Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 [email protected]@BeebRoger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of its impartiality plan, this week the BBC published its report looking at the broadcaster's coverage of taxation, public spending, governmentborrowing 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 hereRoger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 hereRoger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here. @BeebRoger@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 hereRoger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here. @BeebRoger@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“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 hereRoger Bolton's Guardian Opinion article here. @BeebRoger@[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.@[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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@[email protected]@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 @[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: @[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.@[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?”@[email protected] 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?” @[email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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”.@BeebRogerroger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.