Read this: Last Word selection criteria, how BBC presenters handle Middle East interviews, and Archers Podcast launch

BBC sounds music Radio podcasts hello and welcome to a new series of feedback, I'm delighted to be back with you and well.

We've been away or books has been building with your comments so we got a pact programme we had caught class race and llamas.

It sounds like a must for any Archers fan and you podcast all about but managed to get into hot water with listeners because of the Today programme interview before it even launched.

We're talking massively about George who has last night.

Got sentenced to 3 years in prison and also got in touch.

I've got a recent episode of Radio 4 last word Maggie Smith did not seem to get a long enough profile.

Yet last word spent longer on a terrorist and a flamingo dancer, but before that we have been inundated.

Reviews on recent coverage of the Middle East conflict around the beginning of October when the name Sharon spread of the attacks escalated and it's not so much BBC reporting on the ground.

That's worrying many listeners more the tone of presenters and interviewers based in the studios back home.

My name is Hillary and I live in Norfolk we were staying contact during her exclusive interview with Mohamed mirandi on the Today programme Tuesday 1st of October 2024 it was not an enquiring into and we heard nothing from her totally at all this would have usual probing interrupting inquisitorial.

I know it all manner.

Which he adopt for those interviewees.

She doesn't like my name is Wendy hailstone.

I live in Guernsey during an interview on the Today programme Emma Barnett repeatedly or celebrities ambassador a question.

And then took over his reply, so he was unable to to answer her properly it seems as though I was rather keen to her own opinion and and this provides the temporal speaking hello my name is Greg Evans from East Sussex when listening to knit Robinsons interview with David satterfield former Ambassador in the Middle East he expresses view in company isolation to the Palestinian slaughter.

There was no challenge from Nick Robinson to highlight the detrimental effect of Israel's decision to invade Palestine and of the reproductive effect that this would have honest neighbours comment in response to what appeared to me to be a shockingly by someone well at 1 on Tuesday the 15th of the 15 minutes of program devoted to give him one side of the Israeli does that goes a problem by interviews with parents.

Citizens snippets from various UK politicians and an interview with the Saudi Arabian ambassador at no time was an alternative view presented either by interviewing people who view or even by Sarah herself painting craving questions, but it's not all be negative the v season at least Jeremy Bowen received praise for a rare interview.

Can you a higher the most senior member of hummus outside Gaza which was broadcast on the 3rd of October and I'm calling from school.

I will tell you the last but one had the courage to interview her my sportsman and that the BBC had given its airspace.

The terrorist will always be the other side Loughton to be on and his best teething talking to everybody so for presenters faced with a challenging interview.

How do you strike a balance between calling people in authority to account?

why the line the same people to explain their viewpoint but we did ask for an interview with someone from BBC News no one was available we got this statement this conflict is a challenging and The Rising story to cover and we're committed to delivering impartial journalism cross-eyed news programs, so that audiences can keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the Middle East this means hearing from a broad spectrum of Voices perspectives from all sides so audiences get inside into the region and the conflict or journalist routinely question and challenge the views of contributors as audiences would expect across the reporting with him to keep audiences up-to-date with the latest events provide context to the current situation and show how this conflict is affecting people in the region and with particular reference to Michelle Hussain with the Iranian academic Mohamed mirandi the latest developments in Lebanon and the Middle Eastern men in a range of people to get a broad perspective on the complex Politics of the region Muhammad

Was it for you to gain an understanding of the view from Iran and what that response is likely to be this was a live interview and he was challenged during the course of the interview and the Israeli position was reflected however we accept.

We should have continued to challenge is language throughout the interview from the Department of journalism at university of cheese carried out research in the area of international news and has examined coverage of the Middle East over the past year what we've heard from listeners.

There was a representative sample of the comments of the feedback inbox during October and we have had rather and equal split since the conflict began.

You won't be surprised to know that we do get a lot of comments accusing the BBC of the most days in fact.

I wonder if you think that as a public service broadcaster.

It's just what should be expected that you would come in for this kind of criticism.

I think that that's absolutely.

In your position is a public service broadcaster, but I think what's exploring about this particular topic is this year overwhelming volume of attention that they decided on it by and by audiences generally the CEO of news the BBC recently Echo that she said there is no died that this is the most polarising conflict that any of us have experienced careers as journalists and such as the depth of the polarisation in this for that so many have come to see in partial reporting as being some against them because it does not only reflect the view of the conflict.

I wonder if you think that's a fair analysis.

I think what she's referring to is actually a much wider problem and that's particularly amongst the younger generation that are so you receiving news through their own echo chamber and being passed on things by their friends and the people that they already agree with that the whole notion of independent objective.

Fasting which balances all sides is unfortunately I kind of a disappearing disappearing habit.

It's surveys have been done.

I'm looking at one here from the thinktank more common that do Echo Arena boxing respondents think that the BBC is biased one way or the other in almost equal measure but would also shows which of course our inbox doesn't is the large majority of people think the BBC is neutral in its reporting so wonder if there's a danger that the perception of bias becomes the story itself and actually undermines the coverage is such a polarised subject.

I think that might well be the case that they said of heightened sensitivity that people are so alert to the to the problems of this is what academics would would say about it, but we have no idea of hostile media effects that if you show the same passage of the same film to to different audiences who both.

Very passionately on one side or the other day will instantly see that it's bias against their their point of view and I think this is an absolute prime example of that the effects of something that academics.

I have highlighted some 30-40 years and interestingly they often use examples from the Middle East when they doing this research that they often take us about going to be such a polarising subject had a lot of complaints as you heard there about the perception that individual presenters are biased I wonder if the hostile Media affects stretches.to and in this case it could do yes, I could do that.

That's you know a particular presenter is seem to have a kind of an affiliation.

Maybe I should be connected with the other side so to speak and heightened awareness beliefs and values.

Another way of talking about unconscious bias in a sense we all obviously we all come to things were there in perceptions bed that you know the duty of a public service broadcaster is absolutely believe that at the door the BBC like a lot of other broadcasters news outlets has made mistakes this year.

It's a very fast moving and intense situation and they have sometimes to the wrong conclusions which have been in a pretty pretty unpleasant Stevie the consequences of that so yeah, yeah, I think but I think they have apologise to them in the worst cases of the presenters on a program like today normally of a short lot to cover sometimes really complex story and their cuisine people who are sometimes speaking in their second or third language that tempting when someone is speaking English haltingly not to interrupt them the way you perhaps my challenger fluid in the speaker more.

Do you think sometimes just get that balance wrong?

Occasions and as you say we're talking about you know shuj volumes of coverage some people would argue too much coverage on this particular topic and sometimes they have been cases.

Where one has noticed that there was certainly less challenge than other cases, so I'm not sure if that's that's to do with the linguistic abilities of the interviewee bits but certainly there's not consistency necessarily into how much and these interviewees are challenged as many voices is possible from every side of this conflict.

Yes, it is and it and it's good when we hear that Beyond The Usual Suspects example of an interview with Hamas recently which is quite unusual had been quite unusual this past year and it is good that you that we do here other other points of View but if we do get for example again.

We had an issue recently with somebody very close to the Iranian

I mean they should be given a very very in Othello grilling and I think some some audiences feel that hasn't happened well.

Many thanks to prof Suzanne Franks from the Department of st.

George's University of London students of the overt page last word was coming for some listening criticism lately in the 4th of October edition presented by John Wilson the program choose to run a 6 1/2 minute item leader Hassan nasrallah.

He was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike on Beirut hello.

My name is John gamble.

I'm from Essex I'm compelled to complain about the upgrade your choice to include Hassan national are in the October 4th of June of last word as some of that was one of the highest profile and the most powerful figures in the Middle East for over 32 years here.

Which under his leadership and with backing from Iran grew to become a highly influential Shia Muslim political party despite it being acknowledged at the end of the program that it was he was a terrible and it's a terrorist organisation.

I was offended beyond words as a Jew that is life was reported along such people as Dame Maggie Smith or Kris Kristofferson rapidly under his leadership.

How did he achieve that in the beginning was of course very talented very loyal to Iran included Hitler back in the 40s is life is not to be celebrated and would have been better analysed and a different program to this and what made it worse for many of you was the fact that natural is overdue was followed by a 90 time marking the death of the star of stage and screen and National Treasure Dame Maggie Smith this week last words also go to the actor Dame Maggie Smith paying tribute to her 70.

Stage and screen career King Charles called her and National Treasure much has been written and said about this week, so we thought it would be best to hear from Dame Maggie herself in a 1967 interview reviews on acting in films.

Do you enjoy the film Christine Ward living in Bexhill East Sussex the late and great day Ladysmith did not seem to get a long enough profile yet last word spent longer on a terrorist and a flamingo dancer which most of us in the UK has never heard of so I think last word needs to get its priorities right, please for the flamenco dancer by the way was Maria Benitez the BBC told us they think carefully the people featured on last word and always welcome listener feedback on occasion wear an individual's death has had extensive coverage across the media.

They might be less that last word can-can.

As was the case with a Maggie Smith and although the program can be a place to celebrate a life and achievements.

We have a long track record of featuring more controversial individuals and their place in history well some listeners.

May find it challenging.

We think it is important to provide context son lives which are more contentious.

Just want to put together but the man at the helm of the program for 14 years was its producer Neil George he left the BBC in 2022.

I spoke to him this week and weekend.

I asked him apart from the obvious been recently deceased what exactly are the criteria for inclusion in last word is actually being formed by listening listening for Britain and why don't you have enough women? Why don't you have enough ethnic minorities? Why don't you have this? Why don't you have informed?

Listen to Baby taking out of this particular query and going well should we rethink How We Do celebrity or or controversy the crux of complaints from listeners is that last word featured Hezbollah leader Hassan nasrallah and instead.

They should be profiling somebody who's more deserve someone who's lead a good life.

Do they have a point it is a personal view but be interesting thing.

I think is that is there an obituary is not a celebration.

It is putting on record the life and the work good or bad of a person and they may be interested when Hitler committed suicide the times do the two page spread in their obituary, so I can't think of anyone worse than Hitler

Obituaries will cover baddies as well as good and last word has covered lots of controversial figures in the past hasn't it absolutely when did Jimmy Savile before the controversy completely blew up without the knowledge of the full but we did point out this was not necessarily a good man.

Not a new from working with you on the programme that there is an issue regarding timing and from many listeners in the joy of last word is that these obituaries well-crafted you we've archive with interviews and that's what makes them so memorable.

So what happens when the death of someone very well known as a nice too close to when the probe does give you a real to limit doesn't it early on in the week, then you've got 3 days to do something but then you've got the added shock and

The event and people are necessarily willing to talk if that's happened on on the Friday or very very late in the week with say at the end of the program because I will follow it up with a more in-depth of the tree at the on the program next week and sometimes we wouldn't cover the tall is a program of Records regardless of the timings is not true to say that it does look rather odd if an actor who was consequential to the Fabric of British live as they Maggie didn't get a proper feature on last word.

I listen to it and she got a minute also which things you know are the tree and not very good but actually have it all over the place to the record was made of her death on the program.

I don't know nothing happened with David Bowie when I was producing.

It was just to walk and we did cover his music.

We did cover his life in the way that everybody else did I found one amazing fact that he was an but on Spencer the artist and it was just an amazing inside into into him and his character, but you're not always able to do that meal George Foreman of last word for all you uncanny fans out there Halloween is coming up and he was a familiar voice to tell you how to get in touch with feedback.

This is Danny robins host of uncanny on BBC Radio 4 and BBC sounds.

So what do you think of the BBC's audio output feedback is really keen to hear your take on what you been listening to a very easy way in touches to send a WhatsApp voice note 20 334544 you ring that number and leave a voice message.

What you can send an email to feedback at bbc.co.uk and it's at BBC R4 feedback on social media on BBC signs special Halloween episode on Tuesday the 29th of October at 11 p.m.

On Radio 4 and any time on BBC signs the search for facts interview of the year is not well underway highlighting the interviews across BBC audio, which have left you impress inspired or moved over the last 12-months you had a panel of feedback listeners will select the winner is the professor of pharmaceutical nanoscience.

Where to find out what inspires them Radio 4 on whilst I'm absorbed in my studio work and I was totally distracted by Jim al-khalili is the Life Scientific interview with prof Ajay motobu on the 4th of September the new drama group in the UK and in Nigeria and then took an unconventional route to becoming a scientist a single mother with three small children try to make ends meet she might have given up on the idea mate.

Didn't in fact she's had an illustrious scientific career for capturing of the human philosophy incredible life story with such won't understanding was as fascinating as hearing about her medical so I had this role.

You'll see what I would welcome students that were coming from overseas.

They were young the first time away from her I want them to feel welcome.

I had my spiel and that was great and I made a few jokes and I noticed when I made the jokes is when the students were really really engaged so I thought when I try to make that is a bit better word for comedy course.

Course about the perils of getting older but one thing to get down with the kids particular interest in science, but this man's erudite humanist inclusive charming waiver listing life stories and epics of such an inspiring people is absolutely life affirming that evenings interview was for me a prime example of the most uplifting and enlightening journalism that comes out of Radio 4 is if you've had an interview that's caught your attention from anywhere across BBC audio.

Please do get in touch you can send us a nomination by email at feedback bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0334 543 4544 for the closing date for nominations is November 30th and will announce the winner in a boxing day programme now if you want that way inclined.

How do you consume your

Maybe every evening at 7 p.m.

On the programme first.

There's no you catch the repeat just after lunch the following day or you save it all up for the Sunday on the bus or listen to that at the time that suits you BBC signs however you listen if you're a fan, you may have heard about the new Archers podcast hosted by Emma Freud hi.

This is Siri back now from Cornwall I'm an avid Archers fan, and I was excited to hear that.

There's a new Archers podcast starting soon Emma Freud describing it looks actually how I feel about the Archies Archies I have loved it for very long time and it's a very exciting but private joy for me.

It's 13 minutes a day where I go into a parallel universe there.

I have grown up with but quite a few listeners were surprised by Amazon TV on the Today programme to preview the podcast launch, when she let slip the dramatic result of a court case that.

Dominating the storyline 4-months it had been broadcast the previous evening but it went down like a bucket of Ed Grande's home brew with many listeners in the first programme which is going out tonight.

We're talking massively about George who has last night.

Got sentenced to 3 years in prison with Jim years ago.

That is not my problem.

I might be missed but I was so disappointed when Emma told me that George was sentence last night.

I work from home and I save her listening at 2 p.m.

On catch up and it was a real drop the mic moment I suggest that I think carefully about the community.

She's podcasting to in the future.

Hello.

I'm Hillary Myers curry from Leominster in North Herefordshire I was really shocked to hear I'm afraid.

Blurting out the much debated long anticipated result of George's Court case on the Today programme as a lifetime Archers fan Emma should have been promoting the program not ruining it for all the Royal listening to have been waiting weeks and months for this particular dramatic climax.

Hi my name is Jeff and I'm from Yorkshire I'm an artist fan of 50 + years and I enjoy listening to the omnibus editions of the program.

Will I be tuning into the new Archers podcast probably not as Emma Freud ruined everything for me long running slow burn up to George from this trial.

I was horrified and gave us this statement.

We recognise that Archers fans listen to the programming different, please and the sun prefer to listen to the afternoon repeats or the Sunday omnibus one of the many things which makes the Archers such a special program is extremely passionate fan base.

As shown by the number of listeners that so deeply invested in the recent storyline around George Grundy sentencing infectious Enthusiasm for the Archers shines through the presentation of the new companion podcast and we have received a hugely positive response to the podcast from listen to so far who are very much enjoying this extra slice of Life apologise on social media immediately after the day interview and just before you recorded this episode of feedback.

She sent us this message hello feedback.

It's Emma I'm speaking here this was a genuine mistake the interview on the Today programme took place the day after George's sentencing and as today is a news program.

I foolishly assumed.

I was like to talk about the shock of the verdict ideally wish I hadn't mentioned the sentencing at all and I am so sorry to anyone who heard about George's future from me instead of from the judge.

Well, I was one of those listeners, but after it's such a heartfelt response or this forgiven and I'm interested to know what you think of the podcast itself, so do let us know and I hope to get I'm afraid in to discuss it with already had some positive comments Manchester I would like to think I cannot fall for the BBC's trip that been irregular in new and I was determined not to listen to a new podcast even about the Archers however.

I thought it's only fair to give it a try and yet again I am hooked.

Please, will you ask your producers to stop making programs? I know I will dislike and then after only two episodes.

I'm left wondering how I ever survive without them from Suffolk just listen to The Archers podcast shear Genius everywhere is lovely Archer suits my mum had it on Radio 4 when I was a kid, but it's got so much better because now it deals with so much current stuff in the farming community.

I love Robert Rinder anyway, but how and lightning have such a gift at the time of Georgie sentencing.

What are the program does that and he's brave enough to dissect itself and on that note I'm going to sign off for this week.

Thank you for listening and giving us your feedback goodbye.

Hello Russell Kane here.

Henry VIII Toria massive fan of stand-up comedian.

Obviously Bill Hicks Richard Pryor that has become much more challenging for I am the host of BBC Radio 4 Evil Genius the shower we take Heroes

History and try to work out but they are evil or genius do not catch up on BBC sounds by searching Evil Genius if you don't want to see your Heroes destroyed if like me you quite enjoy it listen to Evil Genius with me Russell Kane go to BBC sounds have your world destroyed.