Richard Ayre is the chair of the UK's independent press regulator, Impress. Before that, he spent about thirty-five years at the BBC as a former controller of editorial policy and deputy chief executive of BBC News, before becoming a member of the BBC Trust. Richard is also a former member of the OFCOM content board. In this week's episode, we discuss BBC's DG Tim Davie and Chair Samir Shah's appearance in front of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's select committee: the fallout from the Gaza documentary which was pulled after it was discovered the 13-year-old narrator had a family connection to Hamas, future funding models, the World Service, and the possibility of a generational charter.

“There was a meeting between BBC executives and executives of the production company—a face-to-face meeting—to comply this film before it went out, and the BBC didn't press for an answer or didn't get an answer to the question about the connection of the kid. That's very worrying, and that, I imagine, is where the BBC’s inquiry is now going to unearth some bodies—or people likely to be bodies.”

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@BeebRoger

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Tony Hall was the Director-General of the BBC from 2013 to 2020, during which time the BBC's Royal Charter was last renewed. We discuss the differences between that charter renewal process and the current one, as well as the key issues surrounding the upcoming renewal: a long-term vision, a permanent charter, a new funding model, accountability, and engagement with licence fee payers. We also address the allegations of anti-Semitism within the BBC.

"I have never seen fundamental anti-Semitism in the time I was at the BBC. It's not how people work. Yes, there can be errors. Yes, there can be misjudgments, but fundamental anti-Semitism, or any other fundamental take on life that comes out in the BBC journalism I've never seen, and I don't believe it's there."

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@BeebRoger

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LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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Dan Thomas is the Global Media Editor at the Financial Times who broke the story on Sky News’ strategy and newsroom overhaul. We discuss the strategic decisions facing all the major news organisations as they adapt to changing audience behaviours, regulation of social media, the future of all the public service broadcasters, BBC charter renewal, the BBC’s news operations in the US and digital switch over.

“Sky News have been on the on the sort of watch list, as it were, for some time. They've got what can only be described as an existential crisis, right? And this is not just unique to Sky, it’s applicable to all sorts of linear, traditional broadcasters, but Sky News, they've got a particular problem. People don't really want to watch news on TV anymore, not in the way they used to. And they've had to come up with something.”

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@BeebRoger

Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch

LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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

Rob Crilly is the Chief US Political Correspondent for The Daily Mail who has covered Donald Trump since his bid for the presidency in 2015. Part of the White House press corp and regularly travelling with the president, Rob offers unique insights into Trump’s personality, communication style, and the impact Trump has had on American politics and journalism. We discuss the challenges of covering the Trump presidency with his disregard for facts, the Trump’s administration’s efforts to sideline traditional media for “new media”, the lack of opposition and Trump’s relationship with Keir Starmer.

“He's extraordinarily personable, and maybe it comes from his background as a property mogul, and he's essentially a salesman, but he sort of knows how to put people at their ease.”

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@BeebRoger

Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch

LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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Peter Kosminsky, the renowned British film and television director who recently directed the much-acclaimed Wolf Hall, discusses his career journey—from being sacked by the BBC Plays department to finally becoming a successful documentary-maker and filmmaker. He describes the creative process behind Wolf Hall, the challenges British filmmakers face in securing funding from streaming services for projects focused on British subject matter, and his proposal for a UK cultural fund, financed by a levy on streaming service subscriptions, to support the production of high-quality British dramas.

On his Grenfell project:

"Are we really saying that British television is incapable of making a drama about this critical subject to a British audience, because a bunch of American streamers don't think it's interesting enough to finance?"

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@BeebRoger

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LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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Adjoa Andoh is one of Britain's most celebrated actors, with an extensive career spanning stage, screen, and radio. She has appeared in iconic TV series like Doctor Who and Netflix’s Bridgerton, as well as making her Hollywood debut in Clint Eastwood's Invictus.

In this episode we discuss the importance of radio drama, concerns about the significant cuts to radio drama production, the potential impact on the creative industries eco system, and the value of public service broadcasting.

"We're sort of the frog being boiled slowly. We're slowly losing things, and then you're suddenly aware there don't seem to be as many plays on, but you're not quite sure how; and this is terrible."

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@BeebRoger

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LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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This week we’ll be hearing from some of our nation’s greatest actors Bill Nighy and Adjoa Andoh on why they think the BBC should reverse the proposed cut to BBC Radio 3's sole drama slot and why they are seeking reassurances that there will be no reduction in the amount of drama on Radio 4. Make sure you don’t miss out on this episode which will be published later this week.

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@BeebRoger

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LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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David Lloyd is a veteran of the local radio industry, with over 40 years of experience in roles at LBC, Virgin Radio, and the BBC. He also brings regulatory expertise from his time at the UK Radio Authority, now part of Ofcom. Today, he's a broadcaster and co-founder of Boom Radio, a relatively new UK station catering to baby boomers.

In this episode, we discuss the state of BBC local radio, including the details of Lloyd's complaint about BBC Radio Devon's failure to adequately cover the 2024 riots. We also explore the potential role of alternative providers and the impact of the BBC's proposed spin-off service on Lloyd's own station, Boom Radio.

“I think the BBC can do a lot better on the resources available, even as reduced. They've still got £120 million now furnishing a lot of very part-time radio stations—that's a lot of money. In other hands, that could actually deliver some incredible local radio, which, yes, is the BBC the right person to be running local radio if it really takes them that much money to deliver it poorly?”

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@BeebRoger

Instagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatch

LinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

email: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com

www.goodeggproductions.uk

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