"They have decimated their coverage of politics in the last 10 years… If you're a serious public service broadcaster, that should be one of your core things, and not spending millions of pounds on programmes like Match of the Day.” Fascinating and fun listen with @iaindale.bsky.social on Beeb Watch

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 2w ago

David Cameron once offered Ann Widdecombe the ambassadorship to the Vatican. She turned it down. Just one of the stories from @iaindale.bsky.social who talks LBC, the Tories, the BBC, and his memoir 'Have I Said Too Much?' in this week's episode. 🎧 Full ep: podfollow.com/beebwatch

"That doesn't make them wrong." Ex-BBC & ITV chairman Michael Grade — who also just finished chairing Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator — argues different outlets can have different editorial priorities without either side being biased. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

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@beebwatch.bsky.social · 3w ago

"Licence is a licence. The same regulations apply to the BBC, ITV, Sky... and GB News. That doesn't make them wrong." Lord Michael Grade — ex-chairman of the BBC and ITV, outgoing Ofcom chair — on whether broadcasting standards are really applied evenly. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

🇬🇧 What would British fascism look like? Great convo 👇 @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social argues that American myths, British nostalgia and white supremacy are more tightly linked than we like to think. 🎧@peteryork.bsky.social Peter York's Culture Wars House Party podcast: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

"If the rationale for the ITV deal is we can't survive unless we are owned by a larger company, what does that mean for the survival of Channel 4?" A prescient point from an excellent interview with Prof Cathy Johnson of @universityofleeds.bsky.social who also unpacks the latest media green paper.

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 4w ago

"ITV have said if we don't get prominence legislation, we'll just won't renew our licence." 🎙️Prof Cathy Johnson on the Sky/ITV deal and government's new media green paper. We unpack why prominence, discoverability & amplification are now central to media policy 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Kate Ferguson @wordsaredeeds.bsky.social of @ibvprev.bsky.social went from genocide prevention in Rwanda to noticing the same warning signs here at home. She's got a "dread trio" of threats -one unthinkable a year ago. 🎧 @peteryork.bsky.social Culture Wars House Party podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

"I think there really could be something quite exciting to be done in that space, but it does require the BBC to have a little bit of a shift in mind set." A refreshing take on local journalism from Jonathan Heawood of @publicinterestnews.org.uk 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · last mo.

Time to share the licence fee? Jonathan Heawood, bsky.app/profile/publ... and @impressorg.bsky.social on the rise of Manchester’s independent newsletter @manchestermill.bsky.social its Andy Burnham scoop, and what it means for the future of local journalism. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

🏳️‍🌈 @peteryork.bsky.social eteryork.bsky.social talks to @petertatchellfdn.bsky.social about 5 decades of culture wars - & what the Supreme Court ruling really means for trans rights. “Things are not over by a long shot.” 🎧 Peter York's Culture Wars House party podcast podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Why is the radical right doing so well? Because they've been losing for 50 years. Prof Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social explains in the latest Peter York's Culture Wars House Party podcast with @peteryork.bsky.social 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Who really runs Britain — and why do they insist they're just ordinary? Great fun convo withLSE profs @samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social authors of Born to Rule with @peteryork.bsky.social on his Peter York's Culture Wars House Party Podcast 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

“If you’re only making the case in places that you feel are friendly and supportive, you’re by your very nature just talking to a certain audience." Ex BBC Dir of Communications John Shield picked up from my Beeb Watch podcast. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06...

"There were things like crew & participants telling us about the use of alcohol, for instance, which was something we had assumed since 2019 had been pretty much banned, if not really strictly controlled...That was a real surprise to us". @recaretv.bsky.social 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 2mo ago

“About a third were experiencing what we thought were serious harms" Prof Helen Wood (@AstonUniversity ) explains what her 3 year ReCARE TV study reveals about casting, consent, working conditions and duty of care in reality TV. Latest episode of Beeb Watch here 👉 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Two Good Egg guests. One weekend. Two big stories. Great conversations 👇 Gabriel Gatehouse on the Observer's cover: did the CIA poison Gordon Banks in 1970? 🎙️ podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... @RobBurl's BBC/trans investigation in UnHerd more coverage in the Times. 🎙️ podfollow.com/beebwatch

How the Weird Stuff Took Over Politics Excellent convo on with @peteryork.bsky.social and Gabriel Gatehouse (ex‑BBC, The Coming Storm). They discuss QAnon, Epstein, UFOs/UAPs, & what supposedly “weird” stories reveal about how power works in US and UK politics. 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

“If you cut lots of jobs and lose lots of journalists with experience, there's a price to be paid..... Fran Unsworth was the author of this policy, ...and she says it's contributed to the problem ... she herself says that, and she devised it.” Great convo with @robburl.bsky.social

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Has the BBC been “captured”? Great conversation with @robburl.bsky.social – writer & ex BBC Editor of Live Political Programmes & Deputy Editor of Newsnight – about his UnHerd piece on the BBC, trans coverage, culture & due impartiality. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

The brilliant Bonnie Greer - you hang on every word. @peteryork.bsky.social talks to Bonnie Greer – Chicago‑born playwright, critic and public intellectual – talks Trump, power, “my stuff” politics & why she thinks we’re living in a post‑America era. 🎧👇 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Great pick up from my interview with @adamboulton.bsky.social on Beeb Watch this week. Listen to the full interview here: podfollow.com/beebwatch www.theguardian.com/media/2026/m...

GB News should lose its licence, says ex-Sky News editor Adam Boulton

Veteran broadcaster accuses channel of ‘clear violations’ of Ofcom’s due impartiality rules

theguardian.com

"I certainly think that the whole question of elected politicians presenting current affairs and news programmes, the so called 'presen-tician', is something which it could fairly easily be outlawed." "And you would like it outlawed?" "Yes. I think it should be outlawed." 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This week I'm joined by ex Sky News Political Editor @adamboulton.bsky.social we talk Keir Starmer’s position, multi party politics, the future of political journalism – and, in this clip, Ofcom’s handling of GB News. 👇 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

"Ofcom has let it go so far, the elastic band has stretched so far that I would say perhaps it's snapped." Chris Banatvala on GB News and due impartiality. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 3mo ago

"Freedom of expression is absolutely essential. What I don't want is a pretence of regulating for due impartiality when it's not actually happening." Former Ofcom Director of Standards Chris Banatvala on Ofcom, GB News and due impartiality. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

“Do. Not. Trust. Us. This is the end of the affair.” Historian @marcishore.bsky.social joins @peteryork.bsky.social to talk fear, history and the US moral abyss – from fascism and shameless politics to Trump, Putin, Ukraine and Europe’s dangerous denial. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Has the tide turned? Great interview 👉 @peteryork.bsky.social Peter York’s Culture Wars House Party podcast @davidaaronovitch.bsky.social discusses conspiracy thinking, the international culture‑war right, the BBC’s future – and why, it’s so hard to stay reasonable. 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

“Ofcom’s negligence is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of British democracy right now” Powerful interview with @liambyrnemp.bsky.social who describes GB News as ‘pretty close’ to being the broadcasting arm of the Reform Party. 🎧 This is a must listen interview: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 3mo ago

“Let’s call it what it is. Ofcom’s negligence is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of British democracy right now.” @liambyrnemp.bsky.social on Ofcom, GB News, media money & why politicians need to send a “pretty clear message” to the regulator. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Revelation after revelation with Prof @dannydorling.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk on @peteryork.bsky.social Culture Wars House party podcast this week – on Brexit myths, Britain’s place at the top of Europe’s inequality league, and how to fight the good fight. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Peter York's Culture Wars House Party

“PETER YORK’S CULTURE WARS HOUSE PARTY” podcast is all about Peter’s cultural preoccupations which range from how political Culture Wars are waged, to the reputational currency of clever celebrities, ...

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With Lisa Nandy announcing a permanent Royal Charter for the BBC, is the charter review a real consultation – or a done deal? Prof Lee Edwards @mediareformuk.bsky.social @lsepress.bsky.social discusses the speech, the charter “consultation” & public accountability. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

"I think if impartiality matters, ..then you need to think really hard about the values that you want in the journalism from whatever source it is. And I think Ofcom, looking at that and being tough-minded about it, would be a good thing." Wide ranging and thoughtful discussion with Tony Hall.

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Former DG Lord Tony Hall discuss Matt Brittin’s appointment as director general, who should be in his top team, the BBC’s direction in a digital world, Ofcom and impartiality, collaboration with other PSBs, the World Service and future funding. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

"These regulatory bodies are falling short." Says Rizwana Hamid, director of Centre for Media Monitoring. "Islamophobia is rampant, and it's rife within politics, within the media, within society, nobody blinks an eyelid." 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 5mo ago

“British Muslim citizens are being thrown under the bus by politicians, by the media & the powers that be, & no one blinks an eyelid.” Rizwana Hamid, Centre for Media Monitoring @cfmmuk on their new report on how UK media covers Muslims and Islam. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Another riveting interview from @peteryork.bsky.social with Michael Wolff, bestselling chronicler of Trump and Murdoch, who explains why he now calls Trump’s second term “a heartbreaking year and a frightening year.” 🎧 Listen to the full episode: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

"I've got to say I feel less and less comfortable about it, with the benefit of a few years away from the BBC." A very frank conversation with Jamie Angus on Beeb Watch this week on Iranian coverage and the future of the BBC World Service. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch

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 ...

podfollow.com

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Is the BBC right to report from Iran under the current conditions? Ex BBC World Service Director Jamie Angus reflects on deal that lets the BBC report from inside Iran & discusses his Henry Jackson Society report on funding & the future of the World Service 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Millions in the UK are already digitally excluded: 🔹 3–4 million lack affordable access 🔹 10–11 million lack basic digital skills Yet we’re talking about online‑only TV (and maybe radio) by 2034. Elizabeth Anderson, Digital Poverty Alliance explains the implications. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Philosopher of fascism Jason Stanley left Yale for Toronto to, as he says, “spit the truth”. Is the US “a white supremacist nation”? Why does it have sky‑high incarceration yet historic low violent crime? Find out with @peteryork.bsky.social on his podcast. 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

"This is a medium that really hasn't been devastated by the rise of online media in all its forms, and the rise of streamers, etc, etc. Radio is still in fantastic health." Good to be sharing some positive media news for a change from Phil Riley, CEO Boom Radio. 🎧https://podfollow.com/beebwatch

@beebwatch.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Which “heritage” media is consumed by 90% of the population? In the latest Beeb Watch we talk to Phil Riley radio exec about: 🎧 BBC funding, BBC Sounds & a possible “radio licence” 📺 The 2034 DTT switch‑off & what it means for radio 🏙️ BBC Local Radio & local journalism 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch