Feedback (radio series)
Encyclopedia
Feedback is a series broadcast on BBC Radio 4
, presented by Roger Bolton
.
, a notable critic of modern culture, was a temporary presenter in the mid-1980s. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s it was fronted by Chris Dunkley, at that time television critic for the Financial Times
(he was always introduced as "Chris Dunkley of the Financial Times", with the intention of reinforcing his independence from BBC management).
. On occasion, comments read have less to do with content than with media by which programmes may be broadcast; for instance the iPlayer
. It is a conduit for enraged listeners to enunciate their outrage or (more rarely) enraptured listeners their praise for specific BBC radio programmes.
Producers of radio programmes are often invited for a polite question and answer session with Roger Bolton. However, not everyone agrees to take part.
The programme is currently on air, having began a new series in September 2011, from 1: 30 to 2pm om a Friday. Readers feedback in the current series has included reference to listener's reactions to BBC Radio 7 ever since it changed its name to BBC Radio Four Extra, and whether the programme PM
was right to broadcast a feature on Wayne Rooney
needing a hair transplant. In the current series, correspondence from children has featured on the programme, including a communication from one of the younger listeners who likes "The Infinite Monkey Cage" with Brian Cox
. The programme can be compared to the television series Points of View
.
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, presented by Roger Bolton
Roger Bolton (producer)
Roger John Bolton is a British television producer and radio presenter.-Early life:After attending Carlisle Grammar School and Liverpool University he joined the BBC as a trainee in 1967.-Television:He has worked on television as an editor of the revived Tonight in 1978, Panorama in 1979 and...
.
History
Originally a 15 minute programme, it began in 1979 replacing Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells. Amongst its earlier presenters were Colin Semper, a former head of Religious Broadcasting, and Susan Marling. Mary WhitehouseMary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse, CBE was a British campaigner against the permissive society particularly as the media portrayed and reflected it...
, a notable critic of modern culture, was a temporary presenter in the mid-1980s. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s it was fronted by Chris Dunkley, at that time television critic for the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
(he was always introduced as "Chris Dunkley of the Financial Times", with the intention of reinforcing his independence from BBC management).
Format
The presenter introduces listeners' letters, phone calls, emails or tweets. The series covers other BBC national stations, such as Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. On occasion, comments read have less to do with content than with media by which programmes may be broadcast; for instance the iPlayer
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer, commonly shortened to iPlayer, is an internet television and radio service, developed by the BBC to extend its former RealPlayer-based and other streamed video clip content to include whole TV shows....
. It is a conduit for enraged listeners to enunciate their outrage or (more rarely) enraptured listeners their praise for specific BBC radio programmes.
Producers of radio programmes are often invited for a polite question and answer session with Roger Bolton. However, not everyone agrees to take part.
Transmission
The programme is normally on Friday from 1:30 to 2:00pm (UK time), usually repeated on Sunday between 8 and 8:30pm. The programme is off air in summer; in 2008, it was first broadcast for its autumn season on 19 September 2008. The 34 programmes a year are produced by Whistledown Productions in London. Whistledown took over the production of the programme from City Broadcasting in October 2010, which had produced Feedback since November 2006. Previous to that, Testbed Productions had produced the show for twelve years.Frequent topics
- Radio Four comedies such as The News QuizThe News QuizThe News Quiz is a topical panel game broadcast on British radio BBC Radio 4.-History:It was first broadcast in 1977 with Barry Norman as chairman. Subsequently it was chaired by Simon Hoggart, Barry Took , and then again by Simon Hoggart until March 2006. Hoggart was replaced by Sandi Toksvig in...
(left wing bias) have been a popular topic - The ArchersThe ArchersThe Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
(specifically when Ruth Archer strayedMarital breakdownMarital breakdown refers to the common process whereby a marriageinterpersonal relationship between a man and woman erodes, such that they cannot ordinarily restore their relationship. There are many stages to the process, and each individual goes through the stages at different rates...
from the straight and narrow). - The argument that Radio Four presenters were biased towards arts and lacked competence in science.
- The subject of the Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls rowRussell Brand Show prank telephone calls rowThe Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row concerned a series of voice messages that English entertainers Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left on the answering machine of actor Andrew Sachs, which were labelled obscene by many media commentators and politicians...
was a prominent topic of controversy on the programme in the autumn of 2008.
The programme is currently on air, having began a new series in September 2011, from 1: 30 to 2pm om a Friday. Readers feedback in the current series has included reference to listener's reactions to BBC Radio 7 ever since it changed its name to BBC Radio Four Extra, and whether the programme PM
PM (Radio 4)
PM, sometimes referred to as the PM programme to avoid ambiguity, is BBC Radio 4's long-running early evening news and current affairs programme.-Broadcast times:...
was right to broadcast a feature on Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
needing a hair transplant. In the current series, correspondence from children has featured on the programme, including a communication from one of the younger listeners who likes "The Infinite Monkey Cage" with Brian Cox
Brian Cox
Brian Denis Cox, CBE is a Scottish actor. He is known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. He has also appeared in many Hollywood productions playing parts such as Dr. Guggenheim in Rushmore and William Stryker in X2: X-Men...
. The programme can be compared to the television series Points of View
Points of View
Points of View is a long-running television show shown in the United Kingdom on BBC One, featuring the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and purportedly witty observations on the television of recent weeks...
.
External links
- BBC website
- Listener's letters
- Previous programmes
- Telegraph October 2007 article
- Guardian May 2008 article
- City Broadcasting takes over the production in November 2006