and Director of Sport, discusses his lecture to the Commonwealth Journalists Association on the challenges facing public service media, the mainstream media's lack of understanding of political landscapes in the UK and US, clickbait, interactivity and audience connections, as well as cuts and talent drain at the BBC. "The BBC’s Charter says it must engage the public to a very high standard with the issues of the day and inform our democracy. And that's non-negotiable. It's got to do it, and it does many times do that. It doesn't do it enough, and I think its political coverage is particularly weak. Why? Because the Westminster bubble dominates the political coverage, and there's too much about who's up, who's down, and there's too much about short-term headlines." Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E11 · Thu, November 14, 2024
Prof Cathy Johnson discusses TV distribution and the dangers of exclusion
Professor Catherine Johnson from the University of Leeds discusses her role on the recently announced DCMS committee, which is examining the future of TV distribution. New research indicates that some viewers could be excluded from the general shift towards online viewership. We also explore the rise of YouTube, ways to ensure access to public service content, and how a household tax might work. “There is a ticking time bomb here, to be honest, in relation to digital terrestrial. So most other countries have upgraded their digital terrestrial infrastructure, or committed to upgrading their digital terrestrial infrastructure.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E10 · Fri, November 08, 2024
Prof Steven Barnett discusses BBC chair Samir Shah's speech: devolve, democratise, depoliticise
Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, discusses BBC Chair Samir Shah's inaugural speech. We explore what devolving, democratising, and depoliticising means, loosening regulation, re-evaluating the roles and remits of other public service broadcasters, and alternative funding models. “I'm not sure a permanent charter is the way to go, but I think some kind of independent body to whom the responsibility is devolved for making funding decisions and for appointing the BBC chair, I would incidentally add the Ofcom chair, which is accountable to Parliament but is out of the control of government. I think those are really important changes that are necessary.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E9 · Thu, October 31, 2024
Jamie Angus, ex director of BBC World Service discusses the budget announcement on World Service funding and BBC cuts
Jamie Angus is the former director of the BBC World Service and the former editor of 'Today' and 'Newsnight' who now works in the Middle East. We discuss what the budget announcement means for funding of the World Service, why HardTalk makes the world 'a less stupid place', original journalism, the unintended consequences of commercialisation and US election and Middle East coverage. "The BBC is not protecting its essential news services enough when it comes to allocating the cuts. The case for the BBC’s existence relies on its utterly distinctive public service remit.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E8 · Tue, October 22, 2024
Richard Sambrook ex BBC Director of News and the World Service on BBC cuts, disinformation and World Service funding
Richard Sambrook, former Director of BBC News and the World Service, and now an Emeritus Professor of journalism at Cardiff University discusses the challenges the BBC faces in dealing with the rise of disinformation, the balance between free speech and responsibility, the BBC's 'follow the sun' strategy, World Service funding and the impact of budget cuts on BBC News. "I do have the concern that what sometimes gets lost in the mix is the depth and significance of BBC journalism, as opposed to simply competing with what everyone else is doing. I'm sure if I were to talk to Deborah Turness or anyone else, they would come up with a whole list of examples that would illustrate how they are maintaining depth and significance. But I think, to the public, when they look at some of these cuts, that’s what worries people." Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E7 · Thu, October 17, 2024
Gareth Benest, International Broadcasting Trust, on shrinking global coverage
In the same week that BBC Director General Tim Davie pitched for an increase in government funding for the BBC World Service, while simultaneously axing the global interview programme Hard Talk in another round of cuts, we speak with Gareth Benest, Director of Advocacy at the International Broadcasting Trust. We discuss the decline in international coverage by UK broadcasters, his analysis of the shrinking breadth of countries featured in news and current affairs programming, and the potential impact of new media legislation, algorithms, and public service broadcasting. “Last year, it surprised me that there was, as far as I could see from the logging that I did of linear schedules, there was not a single programme outside of news broadcasts about Rwanda. The most spoken about African country, perhaps in the history of UK media, last year, there wasn't a single documentary. There wasn't a single current affairs programme that actually gave UK citizens an opportunity to understand the country.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E6 · Wed, October 09, 2024
Jim Waterson, former Guardian media editor, discusses his new venture, billionaire media owners, and radically rethinking public service broadcasting
On our 100th episode anniversary we talk to another journalist who has started out on a new venture. The Guardian’s former media editor, Jim Waterson, has set up London Centric , a news outlet focused on in-depth coverage of London. We discuss his reasons for taking this step, the challenges traditional media faces, billionaires owning media outlets, the sale of The Observer, regulation, adapting to modern consumption habits and the merging of public service broadcasters. “I'm sure, Beeb Watch listeners are very aware of Project Kangaroo and the missed opportunities of the late 2000s when there was a plan to combine all the public service broadcasters in one streamer that would have gazumped Netflix. I think that's the sort of radical thinking you should be looking at with this licence fee negotiation.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E5 · Tue, October 01, 2024
Mark Urban ex BBC Newsnight diplomatic and defence editor on BBC coverage of the Middle East, Newsnight changes and life outside the BBC
Mark Urban spent many years as the diplomatic and defence editor at BBC Newsnight before leaving in May, after 34 years at the corporation. Prior to joining the BBC, Mark was the defence correspondent for The Independent newspaper for four years. He is the author of several military books and served briefly in the British Army. He is now a writer for The Sunday Times . We discuss allegations of BBC bias against Israel in its Middle East coverage, the challenges and cultural biases in reporting conflicts, changes made to Newsnight , and his life after the BBC. “If you put those two things together, which is a tight focus on victims and a scepticism about the ethicacy of the military instrument, then it's pretty obvious in this current situation that Israel is going to have problems. And I think this is more to do with the way that journalists as a sort of cohort or professional culture define a story, and less to do actually, specifically with the BBC.” Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E4 · Fri, September 27, 2024
Lawyer Trevor Asserson discusses his report which criticises the BBC for bias against Israel in its Middle East coverage
The controversial Asserson Report sparked headlines in The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail for its critique of the BBC's Middle East coverage at the height of the Israel-Hamas war. The report has drawn both praise and sharp criticism. We’re joined by the report's author, British-Israeli lawyer Trevor Asserson, to discuss its origins, funding, methodology and its interpretation of impartiality. “I think the faults that we've demonstrated are probably found throughout the BBC’s coverage of other news stories as well. It's very unlikely that they're being impartial elsewhere, but I can tell you that they're not impartial in their coverage of this story.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E3 · Thu, September 19, 2024
David Aaronovitch broadcaster and journalist on the Jewish Chronicle, The Asserson Report alleging BBC bias and media coverage of the Middle East
Journalist and broadcaster David Aaronovitch worked for the BBC in a senior capacity before becoming a columnist for The Times and the presenter of numerous radio programs, including Radio 4’s The Briefing Room . He now publishes longer articles on Substack under Notes from the Underground and contributes to Tortoise Media . In this episode, we discuss the fallout from the Jewish Chronicle scandal, where fabricated articles led David and other prominent writers to resign. We also explore accusations of BBC bias in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza war, and the broader challenges facing journalism today. “If you want to look at lack of balance in the world, look at what's reported and what isn't reported, and how what's not reported is effectively given a kind of second or third class status. I regard this as a big journalistic problem.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E2 · Tue, September 10, 2024
Richard Ayre, former senior BBC executive, on BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Chair Samir Shah's parliamentary appearance
Richard Ayre spent thirty-five years at the BBC, serving as the former controller of editorial policy, deputy chief executive of BBC News, and a BBC Trustee. Richard is also a former member of the OFCOM Content Board and is currently the chair of the UK's independent press regulator, Impress. We discuss BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC Chair Dr. Samir Shah’s appearance before the House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee, where they were scrutinised for their handling of the Huw Edwards scandal and local news. Their views on BBC funding and governance were also revealed. “I think paying him the additional annual increment was indefensible—completely indefensible—and there was no legal risk at all.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 E1 · Wed, September 04, 2024
Sir Trevor Phillips Sky presenter and Times columnist on BBC culture, their approach to ethnic minorities and the importance of local coverage
Sir Trevor Phillips presents Sky TV’s Sunday Morning programme and is a columnist for The Times newspaper. He was previously a reporter on the Thames TV This Week , head of current affairs for London Weekend Television, Chair of the London Assembly, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, and Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as well as having run several businesses. In the first episode of our seventh series we discuss why Trevor never became a BBC staffer, what the events over the summer revealed about the culture of the BBC, the BBC's approach to ethnic minorities, multiculturalism, his career, his friendship with the Chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, and the importance of public service media and local coverage. "We're talking on the day that the Grenfell Inquiry Report is going to be published. There is no way in a million years that Grenfell, 30 years ago, would not have been a story before the fire, because, certainly, the programme that I presented, the ITV London programme, would have been all over it, year after year." To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com www.goodeggproductions.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E13 · Wed, July 17, 2024
Sir Peter Bazalgette, former chair of ITV, on the funding and future of PSBs and the case for mergers
Sir Peter Bazalgette was until recently part of the previous Government’s committee to review how the BBC was funded. In his distinguished career he has been responsible for shows such as Big Brother, Changing Rooms and Ready Steady Cook, he’s also a former chair of Arts Council England and in September 2023 he stepped down as chair of ITV. He is now co-chair of the Creative Council. On this week’s programme we discussed the Media Act (was anything left out), BBC funding and the future of public service broadcasters. I see Freely, which has recently been launched as an online way of getting all the public service broadcasting in a streaming service, I see that is just the beginning. I think there needs to be further mergers. And it'll be interesting to see what happens to Channel Five. Now that it looks like the owners Paramount are selling out, because I don't think it's going to be a priority for the new American owners. And it may well change hands in the next six to nine months. To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E12 · Fri, July 12, 2024
Prof Dominic Wring on general election coverage audit, media bias, legacy v social media and populism
Academics from Loughborough University’s Centre for Research in Communication and Culture have conducted news audits for every General Election since 1992, and their audit for this election is out now. We talked to one of its authors, Professor Dominic Wring, about whether the public was well served by the media, whether legacy media still has a role when against social digital media, populism, media bias, media scholarship and devolution. "When we talk about people getting news from social media, when they're talking about that, often those are things that are recycled from legacy sources." To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E11 · Thu, July 04, 2024
Dame Elan Closs Stephens former BBC acting chair on what she would like from a new Culture Secretary
Dame Elan Closs Stephens was the acting chair of the BBC after the resignation of Richard Sharp in June last year until her retirement in March. She was a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010, first serving as Member for Wales on the BBC Trust, until its dissolution in 2017, and then as the Welsh member of the BBC Board. On this week's episode we discussed what Dame Elan would like from a new Culture Secretary, her tenure as chair, impartiality, budget cuts and the decision making process, BBC future funding and regulation, Ofcom, BBC election coverage and appointment of BBC chairs. “I would like to go for some sort of cross party commission, I think it would give the chair more freedom to embrace, to be seen to be embracing different sides.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E10 · Thu, June 27, 2024
Olivia O'Leary former BBC and RTÉ broadcaster on the UK election, funding PSB's, Newsnight and the future of journalism
Olivia O’Leary has been a television and radio broadcaster on both the BBC, ITV and RTÉ – the Irish public service broadcaster in her native Ireland. In 1985, Olivia became the first female presenter on BBC’s Newsnight. She later returned to Ireland, presenting once again ‘Today Tonight’ – RTÉ’s flagship current affairs programme. She has also presented BBC Radio 4’s ‘Between Ourselves’ and delivered a regular column on RTÉ Radio 1’s drive time. This week, we get an Irish perspective on the UK election, discuss the complex relationships between Ireland and the UK, and examine how RTÉ, the Irish public service broadcaster, is faring after a series of scandals and the challenges they are facing with funding. Also, as a former presenter, Olivia shares her views on the changes to Newsnight and the future of journalism. “The government has refused to make a decision on the future funding of public service media, and particularly RTÉ. They've kept putting it off, putting it off, putting it off. Our old licence fee system, because of the scandals last year, is now under enormous pressure. One fifth of people never paid it anyway. And even a bigger percentage don't pay it now.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E9 · Wed, June 19, 2024
Adam Boulton ex Sky News political editor on election coverage, Farage media manipulation, impartiality and his career
Veteran journalist Adam Boulton spent more than thirty years at Sky News, twenty-five of those as political editor. He has been host for General and US elections coverage, invigilated the first leaders’ debate in 2010 and has the distinction of having interviewed every UK Prime Minister since Sir Alec Douglas-Home. He continues to write for Sky but is also now broadcasting on Times Radio, where he co-hosts the weekend flagship politics show Sunday Morning. This week we discussed general election coverage, how coverage has changed over the years, Nigel Farage’s media manipulation, impartiality and Adam’s colourful career. “I do think we collectively in broadcast and I think the BBC in particular, do have a case to answer over Nigel Farage. The truth is that he played the media, like a fiddle didn't he?” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one-off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E8 · Wed, June 12, 2024
Peter Snow veteran BBC journalist on the general election campaign, Newsnight and election night coverage
Peter Snow is a former BBC Newsnight presenter (1980–1997), ITN Diplomatic and Defence Correspondent (1966–1979), documentary maker, and historian. Known for his iconic "swingometer" on election night, we discuss the drama of election night, the current election campaign, Newsnight, and being called a 'traitor'. “I think this election campaign is the worst I've ever seen for sort of fake bribery. Honestly, it's a disgrace the way it's going on." To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment (which doesn’t entitle you to the blog) please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E7 · Thu, May 30, 2024
Prof Catherine Johnson discusses what a Labour government might mean for PSB, the Media Bill and digital terrestrial switch off
Catherine Johnson is the professor of Media and Communications at the University of Leeds, author of the book Online TV, and a member of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports College of experts. With parliament now dissolved, we discuss what happened to the Media Bill and in what form did it survive - what was left in and out? Also, we examine Ofcom’s role in regulating media and resource allocation, what a Labour government might entail for public service media, BBC Charter renewal and funding review and the big issues that are coming down the line for public service broadcasters. “I suspect what we'll see is the device manufacturers and the public service broadcasters effectively marking their own homework. ‘This is what we said we do. This is what we've done, here's the evidence’. And then we will have to take that on trust.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E6 · Thu, May 23, 2024
Jane Martinson ex Guardian media editor on Sir Paul Marshall, media ownership and impartiality
Jane Martinson, author of ‘You May Never See Us Again: The Barclay Dynasty: A Story of Survival, Secrecy and Succession’ is the former media editor at the Guardian and now Marjorie Deane Professor of Financial Journalism at City University. In the week the general election is called we discussed the potential takeover of The Telegraph by Sir Paul Marshall and its implications for the Conservative Party, his beliefs, media impartiality, the influence that media owners wield, the dominance of right wing media outlets and the future of journalism. “What I can see in reading, what Paul Marsh has written himself and also actually watching GB News's content is, if you fetishize almost, the freedom of speech, and at one's own belief, over the notion of science and experts. Isn't that at the heart of this? And isn't that where it also meets some of the biggest problems in media at the moment?” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E5 · Thu, May 16, 2024
Audio expert Matt Deegan discusses BBC's podcast advertising plans, children's audio and the latest radio listening figures
Matt Deegan is the co-founder of the award-winning Fun Kids, a digital radio station for families and children, which has just won the bronze award in the Radio Academy’s UK Station of the Year category. Given that the gold award went to BBC Asian Network and the silver to Talksport, this is a considerable achievement for a small independent network. Matt is also the co-founder of Folder Media and the British Podcast Awards and is one of the most respected commentators on all things audio. In this episode, we discuss the lack of BBC radio content for children, the BBC’s podcast advertising plans and their impact on the commercial industry, the latest radio listening figures, and the future of BBC radio and podcast growth. “The BBC already gets £5.7 billion of income from a variety of sources. It does not need £1 million a year out of the podcast business. I could go in and find seven managers to fire, and I could save a million pounds.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E4 · Thu, May 09, 2024
Jamie Angus, ex director of BBC World Service and 'Today' editor discusses Ofcom, consequences of WS cuts and funding solutions
Jamie Angus is the former director of the BBC World Service and the former editor of 'Today' and 'Newsnight' who now works in the Middle East. We discuss Ofcom's oversight of broadcasters, the consequences of previous World Service cuts, and the impact of new ones. We also explore long-term solutions to the issue of its funding, which is under review by a parliamentary committee. “I think it's clear that GB News are operating under a slightly different model to public broadcasters.” “Al Arabiya ourselves have launched our own FM radio services. And we've additionally picked up some of the BBC’s medium wave hours, which they no longer use, so our radio services are broadcast regionally. We've also hired a number of ex BBC Arabic radio staff.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E3 · Thu, May 02, 2024
Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator challenges Ofcom's conclusions on its audience research and its guidance on politicians as presenters
Stewart Purvis, former content regulator at Ofcom and former Editor of Channel 4 News and ITN Chief Executive, discusses Ofcom’s guidance on general election coverage published last week. Stewart delves into the research on which Ofcom based its guidelines, spells out what the guidance means in practice, and reflects on Ofcom as an organisation. “Ofcom was pretty much claiming that what the audience had told it justified the position it had taken. But then when you got down into the detail, it didn't really say that at all.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E2 · Tue, April 23, 2024
Comedian Steve Punt discusses his departure from the BBC Radio 4 satirical news programme 'The Now Show' and the evolution of radio comedy
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis took their bow from BBC Radio 4’s satirical news programme ‘The Now Show’ last Friday after 25 years. Steve Punt discusses the last programme, the development and success of this long-running radio comedy show, the impact of our changing news consumption, political bias, radio comedy’s evolution and the new podcast format and his plans for the future. “There was a little BBC drinks do afterwards. And as Hugh pointed out, it was literally just crisps. Someone had gone to Marks and Spencers and they bought one of every flavour of crisps. So, he made a little speech thanking the BBC for the magnificent spread.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 E1 · Mon, April 15, 2024
Max Cotton discusses his BBC 'Growing Solo' documentary series on his year long food self-sufficiency experiment and the importance of food and farming literacy
Max Cotton is a former BBC political reporter who has spent a year finding out if he can grow and produce 100% of his food on his smallholding near Glastonbury. We discuss his BBC Radio 4 documentary series on the experiment 'Growing Solo', as well as exploring food and farming literacy, food security and self sufficiency in the UK. "As a group of people, BBC journalists, they could tell you everything you possibly want to know about Labour education policy, and they don't know what the difference between hay and straw is. And I think that's a sad reflection of where we are." BBC Radio 4 'Growing Solo' starts on Monday 22 April at 1345. You will be able to find the series here: To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E12 · Wed, March 27, 2024
Rory Cellan-Jones ex BBC Technology Correspondent on Tim Davie’s speech, 'Movers and Shakers', 'Ruskin Park' and #SophieFromRomania
Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC Technology and Business Correspondent examines Tim Davie’s, the BBC’s Director General speech on the BBC’s future priorities. He also explores life after the BBC, discussing his, ‘Movers and Shakers’ Parkinson’s podcast, his family memoir ‘Ruskin Park’ and his forthcoming book on #SophieFromRomania - his beloved rescue dog turned internet sensation. “We are all being given a personalised experience and an experience that is personalised is not necessarily much of a communal one.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E11 · Wed, March 20, 2024
Chris Banatvala, former Ofcom Director of Standards discusses Ofcom, GB News, impartiality and freedom of expression
In the week that Ofcom finds GB News in breach of its code five times but will face no sanction, we talk to Chris Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding Director of Standards, and Content Board member, who was responsible for drafting and enforcing its codes. He is now an independent member of the Sky News Board, Channel 4’s online independent complaint reviewer and advises broadcasters and international regulators. We discuss GB News, Ofcom, impartiality and the chairing of public bodies. “I think it’s the drip, drip, drip effect, which could ultimately spell the end for PSBs. And I think politicians, policymakers, the public have to stand up for public service broadcasting and what it means.” To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E10 · Fri, March 15, 2024
Magnus Brooke, ITV Group Director of Strategy discusses the future of Public Service Broadcasting and the funding of 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'
Magnus Brooke is Group Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ITV where profits are down by 60%. The digital revolution is changing broadcasting fundamentally and destroying former business models. So does ITV have a future as a Public Service Broadcaster? We also discuss the Media Bill and the added responsibility on Ofcom's shoulders - and whether it's up to the job. And the funding of ITV's smash hit 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'. “You can't fund dramas on television now, just out of the receipts of broadcasting. And that does create pressure on dramas that are very UK specific. I don't know whether we'll recoup in international distribution what we paid out on ‘Mr. Bates’, we may not ultimately”. To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership Or if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E9 · Mon, March 11, 2024
Peter Taylor, veteran BBC journalist discusses his latest documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA'
One of Britain’s finest reporters Peter Taylor, with numerous books, documentaries and awards spanning a career of over 50 years, on his latest BBC documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’. We discuss the human cost of IRA informers, the role of Scappaticci codenamed “Stakeknife”, Operation Kenova and covering Northern Ireland. “The curtain is still firmly down on this dreadful period. And I think people should know about it and what the cost of it was.” To support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 Enull · Tue, March 05, 2024
'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’, veteran journalist Peter Taylor discusses his latest BBC documentary
One of Britain’s finest reporters Peter Taylor, with numerous books, documentaries and awards spanning a career of over 50 years, on his latest BBC documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’. We discuss the human cost of IRA informers, the role of Scappaticci codenamed “Stakeknife”, Operation Kenova and covering Northern Ireland. “The curtain is still firmly down on this dreadful period. And I think people should know about it and what the cost of it was.” To listen to this podcast and support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E8 · Mon, March 04, 2024
Baroness Kidron former film and documentary director on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs
Baroness Kidron is one of the country's foremost drama and documentary directors. Her long list of credits includes ‘Storyville’, 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', 'Victoria and Abdul' and 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'. She now sits as a crossbench peer and is the founder of the Five Rights Foundation. For the past five years, she has been one of the most instrumental figures in ensuring better protection for children through the passage of measures such as the Online Safety Bill. On this week's programme we discuss Bridget Jones, controlling the tech giants, ad funded public service broadcasters and what can be done to protect children from online abuse. “The tech companies go in and out of the White House, and in and out of Downing Street, like they've got a cat flap.When I started on this journey, 11 years ago, I was treated like a middle-aged woman who didn't understand the new rock and roll. I am actually quite pleased to say that a lot of people have joined me in saying, actually, this is bad for democracy.” To support our journalism please sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 Enull · Thu, February 29, 2024
Former film and documentary director Baroness Kidron on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs
Baroness Kidron is one of the country's foremost drama and documentary directors. Her long list of credits includes ‘Storyville’, 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', 'Victoria and Abdul' and 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'. She now sits as a crossbench peer and is the founder of the Five Rights Foundation. For the past five years, she has been one of the most instrumental figures in ensuring better protection for children through the passage of measures such as the Online Safety Bill. On this week's programme we discuss Bridget Jones, controlling the tech giants, ad funded public service broadcasters and what can be done to protect children from online abuse. “The tech companies go in and out of the White House, and in and out of Downing Street, like they've got a cat flap.When I started on this journey, 11 years ago, I was treated like a middle-aged woman who didn't understand the new rock and roll. I am actually quite pleased to say that a lot of people have joined me in saying, actually, this is bad for democracy.” To listen to this podcast now and support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E7 · Mon, February 26, 2024
Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust on the Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting
Anna McNamee, an award-winning Canadian journalist and writer with a background in BBC radio, is the Executive Director of the Sandford St Martin Trust, dedicated to promoting excellence in religious broadcasting. We discuss the new Media Bill, the importance of religious literacy, the decline in programming on religion and ethics, commissioning practices, and the critical need to ensure public access to broadcasting. “This is legislation, which is made for commercial broadcasters, it has commerciality at its heart, it's about leaving enough, not even a little bit of wriggle room, but loads of space so that broadcasters can respond and do whatever they want.” Sign up now for £1.99 per month to support our journalism: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Thu, February 22, 2024
The Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting with Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust
Anna McNamee, an award-winning Canadian journalist and writer with a background in BBC radio, is the Executive Director of the Sandford St Martin Trust, dedicated to promoting excellence in religious broadcasting. We discuss the new Media Bill, the importance of religious literacy, the decline in programming on religion and ethics, commissioning practices, and the critical need to ensure public access to broadcasting. “This is legislation, which is made for commercial broadcasters, it has commerciality at its heart, it's about leaving enough, not even a little bit of wriggle room, but loads of space so that broadcasters can respond and do whatever they want.” To listen to this podcast and support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E6 · Mon, February 19, 2024
Prof Catherine Johnson discusses the decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding
Catherine Johnson, Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Leeds, author of the book ‘Online TV’, and a member of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports College of experts discusses the decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding. “I think part of the problem is that Ofcom was set up primarily as a competition regulator and has increasingly taken on the roles of a public service regulator. I sometimes don't feel that as a as an organisation, it really has that sort of fundamental understanding of public service media as a system.” Sign up now for £1.99 per month to support our journalism: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Thu, February 15, 2024
The decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding – we talk to Prof Catherine Johnson
Catherine Johnson, Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Leeds, author of the book ‘Online TV’, and a member of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports College of experts discusses the decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding. “I think part of the problem is that Ofcom was set up primarily as a competition regulator and has increasingly taken on the roles of a public service regulator. I sometimes don't feel that as a as an organisation, it really has that sort of fundamental understanding of public service media as a system.” Sign up now for £1.99 per month to listen to this interview and support our journalism: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E5 · Mon, February 12, 2024
David Lloyd co-founder of Boom Radio and local radio expert discusses changes in BBC local radio and Ofcom's oversight of them
In the week the BBC announced that it's preparing to launch new spin-off digital radio stations for Radios 1, 2, and 3 to provide more choice to audiences underserved by the BBC, we're talking to the co-founder of Boom Radio - a station that emerged to fill the gap left by Radio 2. David Lloyd, who has worked in radio for over 40 years, from LBC to Virgin to BBC local radio, and has regulatory experience from his years at the UK Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom), discusses changes in local radio and Ofcom’s oversight of them. "The regulator, in changing the BBC’s operating licence, is required to seek the views of as many people as you can. ... if you look at the number of people who replied, it is paltry, the number of individuals is a handful, the number of people who mentioned BBC local radio is two or three." Please support this podcast by signing up to: https://www.patreon.com/beebwatch/membership You will be charged £1.99 per month only (not per creation). @BeebRoger email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Thu, February 08, 2024
Co-founder of Boom Radio and local radio expert David Lloyd discusses changes in BBC local radio and Ofcom's oversight of them
In the week the BBC has announced that it's preparing to launch new spin-off digital radio stations for Radios 1, 2, and 3 to provide more choice to audiences underserved by the BBC, we're talking to the co-founder of Boom Radio - a station that emerged to fill the gap left by Radio 2. David Lloyd, who has worked in radio for over 40 years, from LBC to Virgin to BBC Local Radio, and has regulatory experience from his years at the UK Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom), discusses changes in local radio and Ofcom’s oversight of them. "The regulator, in changing the BBC’s operating licence, is required to seek the views of as many people as you can. ... if you look at the number of people who replied, it is paltry, the number of individuals is a handful, the number of people who mentioned BBC local radio is two or three." To listen to the interview sign up to www.Patreon.com/Beebwatch/membership - it's only £1.99 per month. @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E4 · Mon, February 05, 2024
Sir Craig Oliver former BBC editor and No 10 director of communications on Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb, GB News and mental health
Sir Craig Oliver is a former editor of BBC News at Six and Ten and was the Downing Street director of politics and communications under David Cameron. We discuss the release of the BBC Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb’s position on the BBC board, GB News and his career. “I don’t think we need GB News ….. what we're realising increasingly, is we need sources of news that are at least trying to be impartial.” To listen to the interview sign up to https://www.patreon.com/beebwatch/membership @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 Enull · Thu, February 01, 2024
Former BBC editor and No 10 director of communications Sir Craig Oliver on Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb, GB News and mental health
Sir Craig Oliver is a former editor of BBC News at Six and Ten and was the Downing Street director of politics and communications under David Cameron. We discuss the release of the BBC Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb’s position on the BBC board, GB News and his career. “I don’t think we need GB News ….. what we're realising increasingly, is we need sources of news that are at least trying to be impartial.” To listen to the interview sign up to www.Patreon.com/Beebwatch @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E3 · Mon, January 29, 2024
Alan Rusbridger former Guardian editor in chief discusses his Prospect article "How the government captured the BBC"
Alan Rusbridger, former Guardian editor and now editor at Prospect magazine has written an article with the headline ‘How the government captured the BBC'. Has it? We discuss the concept of impartiality, the government appointed board member Sir Robbie Gibb’s attempt to interfere in the appointment of the chair of Ofcom, his influence on the corporation, the make-up of the BBC board and criticism from the Jewish Chronicle. “Sir Robbie Gibb is the only person with editorial experience, who sits in ultimate judgement on BBC impartiality. That's a very strange state of affairs.” Please support our journalism by signing up to www.Patreon.com/Beebwatch @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Thu, January 25, 2024
Former Guardian editor in chief Alan Rusbridger discusses his Prospect article "How the government captured the BBC"
Alan Rusbridger, former Guardian editor and now editor at Prospect magazine has written an article with the headline ‘How the government captured the BBC'. Has it? We discuss the concept of impartiality, the government appointed board member Sir Robbie Gibb’s attempt to interfere in the appointment of the chair of Ofcom, his influence on the corporation, the make-up of the BBC board and criticism from the Jewish Chronicle. “Sir Robbie Gibb is the only person with editorial experience, who sits in ultimate judgement on BBC impartiality. That's a very strange state of affairs.” To listen to the interview sign up to www.Patreon.com/Beebwatch @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E2 · Mon, January 22, 2024
Jim Naughtie BBC Special Correspondent discusses the US election, challenges of reporting when democracy is at stake and media integrity in the UK
Jim Naughtie has covered each US presidential election over the past five decades. He was a political correspondent on The Scotsman and then The Guardian , before becoming a presenter of Radio 4’s The World at One and then of The Today Programme – which he stood down from in 2016. Currently, he is a Special Correspondent for BBC News and presents Radio 4’s Book Club. We discussed the implications of the Iowa caucus result, the challenges that public service broadcasters face covering an election when democracy is at stake, media integrity and comparing Fox News and GB News and the responsibilities of Ofcom. “I think it's extraordinarily difficult for them. But it's also extraordinarily important that they somehow get it right.” Listen to the full interview now and support the podcast by signing up to Patreon.com/BeebWatch Listen to all the published podcasts here @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Thu, January 18, 2024
BBC Special Correspondent Jim Naughtie discusses the US election, challenges of reporting when democracy is at stake and media integrity in the UK
Jim Naughtie has covered each US presidential election over the past five decades. He was a political correspondent on The Scotsman and then The Guardian , before becoming a presenter of Radio 4’s The World at One and then of The Today Programme – which he stood down from in 2016. Currently, he is a Special Correspondent for BBC News and presents Radio 4’s Book Club. We discussed the implications of the Iowa caucus result, the challenges that public service broadcasters face covering an election when democracy is at stake, media integrity and comparing Fox News and GB News and the responsibilities of Ofcom. “I think it's extraordinarily difficult for them. But it's also extraordinarily important that they somehow get it right.” Listen to the full interview now and support the podcast by signing up to Patreon.com/BeebWatch Listen to all the published podcasts here @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 E1 · Tue, January 16, 2024
Investigative journalist Andy Webb on his struggle to obtain BBC emails relating to Martin Bashir's Diana interview
The circumstances surrounding the securing of the Panorama interview with the late Princess of Wales have been one of the biggest controversies to beset the BBC. On this week’s programme we’re taking stock on the imminent release of emails by the BBC which concerns its handling of the Martin Bashir scandal. There has been quite a battle in the courts as the Corporation attempts to withhold and redact some of the emails requested under the Freedom of Information act by that very determined journalist and film maker Andy Webb. We talk to him about his fight, what he thinks he might learn from the emails and despite an apology from the director general Tim Davie to Lord Spencer why he thinks this matter is still worth pursuing. “I'm interested in what I alleged to be a cover up which was instituted in 2020. But more to the point, it is, if indeed, this cover up exists, it's a cover up that is being fostered very, very expensively at the public expense, in as much as the licence fee is public money, it is happening now. This is huge sums of money which are being spent now, in order to prevent, in my view, the disclosure of these particular emails.” Support the podcast and hear it first by signing up here Listen to all the published podcasts here @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Fri, January 12, 2024
Andy Webb investigative journalist, on his struggle to obtain BBC emails relating to Martin Bashir's Diana interview
The circumstances surrounding the securing of the Panorama interview with the late Princess of Wales have been one of the biggest controversies to beset the BBC. On this week’s programme we’re taking stock on the imminent release of emails by the BBC which concern its handling of the Martin Bashir scandal. There has been quite a battle in the courts as the Corporation attempts to withhold and redact some of the emails requested under the Freedom of Information act by that very determined journalist and film maker Andy Webb. We talk to him about his fight, what he thinks he might learn from the emails and why despite an apology from the director general Tim Davie to Lord Spencer why he thinks this matter is still worth pursuing. “I'm interested in what I alleged to be a cover up which was instituted in 2020. But more to the point, it is, if indeed, this cover up exists, it's a cover up that is being fostered very, very expensively at the public expense, in as much as the licence fee is public money, it is happening now. This is huge sums of money which are being spent now, in order to prevent, in my view, the disclosure of these particular emails.” Support the podcast and hear it first by signing up here All paid up members will have been emailed with a link to the full interview by Patreon. Listen to all the published podcasts here @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E16 · Tue, January 09, 2024
Full interview with Stewart Purvis former Channel 4 News editor and Ofcom regulator on the big issues facing the BBC in the New Year including the Martin Bashir controversy
Stewart Purvis, a former Editor of Channel 4 news and ITN Chief Executive was also one of the content regulators at Ofcom and oversaw standards cases involving the BBC between 2007 and 2010. In 2005 he was a member of a BBC commissioned independent panel assessing the impartiality of BBC news and current affairs coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2015 he was a member of the BBC Charter Review Advisory Group as well as many other roles including a non executive director of Channel 4. In our final programme of the year, we look at the issues that the BBC will be facing over the Martin Bashir controversy, Samir Shah’s appearance in front of the DCMS select committee, Robbie Gibb, BBC coverage of the Israeli/Gaza war, GB News and Ofcom's position ahead of an election year. We’ll also be announcing the top three downloaded programmes of the year. “This is becoming a saga, that's becoming a soap opera. And I feel there is a real muddle going on inside Ofcom as to what to do about it. So much so that I'm in the unusual position of actually saying that when Ofcom earlier this week, found that GB news had breached the rules, I don't agree with them." Please support us and become a paid member by signing up here @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Fri, December 22, 2023
Stewart Purvis former Channel 4 News editor and Ofcom regulator on the big issues facing the BBC in the New Year including the Martin Bashir controversy
Stewart Purvis, a former Editor of Channel 4 news and ITN Chief Executive was also one of the content regulators at Ofcom and oversaw standards cases involving the BBC between 2007 and 2010. In 2005 he was a member of a BBC commissioned independent panel assessing the impartiality of BBC news and current affairs coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2015 he was a member of the BBC Charter Review Advisory Group as well as many other roles including a non executive director of Channel 4. In our final programme of the year, we look at the issues that the BBC will be facing over the Martin Bashir controversy, Samir Shah’s appearance in front of the DCMS select committee, Robbie Gibb, BBC coverage of the Israeli/Gaza war, GB News and Ofcom's position ahead of an election year. We’ll also be announcing the top three downloaded programmes of the year. “I have a personal eyewitness evidence, because she once told me personally that she wanted to give an interview to Panorama.” This week's episode is behind a paywall so you need to sign up here to listen to the episode in full. @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E14 · Thu, December 14, 2023
Mark Damazer former BBC Trustee on Samir Shah's nomination as BBC chair, the Lineker tweets and government's strategy towards the BBC
Mark Damazer is a former BBC Trustee, deputy head of BBC News and controller of Radio 4, now chairs the Booker prizes. In the week that the Government's nomination for BBC chair, Dr Samir Shah, is scrutinised by the DCMS select committee we discuss his appointment, what will be in his in-tray, the Lineker tweets, the Government's decision to renege on their funding commitment to the BBC, charter renewal, consultation, transparency and the licence fee as a funding mechanism. “It’s less than four months ago, that John Hardy, the former chief executive, at ITN came up with this new set of guidelines. And I think we can agree, what Gary Lineker is doing, at the very least, is pushing at the edge of it.” Please financially support the podcast by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/BeebWatch @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E13 · Thu, December 07, 2023
David Aaronovitch broadcaster and journalist on BBC coverage in the Middle East, BBC's role in public service media, cuts and journalism
David Aaronovitch, worked for the BBC in a senior capacity before becoming a writer for the Independent and later a columnist on the Times. He's made numerous documentaries and currently presents BBC Radio 4’s The Briefing Room. He publishes longer articles on his substack 'Notes from the Underground' and contributes to Tortoise Media. We discussed the complexities and roots of the current conflict in Israel and Gaza, BBC coverage of the war, the BBC's role in public service media, potential cuts and his departure from the Times and current interests. "One of the big problems that I think that the BBC has had and other, is that they've not been able to be fully truthful about the circumstances under which they report from Gaza. I've really felt this incredibly strongly." Please financially support the podcast by signing up here: www.patreon/BeebWatch @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E12 · Thu, November 30, 2023
Pat Younge former chief creative officer at BBC TV and non exec director at ITV Studios on the future of PSB, diversity in broadcasting and coverage of Israel-Gaza war
Pat Younge is a former chief creative officer of BBC Television and a Non Executive Director at ITV Studios Ltd. Amongst his many roles he’s also currently Chair of the Cardiff University governing body and runs his own production company. In our interview we discussed why he is also chair of the British Broadcasting Challenge - why it was set up, the future of public service broadcasting, funding and local journalism. We reflect on his career, why he received elocution lessons and how diversity in broadcasting has changed. We also touch upon the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza war. "I, as a black person, also have a real empathy with what Jewish staff members are going through....... If you are a Jew working at the BBC or a Jewish person in the UK, when you see those scenes from Gaza—the dreadful, horrific things that Hamas did, and I have no problems calling that a terrorist attack—I can understand why a Jewish person will see those things in a very different way. Someone who doesn't have the lived experience or the family intergenerational experience of what it's like to be targeted for something you have no control over." Please financially support the podcast by signing up here: www.patreon/BeebWatch @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E11 · Thu, November 23, 2023
Greg Childs, former BBC executive producer on the crisis in children's programming, the importance of public service content and solutions
Greg Childs worked for over 25 years at the BBC, mainly as a director, producer and executive producer of children’s programmes. He created the first Children’s BBC websites and, as Head of Children’s Digital, developed and launched the children’s channels, CBBC and CBeebies. Greg left the BBC in 2004 and worked across other broadcasters. He's now Director of The Children’s Media Foundation and Editorial Director of the Children’s Media Conference. We discuss the crisis in children’s TV programming, it's decline in UK media, the importance of it, funding and the regulation of tech giants. "ITV have admitted to us that when they took the decision to shut down CITV channel and move it all online, they were getting programme viewing figures of around 4000 children per programme." Please financially support the podcast by signing up here: www.patreon/BeebWatch @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E10 · Thu, November 16, 2023
Michael Crick, broadcaster and author on GB News, Nigel Farage, impartiality, Newsnight and his career
It was once aid that the five most terrifying words in the political lexicon were “Michael Crick is in reception”. Michael has worked extensively across the main public service broadcasters – starting at ITV. He then moved to Channel 4 becoming political correspondent and Washington Correspondent. He joined the BBC as a reporter at Panorama and eventually became political editor of Newsnight before returning to Channel 4 News as political correspondent. He has now stood back from daily journalism to concentrate on writing and commentating. We discuss being kicked off GB News, impartiality in public service broadcasting, Newsnight, Nigel Farage and we reflect on his extensive career. “It spends too much of its time, I would argue, dealing with questions of race and gender and trans rights. And if you will just listen to Radio 4, you would think that the number of ethnic minorities in this country were say, half the population and I think there's a liberal left leaning amongst the makers of BBC Radio 4.” Listen to the full interview: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view Please financially support the podcast by signing up here: www.patreon/BeebWatch @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E9 · Thu, November 09, 2023
Sophie Chalk, VLV policy adviser discusses the implications of the new Media Bill on public service broadcasting
Sophie Chalk is the policy adviser for VLV (Voice of the Listener and Viewer), an independent charity representing the interests of the audience in supporting high-quality broadcasting in the UK. Earlier this year, they appeared before the DCMS select committee’s inquiry into the future of Public Service Broadcasting. Have their concerns been taken on board and reflected in the Media Bill, which was announced in the King's Speech on Tuesday? We discuss the implications of the bill on public service broadcasting including prominence, regulation, local radio, content, and impartiality. "There's a lot of concern about impartiality regulation at the moment. Ofcom is overwhelmed with inquiries that it's running into GB News. We think there is a real opportunity to define more closely what ‘news’ is. But the government hasn't picked up on that opportunity yet." Listen to the full interview: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch/view Please financially support the podcast by signing up here: www.patreon/BeebWatch @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E8 · Thu, November 02, 2023
Ritula Shah, former BBC Radio 4 presenter of the World Tonight on overpaid news presenters, BBC cuts and news centralisation
Ritula Shah spent 35 years at the BBC as a producer on 'Today,' presenting 'The World Today,' 'Woman’s Hour,' 'PM,' and chairing 'Any Questions.' However, Ritula is best known for her decade-long tenure as the presenter of the ‘World Tonight' on Radio 4 until earlier this year. We discuss why she left, covering the Israel/Hamas conflict, impartiality, preserving 'Newsnight' at the expense of successful Radio 4 strand programmes, and presenter pay. “I think that many of my colleagues are rather overpaid.” Support the podcast by signing up to Patreon here Find all our podcasts here Twitter: @BeebRoger Mastodon: @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E7 · Thu, October 26, 2023
Richard Sambrook ex BBC Director of News, the World Service and Global News on coverage of the Israel/Gaza conflict, newsgathering and transparency
Richard Sambrook, the former BBC Director of News, the World Service and Global News is now emeritus Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University. We discuss Tim Davie, the BBC director general's appearance before the 1922 parliamentary committee, the BBC's coverage of the Israel/Gaza conflict, their news gathering process and transparency, BBC cuts and their impact on services and journalism training. “The BBC tends to be overly defensive. That's it’s kind of default position. But I think it's increasingly important, they are able to get out there and explain what they're doing.” Support the podcast by signing up to Patreon here Find all our podcasts here Twitter: @BeebRoger Mastodon: @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E6 · Thu, October 19, 2023
Edward Stourton, BBC presenter and former foreign correspondent discusses journalism and religion
Edward Stourton has worked in broadcasting for more than forty years, and has been a foreign correspondent for the BBC, ITN and Channel Four. He was a one of the main presenters of Radio 4’s Today programme for ten years and still regularly presents The World at One, The World this Weekend and Analysis. He’s also been the main presenter of Sunday – the radio 4 programme which looks at the religious and ethical issues of the week. He's recently written a book about it with his producer Amanda Hancox which we discuss as well as another very personal book Ed has published this year called 'Confessions:Life Re-examined'. “I am endlessly impressed by the young people I work with, because it seems to me, they've got absolutely the sort of hunger and curiosity and healthy scepticism and love of the job that I like to think I and my mates had when we were all starting off all those years ago. And they don't dismiss things, they ask. They want to know about Hamas, they want to know about what most of us would consider its distorted religious inspiration.” “I think I'm just so soaked in Catholicism, that it's just me and trying to drag it out of me would be a hideously painful process. So, I just think it's easier to acquiesce is my sort of my watchword, just give in and believe - it's just easier. And it's helpful, I think it does provide you with a structure and approach to life.” Support the podcast by signing up to Patreon here Find all our podcasts here Twitter: @BeebRoger Mastodon: @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E5 · Wed, October 11, 2023
Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on BBC Israel-Gaza war coverage and use of the word 'terrorist'
Roger Mosey was head of BBC TV News and is a former editor of the Today programme. We discuss the BBC's reluctance to use the term "terrorist" and the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza war. “You have to recognise that you can't be morally neutral, you can't think that everything is a 50 50 call. So it's tough doing it. I think this is about the most difficult thing the BBC has to cover, after many years, decades of difficulty in covering Ireland.” Support the podcast by signing up to Patreon here Find all our podcasts here Twitter: @BeebRoger Mastodon: @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E4 · Wed, October 04, 2023
Sir Mark Thompson, former BBC Director General and soon to be CEO and chair of CNN, the US news channel, discusses democracy and free speech
By the time he was 40, Sir Mark Thompson had held some of the top jobs at the BBC. He went on to become Chief Executive of Channel 4 before returning to the corporation as Director General in 2004. In 2012 he went on to The New York Times where he turned around its fortunes. Another challenge now beckons - CEO and chair of CNN, the US news channel where he starts shortly. Roger Bolton talks to his former colleague about impartiality, free speech, BBC bias, democracy, public service broadcasting, religion, Russell Brand and Mark's career. "I like rule breakers, I like bad boys, and the female equivalent of bad boys. In other words, people who break the rules, break convention, and speak for me." "The United States is a country which continues to have a functioning indeed, at many levels, vibrant democracy. And interesting enough, I think there's a lot of lessons to teach the United Kingdom about democracy." Please become a regular supporter of the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E3 · Thu, September 28, 2023
Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive and former Ofcom content board member on the new BBC social media guidelines, Ofcom and Russell Brand
Richard Ayre, former controller of BBC editorial policy and a former member of the OFCOM content board is now the chair of the independent press regulator Impress. On this week's programme we discuss the newly published BBC social media guidelines in response to the Gary Lineker controversy last March. We also look at Ofcom's regulation of GB News and the Russell Brand affair. “Gary is a highly intelligent guy, the fact that he's welcomed these guidelines today, the fact that he never apologised or rode back from the things he said six months ago, suggests to me that if he's welcoming the guidelines, he doesn't think they would stop him saying what he's quite proud of having said six months ago.” Please become a regular supporter of the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E2 · Wed, September 20, 2023
Katy Searle, former BBC director of news programmes and current affairs on Russell Brand, news cuts, Ofcom and GB News
Katy Searle has recently left the BBC after a long career in news – over three decades. She was in charge of all of the BBC’s political output for 8 years up until last year, during which time huge savings had to be made. More recently Katy was director of news programmes and current affairs. We discuss the Russell Brand scandal, Ofcom's decision on GB News, impartiality and the impact of cuts on the organisation. "If you look at how long the Brand's investigation took, they spent two years doing that. Now, I wonder whether that's something that the BBC would be able to do, to devote that time. Of course, it's got some brilliant successes in the past, but it's vital that the BBC continues to do that and makes that a real focus." Please become a regular supporter of the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 E1 · Thu, September 14, 2023
Nick Ferrari, LBC breakfast presenter on competition with 'Today', local radio, impartiality and a colourful career
Nick Ferrari, LBC breakfast presenter and one of the UK's longest serving commercial radio presenters discusses impartiality, local radio, journalistic license and competition with the 'Today' programme. “Within the M25 we put up a fight against ‘Today’, we're not bad, but they are an absolute giant. Once you start getting out of the M25, I more than keep my own against ‘Today’. And you go to some cities, and actually, I will outperform the show in some cities.” He also looks back on a remarkable and colourful career that started as a 7 year old in his father’s news agency, and included helping to launch LIVE TV. Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E14 · Thu, July 20, 2023
Samira Ahmed, BBC 'Newswatch' and 'Front Row' presenter on BBC coverage of the Huw Edwards story, accountability and pay inequality
Samira Ahmed is the presenter of Radio 4’s arts programme ‘Front Row’ and for eleven years has presented 'Newswatch' – the sister programme and television news equivalent to 'Feedback' - which also aims to hold the BBC to account on behalf the licence fee payer. We discuss BBC coverage of the Huw Edwards story, the ability of 'Newswatch' and 'Feedback' programmes to hold the BBC to account and pay inequality. "Let's face it, it's mostly older white men coming out to speak on this and a lot of it has been very defensive." Our crowdfunding page can be found here Or become a regular supporter of the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E13 · Wed, July 12, 2023
Professor Steven Barnett on the BBC presenter scandal
Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster is a writer and broadcaster who has been involved in policy analysis at the highest levels, both nationally and internationally, for the last 35 years. Roger and Steven discusses the BBC presenter scandal: the actions of the BBC and Sun newspaper, BBC coverage of the story, privacy laws and whether the BBC is facing an existential crisis. “I think it's self-indulgent and I think it's self-obsessive. And it's self-indulgent to the point of actually acting counter to the BBC's proper news values which should be to think about stories that are important." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E12 · Wed, July 05, 2023
Andrew Neil, veteran broadcaster discusses politicians as presenters, PSB and his future
Andrew Neil, the former Sunday Times editor has become arguably the best political interviewer in the business, someone whom Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were desperate to avoid. This week we’re talking to the man who spent 25 years at the BBC presenting programmes such as This Week, Sunday Politics, The Daily Politics, and Politics Live. Andrew Neil then left the corporation and became the lead presenter and chairman of GB News, but not for long. After only 8 programmes he left. Due to cuts at Channel 4 his current 'Andrew Neil Show' has been cut for at least this year. We discuss public service broadcasting, left wing bias, impartiality, GB News and plans for the future. "A serving Conservative politician interviewing a Conservative government minister I'm actually surprised. It has surprised me how tolerant Ofcom has been of this kind of stuff. Certainly, when I was involved in trying to put together GB News it never struck me that Ofcom would allow that sort of thing to happen. Indeed, I always regarded Ofcom as something of an ally and keeping us within the bounds of proper mainstream broadcasting.” Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E11 · Tue, July 04, 2023
Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator on Ofcom regulations and politicians as presenters
Ofcom, the UK communications industry regulator was in front of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport select committee on Tuesday on the same day as Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes published an article in the Daily Telegraph. In recent years, an increasing number of politicians have fronted or guest presented current affairs programmes. Professor Stewart Purvis, former content and standards partner at Ofcom and ITN Chief Executive watches the proceedings in parliament and discusses Ofcom regulations and their adherence. "This distinction they're making between news and current affairs is not a genuine one. It is almost a device to enable politicians to present programmes." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E10 · Thu, June 29, 2023
Henry Hill, deputy editor Conservative Home discusses Conservative attitudes to the BBC, BBC reform and the growing trend of partisan news channels
Henry Hill is the deputy editor of the Conservative Home website. He discusses the growing trend of partisan news channels, regulation, funding models, impartiality, political interviews and Conservative attitudes to the BBC and BBC reform. “If support for the BBC on the right collapses, whether you think that that collapse is justified or not, whether you think the criticisms are justified or not, it then becomes regardless of that, very difficult to justify having a corporation and a broadcaster with all of those privileges. So, it's really important for those of us on the right who support the BBC to try and get Conservatives to engage seriously with the question of ‘okay, this is a really important principle, whatever our criticism of the BBC, what do what do we want it to look like?’.” Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E9 · Wed, June 21, 2023
Tony Hall, former BBC Director General on the need for a debate on public service media, local radio changes, investment in news and GB News
Tony Hall – Lord Hall of Birkenhead - was the director general of the BBC from 2013 until 2020. He joined the Corporation as a trainee in 1973 rising to director of BBC News and current affairs in 1990 and continued to lead BBC News until 2001. During his tenure he launched BBC Parliament, BBC 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC News Online, before taking some time off to run the Royal Opera house in Covent Garden. He also spent time on Channel 4’s board. Tony calls for a debate on public service media and discusses local radio changes, the merger of the two BBC news channels, classical music cuts, Channel 4, appointing a new BBC chair, impartiality and GB News. "At the core of the BBC is news, I think the BBC should be investing more in its news operation to be honest with you." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E8 · Thu, June 15, 2023
Martin Rosenbaum, former BBC Freedom of Information specialist on FOI, accountability and the Hutton Inquiry
Martin Rosenbaum was the leading specialist in utilising Freedom of Information at the BBC. As the former executive producer of political programmes at Westminster, he oversaw programmes such as 'Political Thinking' with Nick Robinson, and the 'Week in Westminster' as well as editing and producing numerous political documentaries. He had a ringside seat at the BBC during the Hutton Inquiry, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly the government advisor who became embroiled in the controversy regarding the government's claim about Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was one of the most damaging controversies in the BBC's history which led to the resignation of both the director general Greg Dyke and the chair Gavyn Davies. We discuss whether FOI changed journalism and politics and the lessons learnt from the Hutton Inquiry. "We were trapped in a kind of groupthink, of feeling, 'We must really stand up to them. We've got to demonstrate our independence.' They didn't have the voices saying, 'Hang on a minute, is this intelligence really right?' We didn't have the voices saying, 'Hang on a minute, are you absolutely sure that every detail in this story is correct?'" Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here Find Martin Rosenbaum’s ‘Freedom of Information: A practical guidebook’ here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E7 · Thu, June 08, 2023
Tim Suter, former BBC managing editor and a founding partner at Ofcom on the new Media Bill, quotas and accountability
Tim Suter, is a former managing editor of current affairs at the BBC, who later became a specialist adviser at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport which brought in the last media bill in 2003. That’s the one which which set up Ofcom, the UK’s media and communications regulator, of which Tim became a founding partner. He now runs his own consultancy, Perspective Associates. We discuss what the new Media Bill means, the dismantling of quotas for public services broadcasters, the remit of Channel 4 and accountability. "This piece of legislation leaves an accountability shaped hole that the public media institutions urgently need to fill." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E6 · Thu, May 25, 2023
Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator on GB News and the BBC's relationship with government
Stewart Purvis is probably the pre-eminent broadcast news journalist of his time. A former editor of Channel 4 news, he went on to become ITN’s Chief Executive – and then the poacher turned gamekeeper. The now Professor Purvis served as one of the content regulators at Ofcom and oversaw standards cases involving the BBC between 2007 and 2010. In 2015 he was a member of the BBC Charter Review Advisory Group and has been a non executive director of Channel 4 among many, many other things. We discuss GB News, the BBC's role and cuts, the merger of the BBC news channels, the Charter Review in 2015 and the BBC's relationship with government. “My concern about their decisions on GB News is…that looks like a policy decision. That we, the British government and Ofcom are going to change the approach on British television to impartiality.” “I would hope that with the departure of Richard Sharp as the chairman of the BBC Tim Davie will be free with the next chair, whoever it may be, to work out their agenda for debate. To take account quite properly of the government's view, but not to be on their knee to the government’s agenda of the day, which I think is close to what the BBC has been in recent months, at least in policy terms, if not in on the air terms, in what they perceive to be what the government wanted them to do about impartiality.” Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E5 · Thu, May 18, 2023
Rob Burley, former BBC editor of Live Political Programmes discusses his new book and the art of the political interview
Before leaving the BBC in 2021 Rob Burley had worked with all the big political beasts at the Beeb - Andrew Neil, Jeremy Paxman, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel - and as editor of Live Political Programmes oversaw 'The Andrew Marr Show', 'Politics Live' and 'Westminster Hour'. We discuss his recently published book called - 'Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying To Me' – which details everything from the art of the political interview, to revelations about the BBC's relationship with government and coverage of the EU referendum. "Where I think you're right is we didn't get into properly or maybe it’s very hard to, a discussion about the world as it will be in the future if you if you take a particular choice". Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E4 · Thu, May 11, 2023
Tom Mangold, former BBC investigative journalist discusses his craft and his past
Tom Mangold is one of Britain's top investigative journalists. From Fleet Street he moved to the BBC in 1964 and became a war correspondent covering numerous conflicts including Vietnam, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. He then found himself at Panorama for 26 years making over 100 documentaries. He looks back on a career where he cultivated the Krays, became friends with Stephen Ward who was at the heart of the Profumo scandal and dissects the challenges that investigative journalism is under. "The extent to which the use of libel actions against organisations doing investigative journalism, the way in which the libel courts are now being used makes it less and less easy to do good investigative journalism." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E3 · Thu, May 04, 2023
John Bridcut, highly acclaimed documentary maker on the royal family, impartiality and classical music
John Bridcut has produced highly regarded documentaries throughout his career on a range of subjects including ‘How the BBC began’, the British monarchy - encompassing the Queen's coronation, Prince Philip, and King Charles - as well as documentaries on classical composers such as Elgar, Delius, and Britten. His latest documentary, focusing on British composer Sir Michael Tippett, is set to air in June on BBC 2. John also authored a report in 2007 for the BBC on the safeguarding of impartiality in the 21st century. In our discussion, we delve into the BBC's coverage of the monarchy, impartiality, and coverage of classical music. “There's a sort of ivory tower mentality, where everything happens in Broadcasting House and is parcelled out in sort of diktats. I think it's a really dangerous course.” Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E2 · Thu, April 27, 2023
Simon McCoy, former BBC presenter on the merger of the news channels, impartiality and GB News
Simon McCoy was known as a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast, News 24 and latterly the BBC News at One. Before joining the BBC he was also royal correspondent at Sky in the early nineties covering the break down of Diana and Charles' marriage. After 17 years at the corporation Simon joined GB news for just under a year in 2021. We discuss royal coverage, impartiality, GB News, Richard Sharp's position as BBC chair and the merger of the BBC's two news channels. "When the BBC is under such pressure, when you're talking about an institution which people in their hearts do care about, but see daily a lowering of standards, and then you're watching a domestic news channel, and it is a domestic news channel overnight coming from Singapore from Washington - and I'll be pilloried for this - but with no British accents on it. You’ve got BBC licence fee payers paying for that. I think there is going to be a problem with that." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 E1 · Thu, April 20, 2023
Marcus Ryder from the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity calls for tighter regulations for public service broadcasters
The draft Media bill was finally published at the end of March - what does it mean for diversity and the public service broadcasters? We discuss language, data and the loosening of regulations with Marcus Ryder, previously head of BBC Scotland Current Affairs Programmes who is now the head of External Consultancies at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity. “I think that it is in BBC, Channel 4’s and other public service broadcasters’ interests for them to tighten regulation, because if they don't tighten regulation, then the publics service broadcasters quickly become like any other channel." "It's funny when Channel 4 was under threat and thought it was about to be privatised, all of sudden it went back to its roots so you had some very courageous programmes." Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here Listen to the interview on how our podcast came about on Podpod here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E15 · Thu, April 06, 2023
Peter Taylor, part 2. The veteran BBC journalist reveals his personal experience of covering Ireland for over 50 years
On the run up to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Peter Taylor veteran BBC journalist reveals his own personal story as a journalist covering Ireland for over 50 years and voices his concerns for the future of journalism. "Sadly, when I look at the people, my colleagues who've left the BBC, the BBC is in danger of losing that critical level of experience which we pass on, we veterans want to pass on, are eager to pass on, to the next generation and the next generation but one.” Support the podcast by signing up here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E14 · Fri, March 31, 2023
Peter Taylor, veteran BBC journalist discusses his latest book on the intelligence services and the peace process in Ireland.
One of Britain’s finest reporters Peter Taylor, with numerous books, documentaries and awards spanning a career of over 50 years, discusses his latest BBC 2 documentary based on his book published this week; 'Operation chiffon: The Secret Story of MI5 and MI6 and the Road to Peace in Ireland'. "We spent a couple of weeks just living inside the Maze prison. We were locked up with prisoners and in talking to them, it was quite clear that they were thinking beyond the so-called armed struggle." Support the podcast by subscribing here Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E13 · Thu, March 23, 2023
Jamie Angus, former director of BBC World Service and 'Today' editor on consequences of the loss of BBC Arabic radio, impartiality, Lineker fall out and future funding
Jamie Angus left the BBC last July after a stellar career involving editing the Today programme and Newsnight. He later became director of the World Service, running the teams which produce news in 42 languages to a weekly audience of 500 million around the world. Now he's chief operating officer at Al Arabiya news channel in the United Arab Emirates and is moving into the space left by the axing of BBC Arabic radio. We discuss cuts in the World Service and news, impartiality, the future funding of the BBC and the Gary Lineker affair. "If you look at some of the things he's tweeted even since this row - they seem pretty close to the line, if not over the line to me - and I'm not quite sure how this is going to get resolved in the longer term." Support the podcast by subscribing here Find all our podcasts here @grvlx001 @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E12 · Mon, March 20, 2023
Margaret Hodge, Labour MP speaks out against the new Israeli government's reforms
Protests in Israel continued over the weekend against the government's plans which would give Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, the power to overrule Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority and the power to nominate judges. Israel has no second chamber and no written constitution, so if this measure goes through there can be no appeal. Dame Margaret Hodge, who is the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement discusses what needs to be done after her trip to the regions. “I do think it’s probably the Americans have got to try and muscle their way in to trying to calm it down and get negotiations going between Israelis and then between Israel and Palestinians.” Support the podcast by subscribing here Find all our podcasts here @margarethodge @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E11 · Thu, March 16, 2023
Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on the Lineker fallout, Downing St emails, Fiona Bruce and appointing a new chairman
Roger Mosey, former editorial director of the BBC, head of TV news and director of sport discusses the handling of the Gary Lineker and Fiona Bruce controversies, the BBC board and its vision and the leaked emails and WhatsApp messages showing BBC editors asking their journalists to avoid using the word “lockdown” in reporting at the start of the pandemic and to be more critical of Labour after pressure from Downing Street. “I was worried too. And I talked to some quite senior people in the BBC on the broadcasting side and they were also worried." Support the podcast by subscribing here Find all our podcasts here @rogermosey @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E10 · Thu, March 09, 2023
Paul Hughes, former BBC Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and BBC Singers criticises announced cuts
On Tuesday the BBC announced cuts to its orchestras and choirs. Its in-house chamber choir, the BBC Singers will come to an end and there will be a 20% reduction of roles in the BBC's English orchestras - Symphony, Concert and Philharmonic. Paul Hughes, the former BBC Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and of the BBC Singers left his post last July after 23 years. He gives his reaction to the decision making process, the impact on the choral and orchestral landscape, the value the BBC places on classical music and whether the corporation is living up to its public service remit. “I don’t know what public service means in the BBC context now. If the BBC is not to do that which others can’t do, what are they for?" Roger also gives his reaction to Gary Lineker's tweet on the Government's refugee policy. You can read Roger's Guardian opinion piece here Subscribe and support the podcast here . Find all our podcasts here @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E9 · Thu, March 02, 2023
Simon Mayo, former BBC radio presenter discusses Ken Bruce's departure from Radio 2
Ken Bruce is the most popular presenter in the UK with over 8 million listeners on Radio 2 and he's about to join former colleague Simon Mayo at Greatest Hits Radio. Simon discusses Ken's departure from the BBC. "The situation has been handled badly." Subscribe and support the podcast here . Find all our podcasts here @simonmayo @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E8 · Fri, February 24, 2023
Colin Browne, chair of the VLV (Voice of the Listener and Viewer) discusses the lack of consultation and engagement with the licence fee payers
“In 2015 at the time of the Charter Review, more than 40,000 people responded to the BBC Trust on its consultation. The latest BBC consultation there was something like 25 responses because people didn’t know about it.” Colin Browne, chair of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer argues that there is now the absurd position that the BBC’s competitors have more power to influence the BBC’s ability to make changes, rather than those who fund it. Subscribe and support the podcast here . Find all our podcasts here @vlvuk @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E7 · Tue, February 14, 2023
Dr Tom Mills, author of 'The BBC: Myth of a Public Service', on the Richard Sharp controversy, the hierarchy of the BBC and its organisational and reporting culture
Dr Tom Mills, a sociologist at Aston University, has written a book called 'The BBC: Myth of a Public Service'. It claims to set aside both liberal and conservative fantasies about the institution, and says that far from being a sanctuary for independent journalism, the BBC is intimately connected to the power it is supposed to hold to account. We discuss issues raised in the book on organisational culture, reform, accountability as well as the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of the BBC chairman Richard Sharp. "I've never read any serious defence of the way the BBC is currently arranged." Subscribe and support the podcast here . Find all our podcasts here @ta_mills @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E6 · Tue, February 07, 2023
Richard Ayre, former BBC Trustee discusses BBC chairman Richard Sharp's appearance in front of the DCMS select committee
On Tuesday Richard Sharp the BBC chairman faced questions from the Department of culture, media and sport select committee. They were examining the process of the appointment of the BBC chairman, and as the committee which approved his appointment were they given the relevant information it could and should have known about. Richard Ayre, a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC news and a former member of the OFCOM content board discusses with Roger Bolton the chairman's appearance. “After the performance today, I think within the BBC, there will be very, very considerable disquiet among the staff, and among many licence fee payers. And I think they'll be right to be disquieted. And I think it may well be that Sharp feels the right thing to do is to step down in the fullness of time.” Support the podcast by subscribing here . Find all our podcasts here roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com @BeebRoger Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E5 · Wed, February 01, 2023
Paul Mason, former BBC Newsnight and Channel 4 economics editor discusses economic coverage and impartiality
As part of its impartiality plan, this week the BBC published its report looking at the broadcaster's coverage of taxation, public spending, government borrowing and debt. The authors found no evidence of bias towards one particular political position, but there were things "that put impartiality at risk". Paul Mason discusses the report's findings and reflects on his own experiences working at the BBC and Channel 4. "Newsnight had famously missed the AOL /Time Warner merger, the biggest merger in history - didn't think it was a story." Support the podcast by subscribing here . Find all our podcasts here Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E4 · Tue, January 24, 2023
Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive and BBC Trustee on the controversy surrounding BBC chairman Richard Sharp's appointment
Controversy is currently surrounding BBC chairman Richard Sharp amidst allegations that he helped Boris Johnson when the then Prime Minister found himself in personal financial difficulties, and while Mr Sharp’s application to become BBC chairman was approaching the final stages. He did not declare the alleged conflict of interest to those involved. Richard Ayre, a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC news and a former member of the OFCOM content board discusses Richard Sharp's position and the need to reform the appointment process. "Was there a conflict of interest at that time when he approached the Cabinet Secretary? You bet there was." Support the podcast by subscribing here . Find all our podcasts here Roger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here . Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E3 · Fri, January 20, 2023
Baroness Tina Stowell, chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital select committee on the departure of Ken Bruce, impartiality and the BBC's strategic purpose
Conservative peer Baroness Tina Stowell has had an extraordinary career since she left school with 5 O Levels. Leader of the House of Lords under David Cameron, following a period as Head of Corporate Affairs at the BBC, and now chair of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Select committee – a committee that is vital to the future of broadcasting. Baroness Stowell tells us her views on funding, impartiality, whether the BBC is serving the whole of the country, the impact of Ken Bruce's departure and the BBC's strategic purpose. "People need to know now, why it should remain part of our future." Support the podcast by subscribing here . Find all our podcasts here Roger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here . @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E2 · Fri, January 13, 2023
Dorothy Byrne, former head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, on privatisation, sympathy with Conservative plans for reform and the need for radical ideas in broadcasting
Dorothy Byrne was until recently Editor at Large at Channel 4, having been its head of news and current affairs for many years. We discuss the government's decision not to privatise Channel 4 and its plans for reform. Should the channel start making its own content and should more right wing voices be heard? And is there a need for radical ideas in broadcasting. “I think it is interesting to me, that I'm so in sympathy with much of what the Conservatives are saying they now want to do for Channel 4.” Support the podcast by subscribing here . Find all our podcasts here Roger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here . @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 E1 · Fri, January 06, 2023
Sir Peter Bazalgette, former chair of ITV, on ITV ceasing to be a PSB and a case for privatising Channel 4
“The public service broadcasting system is undoubtedly facing an existential threat,” so says Sir Peter Bazalgette. He has been responsible for shows such as Big Brother , Changing Rooms and Ready Steady Cook and in September he stepped down as chair of ITV. We discuss the importance of the Media Bill and the existential threat to broadcasters, privatisation of Channel 4, the BBC's vision and the need for a proper debate about what we want from the BBC. “ITV has a number of options. I know it wants to remain a public service broadcaster or a public service media company [PSM], and it treasures the regional and national news and all the other things it does, but it is one of its options. It’s a healthy company, it's got a very strong international production company, it's got strong cash flows, low debt, and so it has a number of options. And one of those options could be not being a PSM.” Support the podcast by subscribing here . Find all our podcasts here Roger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here . @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E15 · Fri, December 30, 2022
Roger Bolton interview, part two. Roger discusses why he is a Christian and answers questions on Brexit coverage, diversity and BBC cuts
In the second part of his interview with Richard Ayre, a former member of the BBC trust board, Roger discusses why he is a Christian and answers questions on Brexit coverage, diversity and BBC cuts and coverage. Support the podcast by subscribing here . @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E14 · Fri, December 23, 2022
Roger Bolton interviewed on his broadcasting career: his departure from BBC Radio 4's Feedback, editing Panorama and Nationwide, 'Death on the Rock' and much more
After over 50 years in broadcasting, and being fired twice by the BBC, Roger Bolton is interviewed on his career by Richard Ayre, a former member of the BBC trust. Roger talks about his departure from BBC Radio 4's Feedback, editing Panorama and Nationwide and discusses the controversy surrounding his 'Death on the Rock' programme in 1988 which examined the deaths of three IRA members in Gibraltar by the British Special Air Service. Support the podcast by subscribing here . @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E13 · Thu, December 15, 2022
Nick Jones, former BBC industrial and political correspondent on strike coverage, ‘that’ Mick Lynch and Mishal Husain interview and comparisons with the last winter of discontent
As we experience a wave of strikes in the coming weeks from nurses, train, postal, bus, ambulance and highway workers amongst others, how well is the BBC reporting on this myriad of industrial conflicts we are now faced with, and how does it compare to yesteryear? Nick Jones, who spent thirty years as a BBC industrial and political correspondent until 2002 gives us his views and reaction to ‘that’ interview between Mick Lynch, head of the RMT trade union and presenter Mishal Husain on the Today programme earlier this week . “I think that with these Punch and Judy interviews where everybody's going at one another, we just don't really get that insight which we should get. So, I feel the broadcasters of today, it's a disservice, we're not providing the level of background and information which we could provide, we know we could provide. And if only we had the resources, I think we still could provide.” Support the podcast by subscribing here . @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E12 · Fri, December 09, 2022
Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on Harry and Meghan coverage, sports rights, BBC funding and the future of public service broadcasting
On Thursday the first three of six Netflix documentaries about Harry and Meghan were released and BBC News led with the story. Did BBC News fall for the PR and were its correspondents impartial in their coverage? And in the same week the BBC hierarchy began a coordinated campaign to secure its future. The Chairman, the former hedge fund boss and Conservative donor, Richard Sharp gave his first interview as chairman to the Sunday Times, and a few days later his Director General,Tim Davie, made his pitch to the Royal Television Society. Roger Mosey is now Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, but while at the BBC he was Head of television News, Editor of the Today programme and Director of the Beijing 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games coverage. We discuss Royal coverage, sports rights, BBC funding and the future of public service broadcasting. "I think Richard Sharp is saying some interesting and good things. But I worry about the fact he is a major Tory donor. Chairmen of the BBC, have always come from a political background, so it's nothing new in that. But I think it does compromise their ability to articulate a genuine public service case for the BBC." Support the podcast by subscribing here on Patreon. @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E11 · Fri, December 02, 2022
Ernie Rea, the BBC’s ex-Head of Religious Broadcasting casts a critical eye over religious coverage
In a week when the 2021 census revealed a 5.5 million fall in the number of people who described themselves as Christian and that 22.2 million people declared they had “no religion” at all, the BBC’s ex-Head of Religious Broadcasting, Ernie Rea, casts a critical eye over the BBC’s coverage of religion and ethics. “When you think that about 82% of the population of the world cling to a faith tradition, and what an important part that faith tradition plays in the politics, the culture, the society all over the world - it’s absolutely plain the BBC should be covering it, should be exploring it, should be criticising it…It should be part of the of the asking questions to power, but it's not doing it.” Ernie and Roger discusses whether broadcasters underestimate the interest of ordinary people in matters of faith, belief and spirituality, the divide between radio and television coverage, the commissioning strategy and whether OFCOM should be considering relaxing quotas for religious programming. Stephen Fry, the renowned atheist, also addresses the question of how well broadcasters cover ethics and religion. Subscribe and support the podcast here . @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E10 · Fri, November 25, 2022
Peter York, social commentator, co-author of 'The War Against the BBC', busts BBC myths, discusses astroturfing and urges the BBC to defend itself
Peter York, best known for co-authoring 'The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook' back in the 80’s has written another book ‘The War Against the BBC’ with Professor Patrick Barwise. On this week’s programme he bursts some BBC myths, discusses astroturfing and urges the BBC to defend itself more robustly and report on the threat to the corporation for the sake of democracy. “The war against the BBC has been fought for decades. What’s happening now is that those convergent interests are more insistent. It’s what I call the ‘one more shove comrades and we’ll kill them’ situation”. “The BBC is part of the national picture and if it doesn’t report on a crucial part of the national picture, namely our broadcasting ecology, then there is a democratic deficit”. Subscribe and support the podcast here . @PeterPeteryork @BeebRoger @ RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E9 · Fri, November 18, 2022
Stephen Fry discusses JK Rowling, cancel culture, the BBC and the future of public service broadcasting
If anyone deserves to be called a Renaissance man then one of the leading contenders must surely be Stephen Fry, actor, novelist, comedian, campaigner, Norwich City Football fanatic, long time host of QI, gay icon and the list goes on. Having just closed his twitter account after Elon Musk’s takeover, transferring his loyalties to Mastodon, we talked to him about the BBC, the future of public service broadcasting, JK Rowling and cancel culture, and much else. “I would...wish them both to retreat, and to consider that it is possible for trans people to live full, accepted lives, according to their terms, in society, and for women to have all the rights and dignities that they demand. But it isn't possible if each side looks on the other as an enemy." Support the podcast by subscribing here on Patreon. @BeebRoger @RogerBolton@mastodonapp.uk roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E8 · Fri, November 11, 2022
Alice Enders of Enders Analysts, one of the shrewdest analysts of BBC finance and strategy gives us her insights into the corporation's financial situation in the light of the recently announced cuts to local radio.
The most recent evidence of the BBC’s financial strait jacket are the cuts to local radio, and the difficulties of deciding what to cut is evident in the continuing outcry at the announcement made last week. Not least in parliament. Alice Enders the director of research at Enders Analysis, one of the foremost media research analysts, spells out the financial challenges that the BBC faces. “We estimate three million households have already abandoned the licence fee and that is a trend which will increase in the course of the coming months as people have to make really hard decisions”. As the licence fee comes under scrutiny could subscriptions be an answer or a household levy? How successful is the BBC in attracting the younger audience and grabbing the attention of the public? What is the role of the regulator OFCOM when these cuts to our public service broadcasting are announced? Is the BBC scoring an own goal by alienating the front row of their audience - local radio listeners? Support the podcast by subscribing here @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E7 · Fri, November 04, 2022
David Shukman, BBC's former science editor discusses whether COPs are worthwhile and responds to critics of climate change coverage. We'll unpick the impact of the devastating cuts announced in BBC local radio .
Ahead of COP27 and free of BBC constraints, former BBC science editor, David Shukman tells us whether he thinks COPS are worthwhile, reflects on his reporting during his 38 year career at the BBC and responds to the charges made by Charles Moore on last week's programme on climate change coverage. “Looking back, I don’t think we were robust enough about just saying absolutely bluntly, this is what the very best science is saying.” And in the week when major cuts have been announced in BBC local radio, Paul Siegert, the national broadcasting organiser for the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) questions the case for such far reaching changes to the detriment of the 5.7m local radio listeners. “This isn’t about saving money, this is about moving money from A to B…. I think the BBC has underestimated the love that people have for local radio, it’s the jewel in the broadcasting crown…… They are chasing this mythical younger audience and they don’t seem to be that bothered about losing the loyal older audience.” Support the podcast by subscribing here . Contact us: @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E6 · Fri, October 28, 2022
Charles Moore, former editor of The Daily Telegraph is asked what he would have done if he had become chairman of the BBC and also discusses impartiality and is the BBC worth saving.
What would Charles Moore, former editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator have done if he had become chairman of the BBC? These are one of the many questions put to one of the BBC's most outspoken critics on 'Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch' this week. We discuss impartiality, group think, climate change coverage and whether the BBC is worth saving and is capable of being saved. Please support this podcast by subscribing here . @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E5 · Fri, October 21, 2022
Melvyn Bragg talks about arts programming and the future of the BBC.
The BBC has been celebrating its 100th anniversary – if you hadn’t noticed - and on ‘Beeb Watch’ this week Roger Bolton talks to one of it's greatest broadcasters – Melvyn Bragg. They discuss arts programming, BBC World Service cuts and the future of the BBC. “I think we should start panicking now. There is an encroaching mass, not dependent or related to each other, but it’s out there in force who would benefit if there were no BBC.” “I’ve talked directly to all of the people at the top of the BBC saying why don’t you make a stronger case?” “Why do they want to throw it away for? Why don’t they go and knock down St Paul’s whilst they’re at it?” @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com And please do support this podcast by subscribing now: https://patreon.com/user?u=81446035&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E4 · Fri, October 14, 2022
David Dimbleby looks back on his decades in broadcasting: on slipping standards in BBC political coverage, fighting back against lazy attacks, the monarchy and retirement.
In the run up to the BBC’s centenary, the Dimbleby broadcasting dynasty has nearly spanned its 100 years. David Dimbleby, Panorama presenter, editor of Question Time for 25 years, the anchor of numerous general election and referendum programmes talks to former colleague Roger Bolton. Looking back over his years in broadcasting, David discusses the rigour of news gathering and political interviewing slipping, fighting to extol the virtues of the BBC, the reluctance to examine the monarchy, being offered an honour, retirement and much more from his decades of broadcasting. “I would have fought tooth and nail for, first of all the rigour of news gathering and political interviewing, which I think has slid over the years. And I would have fought tooth and nail to extol the virtues of the BBC and the public support for it against the rather lazy attacks on it from both newspapers like the Daily Mail and politicians.” “There’s so much we actually don’t know about the way the monarchy works. I don’t think it would diminish us at all to know, I think you need to know. If you know and then you can agree, you can acquiesce in it or if you think things need changing, you change it. And that seems to be the Queen’s view but not the BBC’s.” “For me broadcasting is my life, so I don't want to relinquish it. Why should I give it up? I like doing it, and my lodestar is David Attenborough who’s 96. And I'm only 83. So why shouldn't I go on?” @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E3 · Fri, October 07, 2022
Joan Bakewell on faking phone-ins and the evolution of broadcasting.
Dame Joan Bakewell is synonymous with our arts broadcasting landscape: former BBC television art correspondent in the 1980’s, columnist for most of the major broadsheets at one time or other and presenter of numerous radio and televisions series. Former colleagues, Roger and Joan discuss how broadcasting has evolved, ageism, ethics and fake phone-ins. “There was an immediacy about it, which was very enjoyable, people liked that it was real, it was live. People could phone in, we sometimes faked that and phoned in our own messages. Various people used to do that, Barry Humphries being one because he could do multitude of voices, and would pretend to ring up and say, ‘I'm absolutely shocked and disgusted by what's on BBC television at the moment” . @BeebRoger roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E2 · Fri, September 30, 2022
Mark Mardell former BBC presenter discusses BBC cuts, impartiality and his Parkinson's diagnosis.
Mark Mardell, the former BBC presenter joins Roger to discuss the ongoing financial squeeze at the BBC after the Corporation announced this week that the World Service will lose 382 jobs in order to make a saving of £28.5m. In his 30-year career Mark was Europe Editor, North America Editor and, before he left the corporation nearly two years ago the presenter of Radio 4’s The World At One and The World This Weekend. As well as delving into the challenges the BBC faces, Mark also reveals his Parkinson's disease diagnosis. “I'm feeling fine and dandy, but I have to share with you that I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which means my voice is rather strange and weak…I've lost a bit of my boom. And I'm getting used to being the quietest person in the room rather than the loudest. But generally it’s in the stage of just being annoying rather than anything terrible.” Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 E1 · Sat, September 24, 2022
Roger Bolton's first podcast. Did the BBC get the coverage of the Queen's death right?
After over 50 years in broadcasting, and being fired twice by the BBC, Roger Bolton will cast a very independent eye on the public service broadcaster. No views will be censored, no question go unasked. Whether you care about, or are frustrated by, the BBC, this is the podcast for you. Whether you love or loathe the BBC this is the podcast for you. Roger Bolton, formerly presenter of BBC Radio 4's 'Feedback' launches his very first podcast. Free from the constraints of broadcasting on the BBC, with a few more opinions and casting his net a little bit wider to encompass the whole of the BBC, Roger examines the issues that are facing the corporation. As the BBC receives complaints about the lack of a republican point of view during the coverage of the Queen’s death, Roger has tea with a group of neighbours to gauge their reactions to the BBC's coverage and talks to Richard Ayre a former BBC Trust board member who was put in charge of planning the coverage for a Royal death 40 years ago. Did they already have any plans in place? Richard Ayre also talks about the challenges the BBC faces and the impact the financial squeeze has on its services. "The BBC has been saying ever since I was a kid that it was strapped for cash. It’s now visible. It’s visible what’s happening on screen, on radio and online". Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

Jonathan Dimbleby, veteran broadcaster, on unravelling historical myths, democracy's fragility, and long-form interviewing

Nick Kent on his BBC Two documentary "Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz" and public service broadcasting

James Cridland, editor Podnews and radio futurologist on BBC Annual Plan and monetising BBC audio

Kirsty Lang BBC presenter on changes to BBC Sounds for listeners abroad, the impact of cuts and a call to arms

Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator, on the fall out of the landmark decision against Ofcom in favour of GB News and the RTS awards controversy

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The i Paper columnist, on the BBC's Gaza coverage and media bias

Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive on BBC's Chair Samir Shah and DG Tim Davie parliamentary appearance and the Gaza documentary fallout

Tony Hall, Former BBC Director-General, on Royal Charter renewal and anti-Semitism allegations

Dan Thomas, FT Global Media Editor on Sky's digital shift, BBC charter renewal debates, and the future challenges facing public service broadcasters

Rob Crilly, Chief US Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail, on Trump's presidency - an insider's view

Peter Kosminsky, director of 'Wolf Hall' on financial support for British dramas, his career and being sacked by the BBC Plays department

Adjoa Andoh, Royal Shakespeare Company and Bridgerton actor on BBC radio drama cuts

Bill Nighy and Adjoa Andoh on BBC radio drama cuts

David Lloyd local radio expert on the outcome of his complaint on BBC Radio Devon's coverage of the Plymouth riots

David Elstein, founding Chief Executive of Channel 5, on BBC mutualisation, funding models, PSB content, and tax breaks

Sir Richard Eyre, theatre and film director and former BBC Governor on radio drama cuts and the BBC's cultural remit

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, DCMS ctte chair on BBC charter renewal, funding, World Service and Greg Wallace

Peter York, author 'A Dead Cat On Your Table' on culture wars, media power and the BBC

Andrew Graystone, writer and broadcaster, on his exposure of the abuse of John Smythe and the assisted dying bill debate

Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on high standards, distinctiveness and the impact of cuts

Prof Cathy Johnson discusses TV distribution and the dangers of exclusion

Prof Steven Barnett discusses BBC chair Samir Shah's speech: devolve, democratise, depoliticise

Jamie Angus, ex director of BBC World Service discusses the budget announcement on World Service funding and BBC cuts

Richard Sambrook ex BBC Director of News and the World Service on BBC cuts, disinformation and World Service funding

Gareth Benest, International Broadcasting Trust, on shrinking global coverage

Jim Waterson, former Guardian media editor, discusses his new venture, billionaire media owners, and radically rethinking public service broadcasting

Mark Urban ex BBC Newsnight diplomatic and defence editor on BBC coverage of the Middle East, Newsnight changes and life outside the BBC

Lawyer Trevor Asserson discusses his report which criticises the BBC for bias against Israel in its Middle East coverage

David Aaronovitch broadcaster and journalist on the Jewish Chronicle, The Asserson Report alleging BBC bias and media coverage of the Middle East

Richard Ayre, former senior BBC executive, on BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Chair Samir Shah's parliamentary appearance

Sir Trevor Phillips Sky presenter and Times columnist on BBC culture, their approach to ethnic minorities and the importance of local coverage

Sir Peter Bazalgette, former chair of ITV, on the funding and future of PSBs and the case for mergers

Prof Dominic Wring on general election coverage audit, media bias, legacy v social media and populism

Dame Elan Closs Stephens former BBC acting chair on what she would like from a new Culture Secretary

Olivia O'Leary former BBC and RTÉ broadcaster on the UK election, funding PSB's, Newsnight and the future of journalism

Adam Boulton ex Sky News political editor on election coverage, Farage media manipulation, impartiality and his career

Peter Snow veteran BBC journalist on the general election campaign, Newsnight and election night coverage

Prof Catherine Johnson discusses what a Labour government might mean for PSB, the Media Bill and digital terrestrial switch off

Jane Martinson ex Guardian media editor on Sir Paul Marshall, media ownership and impartiality

Audio expert Matt Deegan discusses BBC's podcast advertising plans, children's audio and the latest radio listening figures

Jamie Angus, ex director of BBC World Service and 'Today' editor discusses Ofcom, consequences of WS cuts and funding solutions

Stewart Purvis, former Ofcom regulator challenges Ofcom's conclusions on its audience research and its guidance on politicians as presenters

Comedian Steve Punt discusses his departure from the BBC Radio 4 satirical news programme 'The Now Show' and the evolution of radio comedy

Max Cotton discusses his BBC 'Growing Solo' documentary series on his year long food self-sufficiency experiment and the importance of food and farming literacy

Rory Cellan-Jones ex BBC Technology Correspondent on Tim Davie’s speech, 'Movers and Shakers', 'Ruskin Park' and #SophieFromRomania

Chris Banatvala, former Ofcom Director of Standards discusses Ofcom, GB News, impartiality and freedom of expression

Magnus Brooke, ITV Group Director of Strategy discusses the future of Public Service Broadcasting and the funding of 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'

Peter Taylor, veteran BBC journalist discusses his latest documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA'

'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA’, veteran journalist Peter Taylor discusses his latest BBC documentary

Baroness Kidron former film and documentary director on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs

Former film and documentary director Baroness Kidron on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs

Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust on the Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting

The Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting with Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust

Prof Catherine Johnson discusses the decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding

The decline in PSB revenue, reliance on tech giants for distribution, the Media Bill, Ofcom and BBC funding – we talk to Prof Catherine Johnson

David Lloyd co-founder of Boom Radio and local radio expert discusses changes in BBC local radio and Ofcom's oversight of them

Co-founder of Boom Radio and local radio expert David Lloyd discusses changes in BBC local radio and Ofcom's oversight of them

Sir Craig Oliver former BBC editor and No 10 director of communications on Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb, GB News and mental health

Former BBC editor and No 10 director of communications Sir Craig Oliver on Bashir emails, impartiality, Sir Robbie Gibb, GB News and mental health

Alan Rusbridger former Guardian editor in chief discusses his Prospect article "How the government captured the BBC"

Former Guardian editor in chief Alan Rusbridger discusses his Prospect article "How the government captured the BBC"

Jim Naughtie BBC Special Correspondent discusses the US election, challenges of reporting when democracy is at stake and media integrity in the UK

BBC Special Correspondent Jim Naughtie discusses the US election, challenges of reporting when democracy is at stake and media integrity in the UK

Investigative journalist Andy Webb on his struggle to obtain BBC emails relating to Martin Bashir's Diana interview

Andy Webb investigative journalist, on his struggle to obtain BBC emails relating to Martin Bashir's Diana interview

Full interview with Stewart Purvis former Channel 4 News editor and Ofcom regulator on the big issues facing the BBC in the New Year including the Martin Bashir controversy

Stewart Purvis former Channel 4 News editor and Ofcom regulator on the big issues facing the BBC in the New Year including the Martin Bashir controversy

Mark Damazer former BBC Trustee on Samir Shah's nomination as BBC chair, the Lineker tweets and government's strategy towards the BBC

David Aaronovitch broadcaster and journalist on BBC coverage in the Middle East, BBC's role in public service media, cuts and journalism

Pat Younge former chief creative officer at BBC TV and non exec director at ITV Studios on the future of PSB, diversity in broadcasting and coverage of Israel-Gaza war

Greg Childs, former BBC executive producer on the crisis in children's programming, the importance of public service content and solutions

Michael Crick, broadcaster and author on GB News, Nigel Farage, impartiality, Newsnight and his career

Sophie Chalk, VLV policy adviser discusses the implications of the new Media Bill on public service broadcasting

Ritula Shah, former BBC Radio 4 presenter of the World Tonight on overpaid news presenters, BBC cuts and news centralisation

Richard Sambrook ex BBC Director of News, the World Service and Global News on coverage of the Israel/Gaza conflict, newsgathering and transparency

Edward Stourton, BBC presenter and former foreign correspondent discusses journalism and religion

Roger Mosey, former BBC editorial director on BBC Israel-Gaza war coverage and use of the word 'terrorist'

Sir Mark Thompson, former BBC Director General and soon to be CEO and chair of CNN, the US news channel, discusses democracy and free speech

Richard Ayre, former senior BBC Executive and former Ofcom content board member on the new BBC social media guidelines, Ofcom and Russell Brand