Read this: 11/04/2021 Radio 4 Feedback

BBC sounds music Radio podcasts the BBC says, it's just published annual plan provides a framework.

We can be judged as to whether we have delivered our mission and purpose well his own judgement.

It does feel that Radio 4 is increasingly becoming a shop window for sounds in general and podcast in particular.

Have you talking to the former editorial director of the BBC Roger Mosey about the BBC's move to centralise commissioning across TV radio and online to make sure the channel controllers can retain the ability to be a bit eccentric to take some punch some things up might or might not work and I hope that is preserved in this great big new commissioning Empire awesome feedback the Reverend Richard Coles discuss his wife Saturday Live as a program you either love or hate and why he is so attached to his Priestly title.

And it some colours my view of the world and indeed informs everything I do to a Greater or lesser extent.

Don't worry as is a far from referential in and out of your comfort zone feature on mother and son reviews discuss a disturbing BBC podcast I'm not a Monster that's exactly what I found troubling.

It's not a docudrama, but it was very dramatic and I found that a little distasteful distasteful enough to put them out of their comfort find out later in feedback.

Last week the BBC published, it's annual plan this sets out.

It's goals and objectives for the year ahead and which it says is an essential part of our accountability to licence fee payers some of the key figures contained in the plan revealed that some 70 million pounds worth of cuts still need to be delivered despite recurring savings of 800 million so far.

This is what some of you might of the plan Francis I was horrified to hear that there were plans to cut the business and economics journalism.

This is the kind of journalism that the BBC is all about Stephen from Edinburgh I know the statement as part of this.

We will bring together commissioning for network and on-demand speech content commissioning programs at work across both brought radio and sounds with a little concern although this seems to me to be a statement of what is already well underway.

I fully appreciate that there is probably a cost imperative in doing this.

Radio 4 feels it has to reach the podcast listening audience as well as the on-air audience however, it does feel that Radio 4 is increasingly becoming a shop window for sounds in general podcasts in particular, No 1 from the BBC was available to discuss their annual plan, but they did provide us with this statement by the way is right after I conducted or interview with Roger Mosey across have schedules will continue to broadcaster significant volume of high-quality distinctive content serving all our audiences and we know what an important role are brilliant stations playing people's daily lives there also at the heart of BBC sounds which brings together all of audio content in one place allowing more people to enjoy and Discover our programs including those from radio for the vast majority of commissioning for BBC

Is always happens through the network teams given the more opportunities to develop great program ideas whether it's on there or on BBC sounds or both you like to join by Roger Mosey the trip today and editorial director of the BBC Roger Mosey from the annual plan the direction of travel is pretty clear isn't more money for television more money for online and a much greater focus on young people to think that's at the expense of the older audience.

It's right that the BBC is try to reach the audiences is currently losing so I have simply given the fact that they were haemorrhaging audiences 1634 s and it's absolutely correct to try to do that however also the BBC has to recognise its heartland audiences are incredibly important.

I'm sure we'll see that but sometimes you do get the impression that there's too much MCs bean paste.

Chasing people who are very hard chase and possibly losing some of those people who are the ultimate BBC loyalist but they are talking about fuel programs and they do not have a great impact and some people think that dinner.

What's special about the BBC is it idiosyncratic commissioning the stories? He wouldn't think of which perhaps the appeal initially to a small audience but then it taken up more widely used like worried about this concentration on major impact and fewer programs.

I agree.

What was seeing the big picture is this is the biggest exercising centralising commissioning that the BBC's ever done.

It's bringing TV and radio and online together enormous power in Charlotte more than content officer and I'm very different from a days when you've had Jana Bennett running TV with very different vision probably too Jenny abramsky running radio and the channel controllers and program editors are week.

This isn't necessarily the wrong thing to do.

It is about fewer bigger better.

It's about getting things more clouds and better use of diminishing resources my worries tensions loses diversity and diversity of thought and an actually strong editorial voices aquatic channel controllers are what makes a difference and and feels unlike one of those centrally planned mass-produced organisations like Netflix or CNN what time coming from news of course to to finish this ahead of TV news and concern for example when we refer to about the cuts in business coverage worried about that.

Do you have worries about the degree the level of cup taking place in BBC news in parts to provide money to be spent on younger listeners in television III do and again you can make an argument for efficiency but what?

Radio 4 Inside as a quite worried about is the potential loss of distinctiveness of today in WWI and p.m.

And Will tonight loss of program reporters reports that all the other day that the business coverage would be common across 5 live on Radio 4 in the morning and things which I think just to road and chip away and the point about some of those cars is if you look at the overall scheme of things actually what we should be doing is having greater efficiency across everywhere.

There is still huge money and television and the cutscene radio don't really achieve very much money at all, but do have a high-impact.

Alyssa Andrew man Stevens concerned at the commissioning programs that work cross broadcast radio and sounds mean that the Radio 4 is increasingly becoming I could a shop window for sounds in general and in particular.

I didn't that's a problem that they're commissioning now not just for a particular network but very much with sounds in mind.

Yes, my understanding is that

Controllers fever they have fought off some of the biggest and Creations from sounds.

It's not a daft idea to have content that works very well on BBC sounds my personal view is that the channel and Radio 4 should still come first and you can still sometimes hear a program land and where you fall schedule.

They think sounds like it was done as a pod what's not really is a program and I think they've got to be careful with that built distances Radio 4 doesn't just become audio Marsh and I think the channel has done a very good job in the steamer done a great job of trying to make sure you're ready for remains distinctive.

That's the battle.

We still have to be vigilant about last week.

I had to be down and David the controller of radio 3 and then like teacher downtime sandwich.

We going out to brother early in the morning.

Shall we say and explain to me when he had to broadcast them somewhere in order for them then to go onto sounds.

I'm some radio listeners were unhappy that the idea that you know Radio 2 should be as it were test on Testarossa launching pad for sounds.

Did you think that sounds Now is so prominent in the Minds of commissioners of this in danger of commissioning for sounds rather than commissioning first for the networks which I think is both and and that's why the BBC is bringing back BBC3 as a channel slightly against the evidence because it recognises there was a need both for linear channels and for the main digital content on iPlayer and an equally in radio you want to have an on-demand and specialised content podcast of revival sounds and you want to keep living your channels.

My view remains that Linea chance.

We are very strong indeed in radio and it's 30 years ago and John Burton's director-general.

We looked at this digital world and thought how's it going to change things been surprising is?

Resilient radio channels, are you know record audience Australia for record audience radio two people really want that so sounds useful addon, but you gotta be careful with the tail is wagging the dog editorial director of the BBC and by the way the BBC's annual plant is published on its website together with a summary do let us know what you think about it that interview or anything else to do with BBC Radio this is how you get in touch you can send an email to feedback and bbc.co.uk all the addresses feedback PO Box 672 34 London se1p 4ax you can follow her on Twitter by using at BBC R4 feedback or you can call us on 0303 444 5844.

Standard landline charges apply but it could cost more on some mobile networks all those details on our website last week.

You certainly did get in touch after interview with Alan Davie the controller of radio 3 many of you sympathise with the views expressed by these first couple of listeners Mark Johnston I appreciated that I was able to give you an interview regarding the reassignment of the Radio 3 essential Classics presenter, Ian skelly his reasoning was week on afraid, Ian skelly has a gentle whips entirely wasted on EBU broadcasts or afternoon concerts.

Please add my voice to the office that wants in back in essential Classics he has become a friend support witty and kind.

What more do we need sorry Mr Davey Your Grave 2 face up, but I think I mistake is in the making Dr Mary O'Neill

Wanted to listen to Justin Bieber over tune into a station that I know what play his music Radio 3 is a magnificent station to voted to classical music if it loses specific quality, it will be a great loss however criticism was not uniform it never is on feedback.

I support the changes outlined by the controller of three things do you need to change periodically a listening should not expect things to stay the same forever presenters on radio should expect to be moved around some comments derided some weekend was just trying to appeal to younger audiences.

I think it's great that the weekend schedule is not the same as every other day some programs are like the same.

I don't like that is fine.

I really like it when on classical pieces are put into breakfast and I wish there was a great of mixture of John Lewis there were just two types of music good and bad.

Please do keep your comments come.

now

each week or asking to BBC Radio listeners to step out of their comfort zones and listen to a program that would normally be on their radar this week.

We have a mother and son listen, Owen Roberts Liz Jones Doncaster and Owen from the village of Hathersage in Derbyshire the Archers In Our Time and front row and Julius you're free, please in our time Life Scientific and an actually feedback that is one of the greatest one as well.

Just go to Connor's.

Thank you so much.

I never miss when we asked you to listen to the first episode of a podcast series called I'm not a Monster it's BBC sounds the series is a collaboration between BBC Panorama and the American documentary series Frontline that's on TVs

Think about this podcast can you tell me what it's about well? It's documentary series about a woman who is now in prison in the US and because of her involvement in related terrorism about how this presenter explores her journey, and how she ended up in the position that she's now in well with documentaries of this type increasingly now the music they look for a lot of sound effects and they have some of the sort of them in her dressings of drama is an argument about how far is it should doing that way go and do you think they think was too dressed up as it work? Well, I think that's exactly what I found troubling because it was it's not a docudrama, but it was but it was very dramatic and I found that a little distasteful because I thought I did this doesn't seem appropriate.

What are the ethics of this?

It's a story that we want to hear about but I found that a little bit concerning this you sure this concerns well.

Yes almost asking you take Sides Now is she a victim or is she has a complicit perhaps? They want you to follow it through and come to that decision but I think the Confusion of the presentation made it made me not want to buy into it too much Sam spent the last few years telling me she was tricked by her husband into going to Syria with a young children overnight.

She's completely changed her story that means you knowingly provided support, but Isis who have committed some of the worst atrocities.

We've seen in decades and you supported that.

So, yes, I know the words to all is true reporter ok, it was obviously absolute central and he was the person talk you through did you think he dominated them too much in this no no not at all.

I was grateful when he came because I thought the woman who the stories about her sister sounded so similar what you couldn't tell them apart will the voices similar sister but I found the presentation of it was a bit garbled.

So when he came in that felt better to me.

I wasn't sure who.

Was so it's about this woman and how the version of her own story has changed it was presented his mystery to unravel and to come with him as he explores.

I think it kind of was one of many ambiguities.

That was set up through the program.

She's an ambiguous narrator.

Can we trust the whole thing was in ambiguous? And is this is this a inverted commas 2 3 or is it a documentary or you know is it a drama? What is it podcast like this other 10 episodes that you don't seem vertically we don't have to wait until next week for the second episode if you want you can got so have you likely to binge Liz Owen I wanted to know about the outcome.

I wanted to know what happened.

I wanted to know if the children.

We only heard we had a son and daughter but we only heard the sun but I thought I'd

Husband know what happened, but I just felt a bit troubled by the idea of this sort of drama.

Well if you elect to episode 9 and 10 and 11 episode in which they bring listens up-to-date with what's happened to everybody if you if you want to find out so this suspicion you mine obsidian that must be something about my age because it never crossed my mind I could just look so so unless we have your comfort zone's home first yes, yes, I was I found the ethics of it troubling and for that reason.

Yes, I was definitely out of my comfort zone and you'll is yes, I think I was because I find the Isis material and the extremism very difficult.

What it's just too horrific you know sufficient.

Do you don't want them or yeah? I know sufficient and I can't ever I can't sort of see an end to it where it's going and unconscious that all the time you know thousands of people have died and suffering than all the rest of it, so it's not you no not an entertaining subject dispose.

Well, Robert thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you and do let us know if you would like to be put out of your comfort zone.

Now the Reverend Richard Coles is an unusual priest with a rather more colourful past than most Church of England clerics openly gay and the former keyboard player with the 80s band the Communards is being open about his past drug taking and has just written an extremely moving Memoir of his life with his partner another priest who died tragically of alcoholism best known to Radio 4 listeners has the longest serving host of Saturday Live as well as for the series three vicars talking.

I'll be talking to Richard in a moment the first music from one of our out of your comfort zone contributors who recently reviewed Saturday Live for us the rev Andrew cope from Wimborne in Dorset very careful is your title the Reverend Richard Coles you don't stop being a priest whatever you're doing very little of your broadcasting seems to be of a spiritual or religious nature.

What's the weather look like you use your title as a brand is that fair? What do you believe your ministry as a priest contributes to your non-religious work having your phone's choosing to brand myself.

I'm not brand myself as a vicar of the Church of England because I'm not sure that would be something that we particularly extend my reach or enhance my reputation.

I am the Reverend Richard Coles decently who I think when I started out doing this.

I was just very struck by the unquestioned use of an honorific like Professor for something like Richard Dawkins or Brian Cox they thought well if they can do that perhaps I can do that too behind this idea that maybe someone was my Commitments might have something to contribute to the mainstream conversation and everybody as in do Brian Cox Richard Dawkins well, let's talk about Saturday

This morning, what are rich cast of stars what Talents depth breadth grief and joy serious funny heartwarming plus the wonderful presenters, you know who you are Richard and thank you Claire hubba.

St.

Albans I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the thank yous lot on Saturday live.

Thank somebody is in a good deed in the past.

It seems like the best Christian values translated directly into compelling radio.

So thank you for the Mike from London and former listener to Saturday Live the reason already at switch of causes interviewing style.

It seems to me that is interviewees can make a point or comment without Richard having to add a thought or personal story or comment of his own as a letter and much more interested in what the interviewee has to say.

Turn in hearing Richards personal reflections become too intrusive to the point where a nice find I no longer enjoy listening to the programme Richard the vast majority of emails from fans of the number.

It does seem to be one of those things which is called a Marmite programme they had a love it or hate it is that your experience I think so, I don't think partly because you're for listeners tend to have quite sharply to find likes and dislikes and wherever you are on the network, as if you will find that you divide the audience.

I think that we doing more tellingly than others with when we happen which is on a Saturday morning.

I mean radio is a famous reinterment medium.

You are in the ear of the listener when that listener is in bed or a kind of making a breakfast still take the dog for a walk.

I think perhaps the normal defences which you might have to get you through the day are perhaps and down and so

Sounds like you or Siri take them.

You've had to take them more than you would have another time that you always seem to have to add your own experience he the suggestion that I can use your trying to top the listener.

Why do you so often shares so much of yourself? I think I'll be friends of mine listening to this would be smiling Riley perhaps of this point and part of that perhaps is the bonfire of Vanities burning in which case may culpa actually Saturday Live is presents particular challenges for an interviewer and I think the point of the program is the basically you put people who are not opening to you directly interviewed play people who are and so it's not it's traditional interview in the way that it would be perhaps on an illucens or something of the museum end of the spectrum my job.

I think is to elicit conversation and stories from people as sometimes especially that someone is not used to being interviewed.

You need to sort of do that by dropping in something whisk used them up.

Saturday Live on Radio 4 on Saturday mornings, it's a great mix of topics and human stories which we can hear in-depth and usually at relaxed pace.

I appreciate the way the has continued throughout the pandemic even though it has lost some of its dynamic and phase because people are not together in the studio now as they were mainly pre covered, but we're not here together at your end at home.

I'm at home.

We're talking to zoom in a way.

It doesn't matter as much when it's one-to-one, but does it matter on Saturday Live have you lost something by the Round Table use the language single joking.

Don't have you felt a little more inhibited by the use of zoo inhibited so much as I think I'll raw materials are a bit sparer in that much of what satellite is Nick and it's always about trying to Alicia conversations and stories from people so much of that is regulated by what people reveal about themselves in real time and space sitting around a table in over kind of big Love

Wince the sort of flinch the smile which gives you a sense about where the Dynamics are the courts that goes onto I think one thing we've gained in the lock down.

There is lots of people have come to really value the radio because it's one of them is a way of remaining connected when for so many others lives have been closed down for lots of people confinement Roger and sometimes hear from listeners.

Who finds it just very very powerful that they are able to connect to a conversation outside their own immediate circumstances that most of our emails of complementary, but there are some criticisms and here's one from Colin Julie I'm just heard the out of your comfort zone slot which featured Saturday Morning Live I would agree whole heartedly that this program sounds like mid-morning local radio which is desperately short of content the Royal Air Force jollity of the current incarnation of the programme is on sorry to say.

Terrible Reverend Richard Coles is a very engaging broadcaster the poor soul deserve better than this.

I would like to talk about more series of death or do you think it actually you can be in talk about the quality of cake and other things at the same time tell all the truth, but tell it slant success in circuit lies as only they can someone I do like Lightness of touch and I do think the appearance of artists is something I would hope for and often the best that people have to say and they're the richest conversation can come from on the face of it may look like an unlikely encounter so I was on Radio 3 on doing hearts broadcasting for 10 years and I really really would like to talk about late German romanticism.

They're not going to do that on Saturday night, but it's not the program for that that said I do think we do describe a world richest rich and various other.

Complex with a light touch thanks to the Reverend Richard Coles and next week will hear a little more from Richard on whether three vicars talking will be returning to Radio 4.

How many reconciles is Faith with his work as a broadcaster? That's all for now so until next week keep safe and help keep other people safe to Dubai