Feedback

Since the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran began at the end of February. Feedback has received a steady stream of comments from listeners about the tone of the BBC's coverage. We've also been discussing news avoidance from people who are starting to turn off the radio because of a prevalence of negative headlines. Andrea Catherwood takes a look inside the newsroom with the BBC's Director of News Content Richard Burgess. We've also received many comments in response to our piece last week about a recent episode of Woman's Hour, with listeners offering a different perspective to those broadcast previously.And it's the case of the missing radio programmes - some keen-eyed BBC Radio 4 Extra fans noticed that particular episodes of Miss Marple were mysteriously absent from BBC Sounds recently. We set out to crack the case. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

In light of the death of Jenni Murray who presented Radio 4's Woman's Hour for 33 years, listeners reflect on the impact she made on their lives over the decades. We also discuss controversy on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, with many listeners questioning the programme's choice of guests for a discussion on “the manosphere” last week. Reflecting on another much loved BBC broadcaster, Radio Times journalist Simon O'Hagan talks about Radio 2 presenter Liza Tarbuck's decision to step back from the programme which she has presented for the past 14 years. We also hear what Liza means to her loyal Saturday evening listeners.Kicking off this year's nominations for Feedback's Interview of the Year, we revisit an interview with Jessie Buckley on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. The actress spoke to Lauren Laverne just before she became the first Irish woman to win a leading actress Oscar for her starring role in Hamnet.Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Assistant Producer: Jac Phillimore Executive Producer: David PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

A recent episode of Radio 4's Inside Health, presented by James Gallagher, reported a groundbreaking advance in the biomedical study of ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis, sometimes known as chronic fatigue syndrome. On Feedback, we've heard from listeners with ME who were encouraged by the good news but wanted more personal stories that gave a message of hope. Andrea Catherwood talks to Dr Charles Shepherd, honorary medical advisor to the ME Association, about the change in attitudes to ME.It's also a big moment for all fans of Radio 4 Extra - it's time for another All Request Weekend. We hear from a listener who put something forward for selection, and talk to the station's Editor Richard Culver about how it all works.And we hear from listeners reacting to the Today programme's unusual decision to air an 11 minute monologue from BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen about the strands of history of US interventions in the Middle East and involvement of US Presidents.Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

Illuminated is Radio 4's home for powerful, original audio storytelling - and recently we've heard from listeners who were moved by a documentary called Functioning, about the effect of alcohol addiction on two women's lives. Andrea Catherwood talks to the programme's producer Jodie Taylor, and Radio 4 documentary commissioner Hugh Levinson, and hears a remarkable insight into how the programme came to be.Feedback's listeners are pretty clued up when it comes to giving their thoughts to the BBC, but we came across one last week who seemed to know more than most - as it turned out, he did a PhD on charter renewal. Andrea talks to Dr Tom Chivers, academic at Goldsmiths, University of London, about what the BBC can do to reach its audience during a consultation that could result in radical change.And following our discussion of news avoidance on last week's programme, we hear from a listener who has discovered his own method for avoiding news that feels excessive, or irrelevant.Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

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 RickardsA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

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 PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

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 PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4