With the US presidential elections less than 3 weeks away the BBC's North America Editor, Jon Sopel talks to Roger about the challenges of covering a campaign dominated by personalities rather than policies. He responds to listeners' suggestions that the BBC has been too focused on Donald Trump and too soft on Hillary Clinton.
The Radio 4 documentary Body Count Rising argued that modern fiction is increasingly portraying violence against women in a voyeuristic way. Listeners were divided over the arguments. The programme's producer Gemma Newby answers her critics.
And after a bumper summer of sport, the Controller of Radio 5Live Jonathan Wall defends his network against the accusation that its news brief is being swamped by too much sport.

Producer: Kate Dixon
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Published on October 16, 2016.

14/10/2016

The editor of Today defends his programme against audience accusations of sexism in its coverage of Donald Trump's obscene comments, and a listener goes behind the scenes at Radio 5Live.

When the Today programme ran an item on so-called "locker-room banter" following Donald Trump's comments about women, it prompted an angry reaction from the guest who had been invited to discuss the story on air. Laura Bates from Everyday Sexism accused the programme of a serious error of judgement in conflating two very different issues. Today's editor, Jamie Angus, tells Roger Bolton why he thinks he was right to run the item.

Also, listener Tony Baker goes behind the scenes at BBC Radio 5Live Drive as they cover the victory parade of Britain's successful Olympians and Paralympian teams. 

The BBC's Head of Newsgathering, Jonathan Munro, explains why budget cuts means fewer presenters being jetted off to foreign climes to cover international stories.

And Fi Glover, the presenter of Radio 4's The Listening Project, talks about the decision to devote a week of programmes to Brexit.

Presenter: Roger Bolton
Producer: Kate Dixon
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Published on October 23, 2016.

21/10/2016

Roger Bolton investigates the demise of Detective James McLevy, protagonist of the much-loved and long-running Radio 4 drama.

Also, many listeners want to know why the former Cabinet minister Michael Gove got so much airtime this week, with lengthy interviews on the World at One and a 15 minute special on The Pursuit of Power.

The programme goes behind the scenes at a recording of The Kitchen Cabinet, talking to panellists, audience members and the programme's presenter Jay Rayner.

Everything We've Ever Known is a series of short comic histories of science presented by Jake Yapp. They are currently on the Radio 4 website but, for the first time, have no connection with any Radio 4 programme. Roger Bolton discusses this development with the creators.


A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Published on October 30, 2016.

28/10/2016

Roger Bolton asks whether this was the best week for the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to wash up on Kirsty Young's Desert Island Discs.

As Peggy learns to cut and paste on The Archers, Roger examines the BBC's role in Government backed education campaigns. 

And after Richard Herring's endorsement - listeners are desperate to know how to get hold of this season's must have Radio 4 hoodie.

Email the team: feedback@bbc.co.uk


Producer: Karen Pirie
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Published on October 29, 2010.

29/10/2010

Roger Bolton encounters a sticky problem on You and Yours after listeners question the validity of a nine minute report on a doughnut manufacturer. You and Yours editor Andrew Smith defends the decision. 

Radio 3 devotee Chris Newman joins Roger for a behind the scenes visit to a live broadcast and find out some of the unexpected things that can go wrong during a performance. 

And 25,000 of you submitted your Desert Island Discs - so why were only five listeners' stories featured in a special programme celebrating the public's favourite discs? Desert Island Discs editor Alice Feinstein explains why- and says she hopes there's more to come. 

Contact the Feedback team to let Roger know what you'd like him to tackle this series about anything you've heard on BBC radio.


Producer: Karen Pirie
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Published on June 17, 2011.

17/06/2011

Is it possible to give listeners access to the riches of the BBC archive - without releasing material that was deemed acceptable when it was made but is offensive now? As you voice concerns about Orwellian attitudes, Roger ask David Jordon, director of Editorial Policy and standards what the rules are. 

And following a furore in the press Roger finds out if it's really no longer acceptable to use the terms AD and BC, instead of CE and BCE, on the airwaves? 

We celebrate the 50th birthday of In Touch, BBC Radio 4's programme for blind and partially-sighted people, and ask whether the BBC is doing enough for listeners with disabilities. Liz Carr, presenter of the irreverent podcast Ouch!, drops in on the different networks to find out what's on offer.

And a listener has sent in a play-let. It's set in a dark basement, features fingernail extraction, and stars a character called Roger Wright, apparently the controller of Radio 3...

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

This programme's content is entirely directed by you.


Producer: Karen Pirie
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Published on September 30, 2011.

30/09/2011

Feedback

Radio 4's forum for comments, queries, criticisms and congratulations. Roger Bolton airs listeners' views on BBC radio programmes and policy.

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