Read this: Inside the Migrant Hotel, Train Tracks and In Our Time

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There's been plenty of love for the Lord melvyn, Bragg of course.

That is on news stepping down from In Our Time along with the pre quickly speculation about who's going to take over the role of in the words of radio critic Simon O'Hagan Britain's greatest polymath.

There is prayers for Radio 3 marathon live broadcast all the way from Inverness to Kings Cross presenter Petroc Trelawny joints need to give us the inside track but first stop the recent file on 4 investigates Inside the migrant.

It's a familiar story from the outside around 32000 people are housed in migrant hotels across the UK

Protest outside them have been violent and vocal familiar with the work of investigative journalist, Sue Mitchell she's made a number of hyper Radio 4 podcast including the award-winning to catch a scorpion which led to the arrest of one of Europe's most notorious people Smugglers most recent documentary for Fallout 4 investigate the theme of telling the stories of migrants and she gained rare access to asylum seekers living in hotels in England while though cases are being assessed for reporting sided with a summer of increasing protests outside those hotels a while.

It was plenty of news coverage of those protests.

It is really unusual to hear directly from the people both staff and residents inside the hotels inside is like.

And I've seen and heard some unbelievable things the programme gave voice to the experiences of the migrants some of them have been seeking Asylum for nearly a decade it also highlighted.

Some of the failings of the system and there was made news headlines that the vast number of prepaid taxes used to transport migrants between hotels autumn medical appointments.

I'll be talking to Sue Mitchell about the and your comments on the majority of which were critical saying that it was fuel for the protesters from Somerset Radio 4 at it again this morning with salon for inside the migrant hotel economy and Society I have worked with some of the secondary school and with exception have found them to be hard-working honest and kind people traumatised by the experience.

Is in the countryside and deserving of your divisive rhetoric we do not need racism masquerading as journalism and Society for balance Georgian toilets in Hertfordshire I am incandescent with anger at The Shard irresponsible and factory in to BBC wrongly described as Margaret hotels in the first place, so not hotels deia hotels used to house asylum seekers while it's being hard.

I volunteer with the charity that helps asylum seekers and refugees across a number of hotels in the home counties the picture getting by the BBC was a responsible and L represents the reality and facts, what makes it worse is that this responsibility can have real life consequences for them?

People with flat hair from persecution and war to ask for the human right of asylum, my name is Claudia bowling and I live in the Scottish Borders I am the program.

I have just listen to file on 4 investigates Inside migrant hotels, I have never heard such poor quality journalism on Radio 4.

It was stationed with no contacts and a complete lack of any backup data the narrative style was straight out of a blatantly party right wing podcast to broadcasts at the moment when emotions are running high on the subject is 10 to mentor inciting racial violence.

It is Fanning the Flames of an already terrible situation.

I am a standard Christmas considered Alan Sandwell research journal is good enough to broadcast well.

There was one positive comment.

I'm Angela singer and I live in Cambridge it's just struck me how I

Enterprising patient and kind of the residents of the migrant hotel on file on 4 how much more like typical Radio 4 Less they are in the substance the hotel and includes the security man who organises an exercise for the children as well soon joins me know as soon thanks for coming onto feedback talking about this program already because it did get a lot of coverage on Radio 4 because it's so unusual to hear voices from inside migrant hotels, it's not that I don't try to get it but if you make an official request at mostly.

It's turned down.

So how did you manage to thank you haven't been on and basically.

I have a long track record of covering my grey shoes, so I've done quite a few investigations into how people make the journeys into UK special buy small bow and I've looked into house Smugglers operate and what time in migrant camps in France

So a few months ago, and I was there recording I've met quite a few people who had planned to make it to the UK and I usually get people my number.

I'm interested in the journeys, they make and what happens to them after I kept up with people they called when they got here and has there been moved into migrant hotels and as they were calling me telling me what life was like in them gradually evolves and maybe try and cover some of what they were experiencing I felt for quite a long time that we're hearing a lot in the news coverage about what's happening either on the Barricades so the protest was it again traction does a growing source of hostility been reported outside the migrant hotels and what I really really want to know is actually what is that like if you're in that hotel and experiencing that level of sort of coronated really coming from outside directly outside the windows and it felt to me.

That was really important the journalist to try and show what was

Side to give people a voice Sue it's so interesting because you know these people very well as you say very often you follow them for a while from France you know their backstories probably know an awful.

Lot more than be reflected and just one program and you've had to gain their trust and very often they've been through traumatic events.

I might have thought that you would have been used by some of our listeners too close to the story to sympathetic to the migrants not keeping a journalistic objectivity and the vast majority of comments that feedback has had I've actually been critical in the opposite way for example people saying things like your shamelessly Fanning the Flames of racism in Division your dehumanising these people and focusing on the negatives Christ by those comments I was kind of surprised by some of them because in the way if you listen to the stories been told by some of the people that interviewed particularly.

I think I mean for me a very significant.

Into I did was with a 12-year old girl talking about her experience of walking past protesters really kind of wine to engage with them to wanted to say that we know we're here.

We're not put here by choice.

We're here at the government's this is a government initiative.

You know why you so angry as why you protesting outside the hotel with living always got some people wouldn't want to hear that.

I mean obviously people are wanting to make a life.

She had dreams to become a source of nurse and I'm just talking about it was affecting her education Be Moved hotel to hotel not able to settle not able to go to schools.

Not even to be scared of getting on school bus because of protesters outside their just day-to-day reality the so much going on for the side the hotel that I tried to catch her anything.

It's really important to hear that those types of Rise by someone you know comments.

Things like the Taxes and the extreme use of taxes that gone and got a few headlines and perhaps that's why people listening to it felt that it was it was slightly dehumanize them.

I don't know in a way that is also really important journalistic and ever as well because it is a resource question you know I mean that is part of what is fuel in some of the processes that resources so obviously that's part of the coverage going in there and it wasn't just coming from me actually a lot of the night at some cells felt that they were in a position of draining sauces when by choice they would they would never have taken over expensive journeys.

I mean you heard that on the programme the migrants were clearly very aware of the protesters that we're outside the hotels that they are but I wanted to get a sense that they think that's representative of what British people think in general.

I don't know it's difficult I think they've kind of experience and really good people.

Charities going into the hotel.

There are people sort of alongside the protesters are often people from sending the message.

You know you are welcome here.

There's the side of it so the hearing that it's a mixed message coming from outside on the Barricades they do see the resource question that and they do understand that but there is this process movement I think they just wish they could somehow give give their case and say to people that we really want to put into the economy.

We really want to have this long-term life here.

I think they want to be hurt more in the Debate and that that is really for the biggest sense I got from them and what they would what they have feelings about the coverage listeners have suggested that you should have spoken to some of the charities who work with asylum seekers to get a more rounded picture people have got to wrecked knowledge and experience of life inside the hotels.

Did you consider now?

The time there was a charity offering some language courses in and I briefly just touched on that that that side of it though.

This was an offer and how keen people are they take that kind of input but this was never give me a program that gave charities are sort of separate platform minute because the program was just good life in the in the most hotels have done in the past working alongside charity had great input.

There's only one part of the BBC's outputs.

Obviously we do so much coverage of migration issues and there is a lot of space within all that output for charities and 2 charity view as it's really important that we do all that but this I wanted the so 40 minutes so tight for time you know and it was just so important for me to hear from the people you never normally hear from that seems to me the Golden opportunity and as a journalist I thought of grab it with both hands and just wanted to give it space and their time and

Ability to participate on there in this way, and I think it's generator lot of today and it's raise a lot of important issues and the fact it was so widely picked up so that there was a need.

I think for this coverage.

I think there was a need to hear this kind of side of life and I think it's cos it's shaking things up a bit and stirred some action across across different realms.

You know from politicians to charities to you know people in the community even know some of our customers have said that it's divisive and presumably that wasn't your name.

I never I mean obviously the whole issue is very divisive so there's probably no getting away from that but as a journalist you're not thinking you know about that.

You're thinking here's an opportunity to actually cover something that is unique that's going to give voices you know that's going to help further understanding of what's happening and we are often accused of you.

No taking.

You know that you just set out to do your job and to portray the sort of truth of what's happening and in the best you can I didn't I would say it's actually not being divisive.

I think people listen.

Maybe it you into what they want to hear that there were too much about that program the Sony different aspects and there's so many different voices and so much you could absorb whatever your views you might still hold the same view at the end.

You might not know that I still my best to give you the child still needs here whatever whatever you do with it then.

Yeah, that's up to you.

Isn't it? So really interesting to hear those voices that we don't often here so much.

Thank you so much.

You're very welcome.

Thanks and you can listen to file on 4 investigates the migrant hotel on BBC signs another recurring theme in the feedback.

Inbox.

Political coverage across BBC audio to take a look at that as the Party Conference season draws to a close and if you'd like to comment on that or anything that you've had please do get in touch the way to do that is to send a voice note using WhatsApp the number is 0333 444 5440 you can ring that number and leave a message the number again 03333440541 xand Instagram it's at BBC R4 feedback you can also send an email to feedback at bbc.co.uk and please do go to BBC signs when you can search for feedback click like and subscribe so you get every episode in your feet and you can listen whenever you like once described in our time as a programme with a holy misleading title.

He's right of course but becoming one of the tools in the crown of Radio 4.

Introduced it was one of BBC's most searched for and downloaded programmes with the back catalogue beloved by students and anyone with a passion for knowledge hello civility in is the most valuable virtue's in society the school to discuss topics that really matter to you with someone who disagrees and somehow get a long while we were off lights at melvyn Bragg after 27 years episodes of the discussion program which he began in 1998 radio tritax Hayden rights for the radio Times and has a sub stack with victorious title of this sceptred Isle listeners.

Have you been sharing your thoughts on who should take hello my name is Helen Marston from London I think that's enough time.

I'm sorry.

But I want to suggest for the obvious replacement host should be amol.

Rajan he is a shoo-in as far as I'm concerned intellectual Curiosity and ability to understand and vast range of topics and ideas as well as his fantastic interview skills making the ideal candidate I live in Ashfield in Norfolk my suggestion would be John Wilson 80s me this to on this dance for Life depending on the interview very well prepared and we have low drag forces to enjoy long from North London I CBBC is considering who the hell is melvyn, Bragg New placement, which will be a difficult one as he did the program so well.

I love nice Andy Haines programmes about the

Informative and entertaining with the comedians like touches, when is the closest knowledge she would be a brilliant presenter and snow is also in terms of knowledge and presentation and how about Bettany Hughes another brilliant presenter make any subject interesting was Simon Hagan is here with me nice Simon welcome back hello Andrea before we get onto talking about who should take over this wonderful program.

That's just take a minute to think about melvyn, Bragg and what made him such a good host around curiosity across vast range of topics his background as a grammar school boy who went to Oxford with a vast interest in learning and every historical top of you can think he managed to convey a deep interest in expertise because

Before but he really grasped hold of those topics and got the best out of his interview is to enlighten the listener our listeners have been very keen to contribute Sarah Davies has said I was worried.

She says that in our time may suffer and I that melvyn Bragg is retiring.

I hope that you can keep the quality and also the bunkers subjects.

Can we please have more programs that include well-educated people know I just love that said that phrase the bunkers subjects in or time is really popular on BBC signs and it's really the younger listeners as well that might surprise some people but I wonder if there's bonkers subject so what brings people back.

I think I think it's not so much a case of bonkers subjects as this year.

Can you never know what's going to come next so you might have the Sistine Chapel one week and then you'll have the Russo Japanese war the next week and that's the beauty of it because it's never been.

Nothing Melvin was very keen to keep it non topical so that existed in Thailand the realm of if you like.

This is another thing I feel very strongly that he stood for which was education for it and you mentioned about his popularity with the under 35s.

We keep reading lot about how university now very much good to its efficiency in directing students into working two jobs and Melvin Studfall something else Sam's of deep value.

I think about education for its own sake and that's one program in boarded Simon notes in an article about this who is now going to be broadcasting the greatest polymath.

It's a real acylation of course.

I love you listening for some suggestions of their own Natalie Haynes amol.

Rajan John Wilson you mention the fact that this is a non topical time and the Time and Space Program it's very much.

It's unreal that's unique and Radio 4.

You thought about some outsiders presenting it.

I feel like with Malvern aware.

We had a hugely important and impressive track record in broadcasting.

He became synonymous with the time as in our time with melvyn and Melvin alone.

You didn't hear into the popping up elsewhere for example.

My name's the time that I've thought of another said they have no more validity hitting anybody else's suggestions, but I think that one important point to consider and this is where one suggestion of lion comes in which is the history of which is essentially what time is it in history program and history as we know our perception and what history is and who gets to command history that changed a great deal in recent years and I think I'm thinking more than I have heard it mentioned elsewhere is David olusoga.

Die we think of Mania TV historian.

He would bring a different kind of perspective on history.

Might I think represents something a little bit more in tune with the way we think about history these days someone mentioned also do I like very much indeed is a reflex Ray-Ban Ansell who Radio 4 listings would have heard presenting an accident series called rethinking which he talks too big thinkers about how they would change the size you for the best and he has a very nice man.

He's an academic.

I don't think the present and needs to be an academic, but certainly he would be at home with academics and I think he would not intimidate but I think you'd be rigorous with with people from the panel is running out.

I'm rough and extremely nervous going on because they do have to extemporise and they know that but I think they they found Melvin no, it was a challenge to be going he may not have known about castles in celle between you when he knew when was drifting off for being a bit vague and he would he would certainly you know.

The back to the topic in hand, I think if we were going to go for a female presenter dinner time then the name I would suggest is Helen Lewis who has been presenting.

I'm not dissimilar to be nice rethink which is called the spark again.

She talks too big brain people about how the world would be made to be a better place and she's a good listener extremely green together and I think she's again sufficiently at one remove if you like from Radio 4.

She's not a new voice on Radio 4 but she comes out her tropics from a slightly outside a position.

I've not sure of the timescale for a replacement presented to be a nice, but it certainly is going to be a challenge Simon O'Hagan thank you very much indeed for joining us with you.

Thank you, Andrea

is train tracks on BBC Radio 3 trelawney train from Inverness to Kings Cross on Saturday the 27th of September to travel with them in real time he could up with fellow Radio 3 presenters along the way Serenade by selection of railway inspired music it marked the 200 anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, when do you want to Stevenson drove locomotion number 1 on its inaugural from Shildon to Stockton on Tees Valley Darlington it was a springboard for the great Victorian age of the railways this historic anniversary was also marked on Radio 4, but it was Radio 3 day long trip on the Highland chieftain that really Court feedback listeners attention from Inverness welcome to the start of a

No journey to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway, my name is Chris Noel and I live in Ledbury in Herefordshire I've travelled all over this country the railways and of thoroughly enjoyed Radio 3 programme train tracks today and it's been obvious that they have told enjoyed their day out on the railway ready as we were brought from key stations along the east coast mainline Tom service of Pitlochry from Edinburgh to Darlington and as the day ends.

I will join Georgia man at London King's Cross my name is Shirley Joyce and I live in Birchington one can only listen with all the planning organization production and deliver it is impossible to imagine the number of people who must have been involved with the different aspects of the day putting everything together and bring it to such a neat end.

Very if I can hear him to platform 6 where you are last minute surprise switch off platforms.

I'm Dominic from Mitcham in South London I thoroughly enjoyed the railway celebration on Saturday and having follow petrocs progress from Inverness I couldn't resist going up to Kings Cross to see Georgia meeting him off the train.

Thank you for all the wonderful music and a fantastic day.

Well.

I'm delighted to say that Petroc Trelawny is back in a studio and here on feedback that you're lovely to talk to you.

Love.

You are saying that they are in all of the wedding to this just for a moment take us behind the scenes to give us a sense of what's involved.

I took over a year to get it together and having Sanderson and Sam Phillips who run tandem Productions to the

Come here alongside Radio 3 producers and Engineers from London from Salford from Glasgow had 12 months of careful plotting.

They did a at the journey themselves check how the signal woodwork broadcasting from the train that check outside broadcast locations on Pitlochry station at Edinburgh Darlington at King's Cross and then of course there was the only had 10 hours of music funnily enough.

There are a huge number of composers who were obsessed with trains who use trains a lot to travel around right now northeast to travel around the States with a special private Railway Carriage with a grand piano in it, so he could hurt and there's plenty of music written about the railways, but they had to pull from that 10 hours straight railway music to to a company or journey at King's Cross to greet you at the end of the journey were you expecting not know and it happened on the whole route actually people came to see it.

Inverness at Tom had visitors at Pitlochry a man got on the train at Haymarket in Edinburgh came and said hello and he said I'm just doing the journey to to Waverley the other Edinburgh station.

He bought a ticket made the journey.

Cos he wanted to say hello to us a fact that on Radio 3 we could clear 10 hours of our schedule for this day something that very few other broadcasters would be able to do and that we could do it live you know it was as it was happening again.

You can't do that with the podcast it taking the good old fashioned live radio broadcaster to achieve that had talked to Lorna from Radio 3 in tune.

Thanks so much for giving us an insight into the train tracks day on the 27th of September and if you would like to go back and listen to that.

It is still available on BBC signs, but that's all for this week.

Please keep in touch for me and 18.

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