The Media Show

Cuts in local radio, dropping Wimbledon and Formula 1, closing down networks at night: just some of the radical options reported in this week's papers as the BBC looks to find ways of balancing its budget after the latest licence fee settlement. Will any of them actually happen and are they even needed? We hear from the senior BBC executive running the review, Pat Younge. Maggie Brown of the Guardian and Richard Brooks of the Sunday Times discuss the ideas.And last week Ofcom announced a full-on review of the TV advertising sales system. Matthew Horsman of Mediatique gives his view on what this might mean for viewers, advertisers and commercial broadcasters.

After news of the devastating earthquake in Japan broke, broadcasters were under pressure to get correspondents to the disaster area to report on developments. But with several presenters now in the region, have news outlets gone overboard? To discuss how decisions about the logistics were reached, Steve is joined by BBC head of newsgathering Fran Unsworth and ITV head of foreign news Tim Singleton. The Independent's spin off paper, the i, publishes its 100th edition today. After a high profile advertising campaign, the number of readers has shot up. Simon Kelner, the editor of both papers, joins Steve Hewlett to discuss whether the current figures are sustainable and what the i's success means for The Independent. There are growing concerns that plans for a "three strikes" rule to tackle internet piracy, which would mean persistent offenders would get their connections cut off, have come to a halt. The Telegraph's Emma Barnett and Jeff Taylor of the BPI, discuss the music industry's worries about piracy and the reasons for the delay. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Richard Peppiatt's published an open letter to Richard Desmond, saying he was quitting his job at the Daily Star on several points of principle. He says he was asked to make up stories (the Star denies this) and was unhappy about the Star's coverage of Muslims in Britain. So, having admitted that he wrote stories he knew to be untrue, does he have a future in journalism? Last week the government decided not to refer News Corp's bid for BSkyB to the competition commission. This followed a report from Ofcom that suggested that increasing News Corp's ownership of the British media might lead to plurality issues. Ed Richards, the chief executive of Ofcom, joins Steve to discuss where Ofcom stands. Jason Gardiner, a judge on ITV's Dancing on Ice, is in trouble again over his acerbic comments and insults to the contestants. Gardiner is the latest in a long line of catty judges from "nasty" Nigel Lythgoe to Simon Cowell. But do all talent shows need a pantomime villain? Nina Myskow, 1980s talent show judge known for her cutting criticism, discusses why the spats between judges now make more headlines than the efforts of the contestants.The Producer is Simon Tillotson.

Veteran foreign correspondent Marie Colvin secured an interview with Colonel Gaddafi this week, alongside the BBC's Jeremy Bowen and ABC's Christiane Amanpour. She joins The Media Show from Tripoli to explain how she fixed the interview and discuss the challenges she faces in reporting for Libya.Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has dominated the headlines as much for his personal battle against extradition as for the activities of his whistle-blowing website. Now Assange is seeking to trademark his own name. His lawyer, Mark Stephens, speaks to Steve Hewlett about the plans. Product placement was launched on UK television programmes this week, with the subtle appearance of a coffee machine on the set of ITV's This Morning. But with advertisers pushing to get maximum exposure for their brands, is there a risk that programmes will suffer? Sally Quick from UKTV and Nick Price from advertising agency MPG discuss striking the delicate balance between products and programmes. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Former Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer shares his thoughts on the future of BBC Trust. What does he think of the man widely expected to be its new Chair, Lord Patten, and what will his biggest challenges be?Steve Hewlett is joined by Alex Thompson, Chief News Correspondent at Channel 4, and the BBC's Wold News Editor Jon Williams. How do they deal with reporting on the protests which are sweeping the Middle East and Northern Africa? Does social media make it easier or more difficult? And, with Western journalists banned from Libya how can you verify what is happening on the ground? And the programme everyone is still talking about - My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Veteran documentary maker Roger Graef and journalist Anne McElvoy discuss. The Producer is Joe Kent.

Last month, BBC director general Mark Thompson said the arrival of YouView would "herald an intense battle for the living room". This month, though, it became clear that viewers would have to wait for this upgrade to Freeview for up to a year longer than expected and more than two years longer than originally hoped. What are the implications for those viewers who want this next generation of free TV over the internet? Analyst Matthew Horsman, of Mediatique, offers an explanation for the delay and Steve Hewlett asks YouView's chief executive Richard Halton to give a date when it will finally arrive.This week saw the launch of OK!TV on TV Channel 5. Is it, as one reviewer said in the Guardian, neither "ok nor TV" or, according to another in the Express, a "resounding hit"? And how are the chances of OK!TV's success affected by the fact that OK!, Channel 5 and the Express are all owned by Richard Desmond's Northern and Shell, which may also be on the point of buying Big Brother? David Butcher of the Radio Times and Amanda Andrews of the Telegraph discuss the fortunes of 5. And it has been three weeks since Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, announced he would give Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp more time to address his concerns over "potential threats to media plurality" if NewsCorp buys the remaining 61% of BSkyB. If those concerns are not addressed, he said he would refer the bid to the Competition Commission. David Elstein, formerly of BSkyB and Chris Goodall, formerly of the Competition Commission, give their views on what's going on behind the scenes and what we can expect in the next few weeks.

As Question Time's editor leaves the programme owing to its move from London to Glasgow, Steve Hewlett looks at the BBC's plans to move more programmes to the regions. Former Question Time editor Nick Pisani and Professor of Journalism Tim Luckhurst discuss whether political programmes can work well so far from Westminster. BBC Chief Operation Officer Caroline Thomson explains the BBC's strategy. The commercial giant AOL has bought the pioneering blogs and news website the Huffington Post. Emma Barnett, the Telegraph's digital media editor, discusses whether the acquisition is a good buy for AOL and whether the Huffington Post can remain unique when it becomes part of a larger organisation.Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys left the channel last month amid a storm of controversy following sexist remarks about linesman Sian Massey. Now radio station TalkSport has hired the presenters for a week day show. TalkSport's Programme Director Moz Dee talks to Steve Hewlett about the decision. The Producer is Simon Tillotson.

In the last week, the Guardian, the New York Times and Der Spiegel have each published books telling the story of their relationship with Wikileaks and its leader Julian Assange, following their recent publication of leaked US diplomatic cables. Some of the information in the Guardian's book, referring to the alleged source of the leak, Bradley Manning, prompted Wikileaks to label the Guardian "the slimiest media organisation in the UK". The Guardian's editor Alan Rusbridger talks to Steve Hewlett about working with Julian Assange and how their relationship soured. George Brock is Professor and Head of Journalism at City University London and former foreign news editor at the Times. He picks up on the impact of Wikileaks and comments on its shift this week to the Telegraph. Peta Buscombe of the Press Complaints Commission responds to complaints about its handling of the phone hacking scandal. On Monday, the Financial Times editor Lionel Barber remarked that the PCC had taken no serious action over the allegations and that it was "supine at best". Yesterday, a ComRes poll for the Independent indicated that two thirds of those polled think the affair shows the industry should no longer regulate itself. So does the PCC have the confidence of the public and is it robust enough and responsible enough to be left alone? George Brock comments on Lionel Barber's fear that the UK media risks retribution for the phone hacking, with statutory regulation.

On the day the BBC World Service announces substantial job losses, Steve Hewlett talks to the Director General Mark Thompson about cuts, the licence fee settlement and the corporation's strategy for the forthcoming years. Are the changes at the World Service a sign of things to come, as the BBC finds a way to make efficiency savings following a licence fee settlement that will see its budget reduced by sixteen per cent? And as candidates for the Chairmanship of the BBC Trust are considered, Steve asks him about his relationship with it, as it works to represent licence fee payers. In the studio with us, Broadcasting consultant and former editor of Current Affairs for the BBC Tim Suter, who offers his analysis of Mark Thompson's plans, and Guardian columnist Maggie Brown who tells us what she would hope to see in the next Chairman of the BBC Trust. The media regulator Ofcom has published a report on News Corp's bid to buy the part of BSkyB they don't already own. The Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that he may refer the bid to the competition commission but is first giving News Corp more time to suggest remedies. Stewart Purvis, the former Partner for Content & Standards at Ofcom joins Steve Hewlett to discuss the report's findings. The producer is Kathryn Takatsuki.

As more celebrities threaten to sue the News of the World over alleged phone hacking, Steve Hewlett hears about the latest developments in the case. Guardian columnist Roy Greenslade explains how details that have emerged in recent weeks throw light on the extent of the problem and discusses what the revelations mean for the News of the World. The Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has outlined his plans for the future of local television in a speech at the Oxford Media Convention. Steve Hewlett talks to Jeremy Hunt about his plans to make local television financially viable. Professor Patrick Barwise from London Business School explains why he thinks the plans will result in low viewing, low revenue and have minimal impact on local democracy. The powers of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook have been credited by some for shaping events in Tunisia in the last week. A tweeter and blogger in Tunis tells Steve Hewlett how social networks mobilised demonstrators. Evgeny Morozov, author of 'The Net Delusion', explains how, far from helping democracy, the internet often helps oppressive governments use cyberspace to stifle dissent. The latest figures show that circulation for all national daily newspapers has fallen month on month and year on year. For some, it was a dramatic decline - circulation of The Times fell by over fourteen percent to around four hundred and fifty thousand. Roy Greenslade offers an overview of how the papers are doing and Professor Patrick Barwise explains why cutting prices might not placate advertisers. The producer is Kathryn Takatsuki.

Steve Hewlett presents a topical programme about the fast-changing media world.As former presenter Miriam O'Reilly celebrates winning an ageism case against the BBC, we ask whether this ruling will impact on who programme executives choose to be their on-air talent. A recent EastEnders storyline on sudden infant death syndrome has prompted a record number of complaints leading producers to announce they will cut the story short. Former channel controller Lorraine Heggessey and scriptwriter Simon Ashford ask whether a culture where complaints have such weight will lead to less creative drama. Why has Northern and Shell, which includes Express Newspapers, withdrawn from the Press Complaints Commission? What are the implications for press regulation in the UK?The Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to outline his plans for local television next week. It follows a report by Nicholas Shott in December, which suggested a network of around 10 local TV stations. But former Director General of the BBC and Chair of the Local Television Advisory Committee, Greg Dyke says the report is too cautious. He suggests that local TV could be commercially viable in at least 60 areas of the UK. We talk to him about how this more extensive network might operate, and how much it's likely to cost. The producer is Kathryn Takatsuki.

Facebook starts 2011 on a high as the company has been valued at $50bn after new investment. But can Facebook be worth that much? Benjamin Cohen, Technology Editor for Channel 4 News and Matthew Horsman, founder of Medatique, discuss what the world's biggest social network is really worth.The attorney general issued a warning to editors last week after some newspapers and broadcasters reported personal details about Chris Jefferies, the man arrested in connection to the murder of Joanna Yeates. Media lawyer Susan Aslan, journalism professor Brian Cathcart and former editor of The Sun Kelvin MacKenzie discuss whether the coverage went too far and ask if Britian's contempt of court laws are outdated. Over the Christmas period, stories about seasonal flu dominated the news. But has this year been significantly worse or were reports exaggerated? BBC Health correspondent Branwyn Jeffreys discusses how the media reports the flu.And, as ITV News is banned from a press conference on the Joanna Yeates case by Avon and Somerset police, we speak to ITV's editor-in-chief David Mannion about his reaction to ITV's exclusion. The producer is Olivia Skinner.

2010 was the year when the media became the story. From coverage of politics under the coalition government to the drive to make journalism pay its way and the impact of the WikiLeaks revelations, stories about the media look set to continue to make headlines in 2011. Steve Hewlett is joined by Times columnist and former BBC executive David Aaronovitch, Anne McElvoy who is former executive editor of the London Evening Standard and soon to write for The Economist and Peter Bazalgette, formerly of Big Brother's Endemol and now a self-styled digital investor. Together they discuss some of the big media stories of 2010 and how they may continue to develop in 2011.The producer is Olivia Skinner.

As revelations about Vince Cable's thoughts on Murdoch owned News Corp's bid for BSkyB come to light, Steve Hewlett looks at The Telegraph's role in reporting the story and asks where this leaves News Corp's bid. It's nearly thirty years since Rupert Murdoch bought The Times. Through freedom of information requests, the BBC has gained an insight into how the deal was done. Graham Stewart, author of The History of The Times: The Murdoch Years and Ben Fenton, Media Correspondent for the Financial Times, discuss the deal and the parallels with Murdoch's current bid for BSkyB. Upstairs or Downton? The creator of Upstairs Downstairs has suggested that ITV's successful Downton Abbey borrowed too heavily from her drama. With the BBC set to re-launch an updated version of Upstairs Downstairs this Christmas, freelance TV critic Emma Cox and Gareth McLean, soaps editor at The Radio Times, discuss who will win out in the costume drama wars. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Yesterday the BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons announced the BBC's strategy review, saying that it couldn't rule out the closure of some services. Steve Hewlett talks to Michael Lyons about where the BBC cuts are likely to fall and his response to the culture secretary Jeremy Hunt's recent claims that BBC political reporting has been out of touch with the national mood. Banker Nicholas Shott has been looking into the viability of US style local television news channels for the UK. In his report, commissioned by the government, he outlines how local television news would be funded. He talks to Steve Hewlett about the possibility of local television news at the touch of a digital button.With changes to the BBC and television news on the horizon, media commentators Maggie Brown and Neil Midgley are in the studio to explain the implications of the BBC review and Nicholas Shott's report. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Last week, Andrew Jennings drew praise and criticism for his Panorama report on FIFA. This week, in his first broadcast interview after the programme, he calls UK sports news journalists "the worst in the world" for not trying to beat him to his story. Mihir Bose, former BBC sports editor and Ashling O'Connor of The Times respond to his claim and discuss the challenges of covering sport off the pitch.On Monday, Jeremy Hunt announced further funding to help bring superfast broadband to every community in the UK. Stephen Carter had the role of encouraging the spread of broadband in the UK when he headed Ofcom and as Labour minister. What does he think of the state of broadband in the UK and the government's ambitions? And, as ITV marks 50 years of Coronation Street, former producer and ITV executive David Liddiment looks at how the soap has shaped what we watch on TV today.The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Michael Grade was chairman of the BBC and then ITV and is now heading to the House of Lords. Last week, he suggested that Channel 4 should drop its adverts and that licence fee payers should take over its funding. As a new Conservative peer, what changes would he try to bring about in the TV industry? With traditional journalism, many of this week's stories from Wikileaks could have commanded their own headlines and front page coverage for days. How far does the volume of stories work affect their impact and the ability of journalists to call the relevant people to account. In effect, is Wikileaks burying its own bad news? Columnist Ian Birrell discusses this with Janine Gibson, editor of the Guardian website.And, as Virgin Media launches its new video on demand service, TiVo, Steve asks chief executive Neil Berkett whether there really is a demand for this service. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive officer of WPP Group and one of the biggest names in advertising, talks to Steve Hewlett about Rupert Murdoch's view of the media, the BBC licence fee agreement and advertising's chances of recovering from the economic downturn.Rupert Murdoch is reportedly set to launch a new US newspaper, called The Daily, which will only be available to read on ipads. New York media commentator Emily Bell and FT journalist Tim Bradshaw discuss whether an ipad-only paper could be a viable alternative to newspapers.Clare Sambrook has recently won two investigative journalism prizes, the Paul Foot Award and the Bevins prize for her investigation into child detention in the UK. She discusses working for free and her part in securing a promise from the Liberal Democrats to stop detaining the children of asylum seekers.

Tom Bradby tells Steve how he secured the interview with Prince William and Kate Middleton yesterday for ITV and whether there were any ground rules. Simon Kelner of the Independent, meanwhile, explains why he chose to avoid the royal engagement story on his front page, when all the main broadsheets and tabloids have so much coverage....and so does the Independent's digested read, the "i".Lorraine Heggessey is a former controller of BBC1 and, until this year, chief executive of Talkback Thames. While an employment tribunal is hearing claims relating to the change of presenters at the BBC's Countryfile, when it moved from daytime to primetime, she tells Steve how broadcasters approach changes like this. Do presenters have to be younger, or more telegenic, or more "immersive"? This week the US media company NBC Universal International has bought the UK independent production company Monkey Kingdom which makes The Charlotte Church Show among others. It is the latest in a series of leading independents bought up by overseas businesses, including Tiger Aspect, Shed Media and Carnival. TV executive Peter Bazalgette looks at what is driving the interest in UK tv companies and the impact this may have on what is on screen.And how much is ITV's recently reported financial success based on X Factor and Downton Abbey and what might happen when X Factor's series comes to an end?The producer is Simon Tillotson.

This week the BBC Trust, while broadly praising BBC 4, has said the channel needs to make a bigger impact on the majority of viewers who do not watch it. The trust made similar comments about 6 Music earlier this year, before the BBC announced plans to close that radio station. Does controller Richard Klein have any fears for BBC 4's future? There are claims that media reports of allegations of corruption at Fifa may harm England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. One suggestion is that journalists should put their findings to Fifa's ethics committee rather than publish. The claims follow reports from the Sunday Times Insight team last month and ahead of a BBC Panorama report expected later this month. Richard Caborn, former minister and ambassador for the bid, discusses this with Andrew Hogg, formerly editor of Insight.And why are Ann Widdecombe and Wagner so popular with Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor audiences, when the judges say their performances are technically so much weaker than their competitors? What role to the judges play in raising their popularity? Emma Cox of The Sun and The Telegraph's Neil Midgley discuss.The producer is Simon Tillotson.

ITV's chairman Archie Norman has said ITV's caught up in a ratings rat race, that the demand for a mass audience "drives us to the lowest common denominator every time." At the same time, Daybreak with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley has lost enough of the mass audience to raise concerns about the programme's future. Is there really anything wrong with ITV's schedules and what, if anything, needs to be done to fix them? Times editor James Harding talks to Steve about the number of people paying to read The Times online. Do the figures provide a clue for other newspapers looking to make money from their journalism online? And Private Eye editor Ian Hislop discusses the future of investigative journalism, speaking to Steve before last night's Paul Foot awards.

Conrad Black is on bail in the USA while he appeals against his convictions for fraud and obstruction of justice. If he succeeds, he may be free to return to the UK sooner than expected. Talking to Steve Hewlett by phone from America, Lord Black explains why he might return to newspapers and shares his thoughts on his former rival Rupert Murdoch and on the role of a newspaper proprietor. Former Guardian editor Peter Preston offers his prediction of what Conrad Black will do on his return.The Independent has launched "i", a 20p quality newspaper which is said to be aimed at the time poor with "all you need to know in the time you have". Andrew Mullins is the Independent's managing director and one of the team that came up with the idea and, with advertising exec Alan Brydon of MPG Media, discusses the new papers prospects.And, with the front page of the Times announcing "advertising soars" as one of the reasons to be hopeful, Steve's guests give their view on signs for optimism.

After the chancellor George Osborne's announcement on the funding of the BBC, Steve Hewlett asks BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons if this really is a good deal for an independent BBC or, as some claim, the day the BBC became a state broadcaster. Media commentator Dan Sabbagh looks at how the deal was put together and early signs that parts are already unravelling.Danny Cohen is the new controller of BBC1. Former controller Lorraine Heggessey looks at the challenges he faces. Can viewers expect a taste of his former channels aimed at younger people, BBC3 and E4? And, today, Reporters without Borders releases its annual survey of press freedom around the world. Why, in their view, does the UK still not make the top ten - and where do they stand on the Pentagon's call for journalists to stop reporting leaks from Wikileaks?

There has been a major outbreak of collective letter writing in media land. First the one to Vince Cable about Rupert Murdoch's plan to buy the 60% of Sky he does not own and what the writers say is a serious threat to media plurality. But should the BBC have signed it? Ben Fenton broke the story of the letter for the Financial Times and he is joined by Phil Harding, former editor of R4's Today programme. And then there is a second letter, from newspaper editors to the Financial Services Authority, over new guidelines that, it is claimed, will lead to much less truth being told, or at least reported. The FSA says there is nothing new here but the Telegraph's head of business coverage, Damian Reece, says it leaves the FSA looking as if it is "engulfed in fog of paranoia".The legendary Claire Rayner has, sadly, passed away. What of the art of the agony aunt, which she did so much to foster, in the modern age? Sunday Times agony aunt Sally Brampton discusses Claire Rayner's impact with Anna Raeburn.And the Chile mine rescue may be compelling viewing, but can the same be said for the commentary? How are the rolling news channels filling the space between the moments of joy? We will be dropping in throughout the programme before catching up with Sky's head of international news, John McAndrew.

Last week the Radio Times accidentally released the names of the final twelve X Factor contestants before the programmes were broadcast, so confirming the names that had been circulating on the internet since early September. It was reported that Simon Cowell was "very, very disappointed" by the mistake but it is unlikely he would have been disappointed with the huge viewing figures that followed. How far can broadcasters control the leaks and rumours, to boost interest while not spoiling viewers' enjoyment? That's the discussion between David Liddiment, former director of ITV, Emma Cox of The Sun and Lisa McGarry of Unrealitytv.com.TalkSport's head of programmes Moz Dee talks about taking on Russell Brand for his first weekly radio programmes since he left Radio 2 over "Sachsgate". He also tells how he secured the radio rights for the Rugby World Cup from under the nose of the BBC.And Chris Wheal tells Steve what it was like to receive press attention when his nephew was killed by a fall this summer. Even though he made it clear that the family only wanted to speak through him, journalist after journalist contacted his sister, which made her feel threatened and harassed. He has been helping the Press Complaints Commission find ways to prevent this happening to others.

Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State at the DCMS, has made the encouragement of local TV a flagship policy and has now given more details of how this might work. Steve gets reaction from Barry Clack of Witney TV, which was highlighted in Jeremy Hunt's speech yesterday and from Helen Philpot who runs Lincolnshire's Channel Seven and who has been talking to government advisers. Mark Oliver of analysts Oliver and Ohlbaum gives his view on the likelihood of the plans succeeding.Both Virgin and Sky are launching 3D channels this week. Matthew Horsman of Mediatique joins Steve to examine how the services fit into the broadcasters' strategy. What impact does 3D have to make to prove successful? And Conservative peer Lord Fowler joins the debate on how the BBC should be run, calling for the BBC Trust to be revamped to give Director General Mark Thompson more support at what he says is a crucial time for the BBC's future. Lord Fowler has been chair of the Lords communications committee. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

A story has leaked this morning that the BBC is to allow the National Audit Office to look at its accounts - an idea proposed by the three main parties before the election. An announcement is expected from Don Foster at the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool. When the idea was first raised, there were concerns that government inspection of the BBC books could compromise its independence. Media commentator Dan Sabbagh of Beehive City looks at the potential points of conflict.In Prospect magazine tomorrow, Peter Kellner writes on his research that shows a marked drop in the public trust in journalists in the last 5 years while trust in politicians has apparently increased. He discusses this with Elinor Goodman, former political editor at Channel 4 news. Elinor Goodman is at the Lib Dem conference and comments on the change in the level of media interest this year.And in a wide ranging interview, Lord Puttnam discusses the possible impact of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp's planned buy out of BSkyB, executive pay at the BBC and Channel 4 and the government's closure of the UK Film Council.The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Rupert Murdoch's plans to buy out BSkyB have been questioned this week, with the leak of a report calling for Business Secretary Vince Cable to call in any deal for review. This would be under a law designed "to ensure the existence of a range of media voices, safeguarding the vibrancy of democratic debate". So should any takeover be subject to scrutiny? That is the discussion between TV executive David Elstein, former head of programming at BSkyB and Will Hutton, columnist and former editor of the Observer.The BBC has lost two leading figures this week, BBC One controller Jay Hunt and BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons. Jay Hunt starts with Channel 4 in January. What might this mean for the direction of the BBC and the programmes viewers see on BBC1? Media commentator Maggie Brown gives her view.London's 95.8 Capital FM is to go national, as the parent company Global Radio rebrands its local and regional chart pop music stations under the Capital name, just as it already has with Heart. Global chief executive Stephen Miron explains what lies behind the change. The British Film Institute has announced the discovery of 100 hours of tv dramas from the 1960s, lost until found recently in an archive in the USA. They include early performances by Sean Connery, Jane Asher and Dorothy Tutin, from a time when the tapes on which programmes were recorded were often wiped so they could be reused. The BFI's curator Steve Bryant talks about plans to show some of the plays in its "Missing Believed Wiped" season. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

Paul Staines, aka Gudio Fawkes, is the political blogger behind the story of William Hague and his special advisor. Critics describe him as an anti-journalist, un-accountable and a peddler of political soft porn. How does he respond? With a Papal visit to the UK imminent, issues like the ordination of women, and arguments about whether to build a Mosque at Ground Zero in New York, religion is never far from the headlines. But, can a secular media cover events in the world of religion effectively? And do newspaper article or television news have any hope of getting to grips with questions like 'Does God exits?' Former religious correspondent for The Guardian Stephen Bates and Baroness Warnock discuss. And the big story of the week. What exactly have we learnt from the New York Times' allegations about phone hacking at the News of The World, and why is an American newspaper so interested in what happens in the news room of a British tabloid? Steve Hewlett speakers to Professor of Journalism and former tabloid editor Roy Greenslade and Rupert Murdoch biographer Michael Wolff. The producer is Joe Kent.

When Mark Thompson spoke of "radical change" at the BBC and insisted that he was "up for the fight," in his speech at the Edinburgh TV festival, exactly what did he mean? Steve Hewlett speaks to the BBC's Creative Director Alan Yentob.In that same speech, the MacTaggart Memorial Lecture, the BBC's Director General also said that "it's time for Sky to pull its weight" - Sky's Director of Public Affairs David Wheeldon responds.The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson has written a blog headlined "Blair and Brown - an apology". It's tongue in cheek but refers to the jucier side of what Tony Blair has told us in his memoirs published today. But how much of what we now know - did we not know then? And what does it tell us about political reporting?And after Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp walked out of an interview with Sky Sports after his side lost at the weekend, and Sir Alex Ferguson continues to refuse to be interviewed by the BBC, we ask what value do post-match interviews hold? Steve is joined by Lynne Truss and Guardian sport's writer David Lacey. The producer is Joe Kent.