Read this: 31/03/2023 Radio 4 Feedback

BBC sounds music Radio podcasts hello, you are listening to the feedback podcast with me Andrea catherwood the woman who tops the first ever Woman's Hour women in Sport power list is the captain who took England to Euro 2022 victory this week's woman's hour and 23 choosing the UK's 30 most outstanding women in sport.

I was there to put your questions to the to the elephant in the room is cowardly in a weekend, which said can you tell the world of the impact on women of males in their sports the brave women defending The integrity of female sport deserve to be at knowledge, also have the BBC really been saved the choirs former director signs warning bells the middle of this is Home and Dry by any stretch of the imagination a huge danger that this is going to represent.

Tremendously poor deal for the licence fee payer keep listening to hear him one more time to express your disappointment about news of his departure that we invited him to join us on feedback to reflect on his time at Saturday Live presenter.

He was humour and compassionate empathetic and funny but first for the last 10 years Woman's Hour has created an annual powerlist to celebrate women who excelled in a particular field this year the focus was on sport and on Tuesday in a live programme in BBC Radio Theatre presenter nuala McGovern and woman's H 30 top movers and shakers not surprisingly by England football's European Cup winning captain Leah Williamson the powerfulest recognises not just sports women that leaders changemakers.

Is creating opportunities at grassroots level for women and girls in sport? I went along to the radio Theatre to watch the live broadcast and to talk to Woman's Hour editor Karen dalziel, and how old is producer Emma Pearce hello and welcome to a very special edition of Woman's Hour we are live in the Radio Theatre as we reveal the Woman's Hour powerless showcasing the 30 most remarkable women in sports in the UK right now.

I want to see how much I've really enjoyed the Woman's Hour power list on Radio 4 this week.

It was so inspiring to have the grassroots Heroes mixed in with the Professionals on the players that we all know and to have such a diversity and range of sports covered in relation to all of our powerless winners, you can find all about them at the Woman's Hour website and over the coming weeks and months.

We will be able to hear them all here on the program for now goodbye back tomorrow at 10.

I mean I joined by a candle and Emma Pearce the editor of woman's are and Emma is the producer who put together this live show that we've just watch today Karen been doing power lifts for a long time the decision to do one about women in sport this year.

Just talk me through that came from it's really because if you think that's the last summer with the line looking at trophy the first major trophies since 1966 it felt like something I changed and you thinking of you had even your hairdo lead Great Britain's women's curling Olympic gold in a mother's footsteps in the Commonwealth 10000m championships in Birmingham it just feels like things are happening with sport and people are starting to notice and realising the quality of women who are competing.

I'm just thought it's sports time.

Let's do a powerless.

Let's celebrate some of these women this is the time Leah Williamson actually mention today that this was support coming on at The Shadows

Over the years how you've noticed your listeners, the woman's our listeners responding to sport has it become more important to the woman's arm mix sport and sometimes we were covering women who were trying to do something with in sport where it was very much Eversheds by the men, but I think what's really happening now is the women have got their own sense of autonomy support their own desires and passions to make things happen and we can see that when we cover sport.

We always get a really really big inbox emails and things we know that BBC sport often pick up our interviews and on-the-spot me any down his analyst you know what she's on covered in British gymnastics in it.

It's very difficult side of sport so I think you know yes, I ordered love sport.

They love talking about it and playing it and I think that is really grown as you know we'll all about the listeners and you reached out to your listeners.

Come up with your long list.

Day I nearly fell over her this in the audience today in the theater 5000s names that you got originally did you stop Windows yeah? It was very challenging of hours this one hour of radio I guess but you know it was about looking at the name some people compelling submission so we can learn a lot more about them particularly the grassroots katarina's aren't known people are there is just a name and we go from research it but yeah, just a lot of work really to find out and try and you know I'm sure there is diversity across four across the types of women that we're talking to ages locations.

Obviously both within the UK to represent different parts of the UK as well, so it's all of those things and ensuring our judges.

Had a really good long list to then just glancing at it looks to me like you've only got one person from Scotland from Scotland in the one from Northern Ireland

Exciting thing happens obviously last year was the England women's team who won the euro's Northern Ireland for the first time got into the competition which is why I really wanted to check the little girl Redmond and the work she's been doing Northern Ireland just goes to show how important is that kind of women's sport It Moves along at the same pace across different parts of the country and we would sort of trying to reflect as far as I can see there is no trans women on the list and I just wondered what was the thinking behind out where trans women eligible for this list we left up to a audience and listeners to make a decision about who they want to suggest we can feed everybody in and I can only 5000 we can see them and I think it's probably I think it comes down to the process and criteria mean.

This is a judging that took place and if you look at the evidence of what people have said and what people have cheese and when you're going from 5030 you actually can from very Direct connections between an individual what they said what they?

And what has currently changed if we doing this list in 5-years time it could look very different many things may have changed many things in the landscape sport and windsport could look very different or not, but we did it now cause and effect of what has already happened.

So that's how we got the list.

So just to be clear trans woman banned from this list know and it didn't say it was a nice world athletics world banning transgender women from taking part in the female categories of International Events that didn't have any impact on women sport is it on the case she been discussed by many sporting bodies around the UK and around the world.

I mean you mentioned world athletics who made the decision last week.

It's obvious subject that people feel very strongly about on all sides.

We've discussed this and inclusion of trans women in women's and women's how many many something that we did it head of the world athletics decision last week.

He got to remember the job of the powerless judges was not to debate.

To look at individuals for have to look at the evidence of what each women had achieved was suggested and in any different category and link to the criteria.

So you know it's subjective and objective really rooted in what they've actually done over lol we've had three positive messages on Twitter but we've also had this from Helen Saxby this is a fantastic and wiring list of women in sport but to ignore the elephant in the room is cowardly in a week in which sedcote old the world of the impact on women of males in their sports the brave in defending integrity of female sport deserve to be at Norwich there's a suggestion on Twitter perhaps that someone like Sharon Davies who's been somebody who's been a proponent of making sure that trans women will not in sport has also not been included in this list.

I know that there's going to be a controversy of someone who hasn't been included but again was there anything behind any editorializing behind that?

BBC has been on a massive scrutiny recently we something we take very seriously we need to judges to consider all the people.

What are they doing? What have they achieved has changed and how directly can we link their action or their sporting prowess wouldn't be back to them as an individual current.

I wonder what are you hoping to achieve overall through this powerlist you been doing this for a number of years and obviously you you know what powers have done in the past.

Have you got any any hopes for what Legacy this power is could leave raises up women who doing great things the bigger purpose in a way is to start conversations, so we'll into you everybody on power list which would be wonderful to celebrate with them and here in Maldives but it's not just about what's going well.

Sport is a struggle required to be a great sports women.

It's difficult the struggle to get funding for sports organisations beat your local.

The boys and girls it's a struggle so we want to hear about the things that still need doing so overall the power starts conversations and send out ripples and the magnitude.

I think we feel powerless come back to us in years to come when you see how things have changed it's because they're powerful but it has great power.

Thanks.

Two womans are editor Karen dalziel and producer Emma Pearce I'm doing a course share your thoughts on anything to do with BBC audio.

You can send us an email at feedback at bbc.co.uk voice message on 3 triple triple 454a BBC R4 feedback or write to us PO Box number 6723 London se1p 4ax.

No, it's just 3 weeks ago, but the BBC announced it would accept world-renowned choral choir BBC singers as part of cuts to the BBC orchestras and choirs the news a huge outpouring of anger across the classical music world and many feedback listeners express their Fury at the move the acting of the brilliant and renowned BBC singer the funding cuts to the BBC orchestras.

Are you at further attacks on musical.ly Finn this country singers and the BBC orchestras are extraordinary and second to none wanted.

It's gone.

It's gone freelance quiet as and when however good.

They are is no substitute for the shear excellence and quality represented by the sea when the head of BBC or enquiries Simon webbe came on the programme.

He told me there would be no going back on the decision to scrap the singers, but as the backlash grew it appears the BBC had done just

With a note that the decision has been suspended newspaper headlines trumpeted a U-turn the choir had been saved however former director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC singers called Hughes step-down only last summer after 23 years is far from convince the news is cause for celebration not look I spent 23 years working inside the BBC so I understand what the language actually is saying which is that none of this is Home and Dry by any stretch of the imagination.

I mean if read what the BBC singers announcement said it is at the BBC has received approaches from a number of organisations offering alternative funding models which is viable would secure the future of singers, but we don't know what kind of future that would be we don't know what the relationship would be between the BBC and the singers and whatever this external funding offer my

There's a massive amount of uncertainty there a madman certainty and of course there is a 3 BBC orchestras facing massive and devastating headcount cuts which is probably the most profoundly wrongheaded a way of dealing with financial difficulties that I've ever come across the BBC is facing budget cuts that's just something that the BBC has two and therefore in this area of classical music I suppose they also do have to be created from try and work out ways to save money.

Are you are the idea that there will be some kind of alternative funding model that the BBC singers would for example take on some kind of commercial role appreciate.

You don't quite know what it will be but in principle it seem to be a reasonably sensible solution.

I understand completely that cuts need to be made or a certain other people have savings need to be made by savings and cats a different things.

Totally understand that but to go back to your point Andrea a creative approach needs to be had with this and you can only do that by really bringing all the parties together and we've done this before in the various iterations of budget cuts at the BBC that have various euphemism such as value for money and dqf delivering quality first is all really just about budget cuts and we respond creatively by involving not only the musicians themselves, but the unions and we sat around the table and we figured out how we were going to do this that is absolutely not happened in this is a huge danger that this is going to represent a tremendously poor deal for the licence fee payer Tim Davie the director-general himself has said that the BBC is a massive support and champion of orchestral and choral music clearly the BBC is trying to say that is really important in this space.

Do you think that it's fair to have all this?

It wants to be seen as that but really is it that I mean we're forever been told when I was in the BBC that you know the market for classical music is shrinking.

That's why there isn't much on television outside of the that's why you no confined to Radio 3 is absolutely fine Tim Davie and Charlotte Moore and son and now saying that we want to invest more in choral music we want to reflect more call music on the radio.

There's nothing stopping them doing that for the last decade or more they've just chosen not to you know this is going to have a huge impact on the Promise potentially and I am certain that he is going to come after the Promise next year at least I bet you the problems will be shorter next year that the smaller they were having huge cuts Leppard on them.

So just how much does the BBC value the music I wonder I want to put to another question from one of our listeners, is it from Andrew Greeley incredible BBC can't think of a bit of cross-fertilization?

I can remember when it was announced that they were going to close down BBC Three TV channel.

What do we have now BBC Three TV channel, so they can find the money from other sources do we really need for different radio One's on the I don't think so, I'm sure that one of them could provide you the money to keep the BBC singers going had several other listeners coming in that various other parts of the BBC I'm much more costly and in fact the figure that we've been given is about 1.5 million times a year for the BBC Singers is there a way that could come from other areas.

I mean you've been in this position where you've had to do some juggling.

How does that work? You know when your face with a shrinking budget? You have to be creative and imaginative.

Where it's going to come from the council for the duplication, but I'm not answering that we shouldn't have a balance within the BBC the reason that this is hit so heavily into the performing ensembles.

Is that the great majority of the cost of running orchestras and choirs is people and that's just how it is imagine if you were running the England football team and you said to the manager ok? You're going to have to lose 20% of your key players and whenever there's a big game coming up will just get some freelance players in there.

I'm sure they'll be just fine you know that it just doesn't work like that and it doesn't work like that with orchestras, so if you can't afford to run the six orchestras properly that you've got why would you just cripple them? All? Why would you not just figure out? How many offers can you afford to run and really do it properly?

Two people about how it really works is there anybody in a top position at the BBC who you believe is really fighting for the future of classical music know that there is nobody Sam Jack's and hasn't started it radio through yet and I'm sure he wanted all this mess sort it out before then.

You can do with a new controller Alan has left Alan Davie the controller of radio 3 wonderful advocate and champion for what we did suddenly have the performing groups removed from within his his remits if you like and they have struck at a time when there is no within the BBC to defend the performer groups which is why the outside go have a voice can call upon the musicians the audience decomposes the conductor's the other quiet are the auctions from around the world to really say you know there is nothing shameful about stepping back from a decision and say ok look let's just rethink this many thanks to Paul

Ask the BBC for a comment and they sent us this statement.

We know that the BBC singers and much-loved across the classical community and their professionalism quality and standing has never been out.

These are difficult decisions before we want to fully explore the options have been brought to us to see if there is another way forward BBC still needs to make savings still plans to invest more widely in the future of call singing across the UK and also confirm the singers will appear in this year's BBC Proms the Reverend Richard Coles lipstick many Radio 4 listeners.

Tell him how much they enjoy waking up with him on a Saturday morning.

It's a little unusual for a vicar, but then Richard former pop star turned the cloth and radio presenter has never done things strictly by the book is compassion wit and charm has beguiled many listers to Saturday Live over the past 12 years and

Disappointed to hear he was leaving the program bring him back to Radio 4.

Just one more week for now.

He sat down with me to reflect on his years of early.

We start and tell us about his future plans will hear from him in a moment, but first some of your thoughts.

Hello.

My name is Penny Tomlinson from Chichester BBC earth.

Are you doing first birthday Lang then Ken Boothe and now there's no time to say goodbye to Saturday lives magnificent which was cold and National Treasure and small announcement with no fantail plaudits mean someone kind after 12 years experience why you Frank knowledge in these necessary goodbye asking these wonderful people are for all three by the back door in the closet quietly behind pure carradice disappointing Saturday morning will not be the same again.

Thanks to our guests.

Solicitors for sharing a stories surprising and moving us a nosey man could ask for no better job.

Thank you.

What music would you like us to end with l was I was singing on the nightclub that used to get absolutely shit-faced listening to Joe Smooth Promised Land Ken Jones from Birmingham what's a Wonderful Final pale from Richard Coles referring to get in shit-faced in the 80s that has been such a lot of the names and Talent from the BBC of late.

I hope that Richard is not doom to join those levers and that is own particular and considerable Talents are recognised and re-employed house where on Radio 4 Saturday Live will certainly not be the same without him as none of the occasional standings when he was away wear a patch on him, so I feel you have just lost one long-standing and previous.

The listener a very sad day Richard thank you so much for joining us today.

It is lovely to talk to you the first question I suppose is what does it feel like you've no Saturday Live Saturday was the last program.

How do you feel well? It doesn't feel like I've left of course would have done it for such a long time.

It's so much proud of my life.

It'll be awhile.

I think before I stop waking up at 4:30 on a Saturday morning.

It must have been a big decision decision that kind of came my way without me if I see it because the program is moving to Cardiff and when I just sat down and worked out well that would work for you and I just couldn't do it as a reluctantly the decision made itself.

So they couldn't continue listeners are such a very large parts of your program as in.

Well with feedback, it's very different from most of the iPad I suppose it is really that's partly because it is so much by listeners particular mode and it's that mode of story showing a thing what we like to do is illicit stories from people that's not just this will also get studio.

I think when Saturday live is doing it's best it manages to do that in ways which are often surprised a bit so most of all is well.

You have somebody very well known in the studio has suddenly stopped the listener or another guess.

She wasn't well and all of a sudden affinity with surprisingly flourish and bloom.

We always like that Jeremy Paxman I think did that with a plum.

What's the turned out to be in other circumstances incredibly kind and thoughtful and generous and loving.

Excellent as you can imagine an absolute river of responses to the fact that you're leaving we can't even find one for balance, but says that they're pleased to have you kicked out the door.

They are all incredibly lovely.

It's a very personal almost an intimate program that you've been doing and I wonder how it feels to say goodbye is a vicar actually.

I thought the two things were very distinct but I'm horrible struck by the continuity on a retired as a vicar last year in standing in the pub with the last time.

I'm saying goodbye to a complication of people that come to know and love and you don't know love me too.

It was very difficult to do and it's a different sort of relationship with listeners deep house radio and you're in people's ear.

Play Saturday night.

I'm off here.

I think they're in their ears as the weekend begins.

They way Carpenders to have two corn flakes.

There is also monthly listeners a little bit of frustration perhaps even anger about the fact that you have had to go and I just wonder if you said yourself.

I think that you felt it was sad I wonder if you feel it could have been done differently an ideal world of course not the BBC Two big institution and it has considerations that are not just about a particular program or indeed a particular presenter is a very tough time for the BBC the world operate seniors often hostile budgets are always squeezed.

It has to do an awful.

Lot of things under very difficult circumstances and while I like everybody else.

Thanks not going exactly where I want them to do I do appreciate so there are lots of people who have to make very tough decisions on this one of them, but I'm looking forward to coming back to Radio 4 in some capacity or and can you tell us anything about the capacity and which he might be coming back to Radio 4? No.

I love working with Nicky baby and I would love to be reunited with Nicky and I'll be there are plans but they are only plans but I'm hoping it won't be too long before going to say something test so you've retired us a vicar now and you step back from Saturday Live what are you planning to do well? I'm podcast el so have a podcast with the unusual lineup of me earl Spencer and the Norwegian Forest Cat Jarman

To stay home bowl and I want to write law and I've met someone and for the first time since David my husband died.

I've sticking out with somebody and I want to have more time to go out with him.

Well.

Richard that is lovely to hear and thank you very much indeed for sharing that with us.

We will miss you on Saturday Live but we look forward to hearing from you in your next chapter my pleasure the Reverend Richard Coles and of course Saturday Live continues and you can still listen on Radio 4 and BBC signs well.

That's all from us this week.

Thank you very much for listening and giving us your feedback.

I'm Andrea catherwood the producer is Jill Davies and feedback is a whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4.