Talk back to the BBC and challenge the programme makers.
Talk back to the BBC and challenge the programme makers.
There is a new programme in the schedule, World Business Express. It has been on air for around six weeks and is a partial replacement for the now-decommissioned World Business Report. We hear listeners' comments and we are joined by its editor, Justin Bones.
Plus, and after nigh-on a thousand editions of Over To You, this is the final edition hosted by Rajan Datar.
He looks back on his nearly 20 years of airing your feedback and interviewing programme makers and BBC execs on your behalf.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
It’s been one of the biggest talking points in our inbox this summer, the launch of a new BBC app to replace Sounds for international listeners. Now it has launched, we hear what listeners make of it and find out how they are finding its everyday use. And BBC Studios, who developed the app, respond to what listeners are saying.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
A recent Heart and Soul told the story of how a boy, Carlo Acutis, who died from cancer nearly 20 years ago has been declared a saint. We hear your feedback on this documentary and also from the show’s presenter, William Crawley. How did he approach this sensitive topic?
Plus, major schedule changes are only two weeks away, we look at which WS shows are ending.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
The World Service has launched a news sports show that it says will “tell the stories beyond the scoresheet”. We hear your views on whether More Than The Score will appeal to sports fans who are interested in the bigger picture. And we meet one of its presenters John Bennett plus the show’s producer, Jonathan McKeith.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
The Global Story has had a revamp and makeover. In a special edition, we examine the editorial changes and ask one of its presenters Tristan Redman and executive producer Annie Brown why the focus is now so emphatically on the US and its relationship with the world.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
World Book Club usually interviews authors about their work, with questions from the audience. But September’s edition featured an author who died nearly a century ago. We’re joined by presenter Harriet Gilbert to talk about the show's special episode on Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Will they do something similar with other deceased authors?
Plus, already announced major programme changes will take effect soon, but listeners have already been in touch concerned about what’s happening with Business Matters.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
The proposed switch from BBC Sounds to a new BBC app has been weighing heavily on the minds of some listeners. Many of you have been unhappy. Well it seems listener power has prevailed and there has been an important change! We bring you the BBC’s update.
Plus , the true crime podcast series The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby, is about one apparently pregnant young woman’s desperate lie. We speak with its presenter Sarah Treleaven.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
A number of journalists working for BBC Russian have been labelled “foreign agents”, severely restricting their professional and private lives. We hear from the editor of BBC News's Russian service about the impact.
Plus, a listener has been in touch to praise a moving eyewitness report on Newsday.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
The documentary Donald Trump’s New World Order set out to explain the reasons behind these turbulent times. Presenter Jamie Coomarasamy reveals how he overcame the problems of staying up to date when the Trump Administration seems to be announcing new policies day by day? We hear your views.
Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
We hear listeners’ reactions to the news that in the near future BBC Sounds is to end for international online listeners, and a new BBC app is to launch in its place.
We put your points and questions to the BBC and, with the help of a media expert, investigate what this might all mean for you.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC
In a special edition, Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th US president was comprehensively covered by all BBC World Service news shows, including a special edition of the Global News Podcast. But what challenges do the Trump presidency present for journalists, including the BBC’s news teams? We’re joined by a senior news editor and we hear listeners’ feedback.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
For our first show of the new year, four listeners from Brazil, the US, the UK and Italy set the agenda for what they would like from the BBC World Service in the coming year. Do they want different types of programmes, does news fatigue affect them, and how much do they feel the BBC World Service is still needed in 2025?
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
It was billed as too close to call right up to the night itself, but in the end the US presidential election saw a clear victory for the Republicans. We hear listeners' views on World Service coverage of the vote, and are joined in the studio by the team behind the election night show America Decides.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
We hear listeners’ bugbears about one aspect of news programmes that really annoys them: why do live interviewees sometimes get abruptly cut short by the interviewer? We go behind the scenes to reveal the pressures of live news production with one of the BBC’s news editors, Karen Martin.
Plus, a listener tells us what he likes so much about his favourite programme: Weekend.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
Stumped is a weekly digest of news, features and debate from the world of cricket - but are you bowled over by it? We hear your comments and are joined by one of its hosts, Alison Mitchell.
Plus, a listener asks why, when listening online, the volume level changes so much?
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon.
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
The Reith Lectures are an annual tradition, started in 1948 by the BBC’s first director general. In a special edition, we hear your thoughts on the programme, and we’re joined by the man who gave this year’s address. We also talk to the BBC executive who commissioned it.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
In a specially extended edition, we have Jon Zilkha, the controller of BBC World Service English, in the studio to answer listeners’ questions about what they’ve heard on the World Service in the past year. Some are happy - others feel there’s work to be done!
Topics include news coverage of the Middle East conflict, proposed schedule changes and the BBC’s long-term finances.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
We hear listeners’ thoughts on the BBC World Service’s reporting of the ongoing events in the Middle East. We ask if the war in Ukraine really has dropped out of the news headlines and discuss the issue of “news fatigue” with the head of journalism at World Service English, Simon Peeks.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
We examine arts programming on the BBC World Service as we talk to the teams behind two of its long-running shows: In the Studio and The Cultural Frontline. Do you enjoy these arts series? Or does arts programming in general leave you cold?
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
The recent women’s football World Cup has been widely hailed as a success for the international game. We hear your thoughts on the BBC’s coverage. Plus, a listener asks if there’s a place for sports reporting in a serious news show.
Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service