20/04/2018

Roger Bolton hosts a Brexit special and also asks if the BBC was right to air the Rivers of Blood speech in full.

A panel of high-ranking BBC journalists and executives chew over listener complaints about the corporation's coverage of Brexit. Before the referendum, Feedback was inundated with complaints from listeners who felt that the BBC was overly biased in favour of Remain. But, in the months that have followed, that has shifted and the programme now receives more complaints from Remainers who see the BBC as the Brexit Broadcasting Corporation - in part thanks to a concerted online campaign.

Ric Bailey the BBC's Chief Political Adviser, Gavin Allen the controller of the BBC's daily news programming, and Today presenter Nick Robinson respond to listener complaints from all sides.

And, with some listeners saying that BBC comedy is too prone to bashing Brexit, is it possible to write a perfectly balanced comedy sketch? Cabin Pressure creator John Finnemore takes up the challenge.

A recent edition of Archive on 4 dealing with Enoch Powell's 1968 Rivers of Blood speech quickly became the most talked about radio programme of the year. The documentary featured actor Ian McDiarmid recreating the speech in full interspersed with analysis from contributors. But news of the broadcast of the speech in full caused many to question the BBC's judgement and motives. Mohit Bakaya, the Radio 4 commissioner for the programme, explains the reasoning.

Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Will Yates Executive Producer: Katherine Godfrey A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.