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BBC Radio 4

3.5 (77)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
EVERY TWO MONTHS

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

6 DAYS AGO

News Avoidance, Counterpoint, and Ukrainecast Follow-Up

The main news this week has been about the US-Israel attacks on Iran - but how is BBC Radio handling its coverage? We'll hear from you on the situation. And in light of that, is there a chance that more and more people might be switching the news off? BBC Radio 4 recently aired a series of programmes all about positive news items, which many listeners felt was a relief to hear. Presenter Andrea Catherwood talks to Nic Newman, a founding member of the BBC News website and currently a Senior research associate with the Reuters Institute for the study of journalism, to find out what's fuelling the trend towards news avoidance. Following our piece last week about the end of regular episodes of Ukrainecast, we'll hear more of your thoughts on what you'll miss about the podcast. We also hear from listeners concerned that the music quiz programme Counterpoint is no longer recorded in front of a live audience. And there's information about how you can give your thoughts in the UK government's ongoing open consultation on the BBC's Charter Renewal, which closes at midnight on 10th March. The survey can be found on the government's website, under the heading Britain's Story: The Next Chapter. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
26 FEB

The End of Ukrainecast, Any Questions and The Fibre Factor

The war in Ukraine is still raging on, but is BBC Radio's coverage being faded out? Regular episodes of hugely popular Ukrainecast stopped before Christmas 2025, although the BBC has stated that they will produce pop-up episodes at particularly urgent moments in the conflict. But what do you think? We hear from listeners and Andrea Catherwood talks to Olga Tokariuk, journalist and Academy associate at Chatham about the impact that Ukrainecast made. There's been some buzz around a recent episode of Any Questions? which broadcast from Dumbarton. The programme in front of a live audience was interrupted several time by protesters and one question from an audience member was changed before it was broadcast. We hear from you on how presenter Alex Forsyth handled it. It's also the first VoxBox of the series - this time, couple Becky and Alex stepped into our booth to discuss the recent Radio 4 series The Fibre Factor, presented by food writer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. But did Hugh's nutrition-focused programme give them food for thought? Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
18/12/2025

Feedback's Interview of the Year 2025

All year long we've been asking listeners to send in their nominations for Feedback's Interview of the Year, and finally the time has come to crown the winner. In this special episode of Feedback, Andrea Catherwood will hear your nominations for the BBC Audio Interview of the Year - any conversation from across BBC radio or podcasts that inspired, surprised, or stopped you in your tracks. We'll also reveal the interview that was judged the best by our listener judging panel - and talk to the winner. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: David Prest and Rebecca Guthrie Judging Panel Coordinator: Mike Hally Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

28 min
11/12/2025

The Reith Lectures, and From Our Own Correspondent at 70

The Reith Lectures are one of the most anticipated broadcasts in the radio year, and the conversation around this year's iteration, presented by Dutch historian Rutger Bregman on the theme of 'Moral Revolution', has been making headlines. Bregman complained on social media that one of his lines was edited out of the broadcast of the first lecture - and it set your tongues wagging. Andrea Catherwood catches up with the lectures' commissioner Hugh Levinson to ask about the decisions behind this year's series. And it's 70 years since From Our Own Correspondent - or FOOC = was first broadcast on the BBC, giving a space for long-form, single-voice reports from correspondents all over the world. Editor Richard Fenton-Smith and Today presenter Anna Foster joins us to hear your thoughts on the programme as it celebrates a big birthday. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for Radio 4

28 min
04/12/2025

Swear Words and Hearing Loss on Radio 4

What can you say on the radio these days? For some listeners, instances of swear words and racialised language do not belong on Radio 4. Andrea Catherwood sits down with "king of the bleep" Roger Mahony, the Head of Editorial Standards for Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra and On Demand Speech, to discuss listeners' concerns and ask how the decision to give certain words the green light gets made. And listeners were entranced by a recent Illuminated documentary presented by poet Paul Farley about hearing loss and hearing aids. We put your points to the documentary's producer Geoff Bird. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

28 min
27/11/2025

Mark Steel's in Town. Materials of State. Test Match Special Podcast - Interview of the Year nomination.

Mark Steel's In Town has just completed it's 14th series, and listeners from Shetland to Rutland and beyond have been tuning in. But what do they make of it? And what goes into putting each episode together? Mark joins presenter Andrea Catherwood on Feedback to answer your questions and unravel how the programme works. Some listeners also had questions about Radio 4's Materials of State, which is being broadcast this week. The first programme in the series covered the story of the UK's national flag - listeners claimed calling it the Union Jack was wrong. Malcolm Farrow, President of The Flag Institute, weighs in to clear up any confusion. And there's one final nomination for Feedback's Interview of the Year before nominations close. It comes from a listener who tuned in to Test Match Special Podcast to hear the BBC's Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt interviewing veteran cricketer David Larter. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
20/11/2025

Father Figuring, BBC Radio Scotland Cuts, and a Bruce Springsteen VoxBox

There's been a raft of programming out on BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live over the past week about fatherhood. Feedback's heard from listeners to one particular series on Radio 4 - Father Figuring, presented by comedian Darren Harriott. In the series, Darren attempts to untangle his feelings about his complicated relationship with his own dad, and work out what makes a good father today. Andrea Catherwood puts your comments to him. BBC Radio Scotland has seen some big changes in the past week, as the current late night music programming is set to be changed. Veteran presenters Iain Anderson and Billy Sloan are among those seeing their shows wound down, in a move that has caused backlash among some listeners. Brian Ferguson, The Herald's Arts Correspondent, and Norman Paterson, whose music career was changed by an appearance on Iain Anderson's show, weigh in with their thoughts. And from one music legend to another - a new series of Legend is out on BBC Sounds, and this run is all about Bruce Springsteen. Listeners Christopher and Victoria enter our Feedback VoxBox to discuss whether the series left them blinded by the light, or if compared to other BBC podcasts, they felt it was tougher than the rest... Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

28 min
13/11/2025

BBC Resignations, Prince Andrew Coverage, and an Interview of the Year

Following resignations of the BBC’s Director General and the CEO of BBC News in light of accusations of institutional bias in the organisation, Andrea Catherwood puts listener comments about the integrity of the BBC and its coverage of the scandal to the former Radio 4 Controller Mark Damazer. As the story on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor continues to play out, the Senior Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph shares how she navigates a story of this sensitivity and magnitude. We pose listeners’ responses, including a query over naming conventions. And there's a moving conversation on 6 Music that’s been nominated for Feedback interview of the year by listener Bruce Shortland. He suggests a beautiful conversation between Chris Hawkins and the rapper Rosca Onya. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Assistant Producer: Jac Phillimore Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David Prest A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

28 min

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3.5

out of 5

77 Ratings

BBC

17/10/2025

lovealways#

What a disgrace you have become you are indeed very reminiscent of The Sun paper You have lost moral ethical integrity And going to Dong of piped piper who is taking off cliff edge What are doing? Nestling in with such hatred biased news by supporting far right extremism? Do you understand what fairness is? Are you in fact aligned with extremism? I ironically switched on to listen to this podcast and this is great listen BUT the BBC leadership needs to change It’s toxic racist and anti supporter rhetoric Your failing the country by not listening to
Irritation!

26/04/2022

Grandmatriarch

Out of their comfort zone very tedious with often rather singular participants. Would prefer more views on radio generally rather than wasting space on this irritating feature.
Love it

20/10/2012

Jonnie Enlglish

I like the way it can criticise with a smile:) just wish the series stints would be longer.
Time to tune out

13/08/2021

middle stump 1

This would be a useful programme if anyone from BBC management ever turned up to answer questions. I have recently started to listen to Times radio for my morning news and it’s an improvement on the Today programme. There is an additional benefit of no continuity announcers with their wacky accents and no interminable adverts for BBC sounds. In the meantime I have unsubscribes from this podcast.