"Obsessive" BBC Radio 4 Impossible To Listen To Says Rod Liddle To Mike Graham

BBC Radio 4, once a beloved institution, is now facing a shrinking audience. The reason behind this decline, as many point out, is the network's obsession with race and gender issues.
Listeners are growing tired of the constant focus on these topics, feeling that it overshadows other important issues and alienates a significant portion of the audience.
The dramas on Radio 4 are not exempt from this criticism either, with Liddle and Parkinson discussing how they often cater to a very specific demographic, leaving others feeling excluded.
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[@_Archambaud]

Radio 4 is wall to wall identity politics

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

And climate change hysteria

[@macoooos9204]

Nothing mentioned unless it's through a lens of identity politics.

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

Are the remaining listeners to radio 4 aware of this bias and are they happy to go along with it I wonder.Are they all in agreement with the constant brainwashing?D o the BBC think that all this conditioning is paying off? I suspect they do.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

With a bit of veganism thrown in for good measure…

[@merxeddie6474]

My radio was tuned to Radio 4/ Home service for over 50 years.Its I now impossible to listen to News,features and drama without being constantly irritated by the shoe-horning of “progressive” ideology into the most unlikely programmes.

[@sueanne3139]

I couldn't agree more! 👍a 1/2 hr listen was enough for me, the news was so left wing biased.

[@stephenbaker7079]

As a 10 year old boy in the 1950s, BBC Home Service and the Light Programme, now Radio 4, was a life-like for me during the long summer holidays. My father was in hospital for several weeks and my mother had a full-time job so I was left alone at home for several hours until Mum came home. Using the Radio Times I was able to switch stations to get almost continuous listening to enjoyable programmes. I have a great memory of those programmes!

[@sueanne3139]

@@stephenbaker7079 I listened to radio 4 in the 60's & 70's...loved it. I was so saddened to have to turn it off recently, it was unbearable.

[@gerardhampson9089]

Couldn't agree more BBC need to be defunded and this compulsory licence fee to stop , radio 4 i no longer listen to ,as you say its been took over by the looney left

[@catherineallinson8562]

I read a comment on BBC News somewhere in which the commentator said that he regards his visits to BBC News sites as manouevres behind enemy lines. It made me laugh. And I was brought up on and listened to Radio 4 all the time. I would love it to come back but will not listen to the channel at the moment on my doctor's advice...

[@lairdkilbarchan]

Radio 4 Bingo. Switch it on any time of day or night and mark off "100 things we can learn from Islam"; "life in a green utopia"; "aren't black people fascinating"; "gays really are the best"; "Britain's legacy of evil" or some other such pearls of wisdom. ...And that's just on The Archers. 😂

[@susanwestern6434]

Yep.

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

I used to love The Archers. Now? Gay sex, gay sex gay sex and oh, a bit of agriculture, then back to gays adopting babies, gays adopting babies, gays adopting babies.... oh... and a bit of stuff about tea and scones. Then back to gay couples being disapproved of, gay couples being disappraoved of.... etc. No. The reality is not disapproval. The reality is that we're bored.

[@cnursery]

I used to listen to Radio 4 all the time. Now never. I used to watch BBC TV news. Now never. Even Countryfile, Gardener's World, Have I got News for You. They've all gone the same way. Now it's all Woke rubbish. And if I legally want watch anything else on live TV I have to help pay for it! Don't people understand what's happening to our country? Don't they care?

[@DessieTots]

Countryfile has become bizarre. It’s about as far removed from farming issues as it can get, unless of course they’re doing a feature on a black farmer with a half dozen sheep and two chickens. The BBC also use the programme to cheaply harvest thousands of high quality nature photography from the mugs hoping to be included in the over-priced calendar. Makes me wonder why they have that Hamsa guy standing around with his camera.

[@j.harrison6744]

​@DessieTots Last time I watched Country File it had an article about a woman who went around Hackney identifying weeds.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

⁠@@j.harrison6744- Weeds in Hackney? 😆🤣😂 That just about sums up the BBC’s actual audience these days.

[@claireb9127]

Radio 4 has gone woke and is just unlistenable. They have wrecked The Archers, I don’t listen anymore after listening to it for 30 years 😢

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

I cancelled my tv licence some years ago Stopped listening to radio 4 very many years earlierI It appears I havent missed much.I can imagine the gumph they are still peddling.

[@cjones3702]

I stopped listening when they killed off Nigel Pargitter.

[@5578pedro]

Me too ! He was such a good character. They got rid of him because it was all about class, Nigel was beautifully posh.

[@MrMjp58]

Check out their story lines on ‘toxic masculinity’…

[@spherevision360]

I loved the Archers but its now utterly twaddle. I don't know anyone called Alexander that's called Zander or for matter Shula. The whole divide between the well-spoken and the so called 'locals' is to say the least crass. And don't get me started on where Ruth's accent is supposed to hail from. Not a policeman in sight, dentist. Just out of touch with anything believable. Time to say goodbye.

[@christophernunn943]

Listening to BBC radio four is like reading the Guardian.

[@johnhall4851]

Who else thinks BBC needs dismantling as its dug its own demise?

[@Tommo77ful]

It needs to switch to subscription. If people want to consume the BBC's output, let them have the choice to pay whatever the BBC thinks its content is worth. For the people like myself who have no interest at all in consuming BBC's content, leave us be and let us watch other stuff on our TVs instead.

[@mnbv990]

agreed.

[@petew8388]

Exactly.......@@Tommo77ful

[@philiphudgens4726]

As the public broadcaster, of course! It's not fit for purpose in terms of representing the fee payers & it's an anachronistic way to provide & consume TV in the C21st. But it should just move to a subscription model to keep the Guardian readers happy.

[@ElzevereBlock]

True and very sad but you're spot on.

[@anthonymarch-ti1fq]

The last time i listened, the presenter said the migrants coming here is costing the Government over 3 Billion pounds, i lost it and shouted its costing us the Tax payer 3 Billion pound you ####

[@stephfoxwell4620]

They said slavery compensation cost £200 billion ( In reality it was £4billion equivalent) They said 200 teenagers commit suicide every week. In reality it is 200 per year. They lie. Then claim innocent error.

[@CobinRain]

I still try to listen to Radio 4 in the car….but find myself switching off within a few minutes as half the programmes seemed to exist only to signal virtue and rub my nose in diversity…but only some kinds of diversity.

[@antonrudenham3259]

I genuinely miss BBC radio, I really used to love listening to it while driving long distances and now I can't. I sometimes flick over to it to see how long I can last before switching off in anger but seriously can't do it for more than a few minutes. It's such a shame.

[@TPT6148]

Same here, used to listen to R4 all day, not any more!

[@paulukjames7799]

Yes same here can they not see what they are doing almost an agenda

[@deborahnicholas6200]

Explains how I feel about radio 4 to a tee.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

Likewise. It is now a grotesque propaganda machine.

[@gigabyte2573]

Agreed 100%, I believe this is down to all those diversity managers they employed a few years back, doing three days employment for around £175k, note I didn't use the word 'Work' ! someone is trying to keep themselves in an overpaid job by making these dreadful changes simply to keep themselves relevant !

[@iainrae6159]

Radio 4 eg 'You and Yours' Question, ' If your homeless, overweight, from an ethnic minority, have gender issues, then do give us a call'.

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

Radio 2 : "if you've suffered sexual harassment at work give us a call, but not if you're a man, we don't want to talk about that".

[@yasdnilknarf1885]

Only ever listened to Radio 4 not interested in any music channel. Sadly in the last 10 years Radio 4 has gone downhill in a handcart without a brake. I don't understand why the BBC hates Britain and British culture so much.

[@JckSwan]

I gave up on BBC radio a few years ago when, amongst other things, Women's Hour turned into Women's AllTheTime.

[@zx9mel]

What is a "woman", anyway ? Come on BBC, define who your show is aimed at . . .

[@stephfoxwell4620]

Woman Sour.

[@josephlennon8475]

Jane Garvey, " I, actually am a victim" on £100,000 plus per year! So thick!

[@castlequay2327]

same for me

[@peterjones6507]

YES!!

[@nickoldskool666]

I listened to radio four for nearly 40 years it's not possible now it's all guff.

[@gigabyte2573]

Up until about 6 years ago, I woke up to Radio 4, and Radio 2 at work all day, but now I don't listen to either at all, and as for the BBC and Micheal Parkinson that was a time when the BBC knew how to make programmes that actually entertained, and comedy that was actually funny !

[@z0n0ph0ne]

There are no right wing funny people.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

From 1982 until 2019 Radio 4 was my default channel. Since 2020 it has been impossible to listen to. Ghastly. Overtly biased. Dishonest.

[@user-ub4pl6tz2e]

Spot on ☕ 1950/70 were my time When we had England ❤️ And BBC at best I don't have a BBC license at all since 1992 Out of date like the council tax Today make a rubbish film and every one gets Oscar's For doing nothing Today no one interesting all look the same robot's Thanks I was from 1950/60 Had everything especially England ❤️ happiness Purpose of life Meaning to live ☕ And the best TV programs Actually laughing ❤️🌍☕

[@kenricnarbrough8191]

Same

[@paulhollett8415]

Try Radio 4 Extra. If you used to like R4 but not now, you will love R4 Extra , loads of old classics , dramas , plays , comedies etc.

[@johnnicol64]

No longer listen to Radio 4. Well done to the bbc staff for alienation of the very people who used to listen to radio 4.😅

[@andrewelliott4436]

Radio 4 is only about Radio 4 - and the opinions of the people that work at Radio 4. It is of no interest to anybody else.

[@jaywalker1233]

🎯

[@andrewelliott4436]

@@miscellaneousviewing7916 They will want to please whoever is in power to keep the Licence Fee.

[@jaywalker1233]

@@miscellaneousviewing7916 I really don’t think the current administration is “onboard” with the BBC’s position on the “boats”, or pronouns, or Lineker, or.. etc

[@michaelmcdonnell5998]

I'm old enough to remember when Radio 4 comedy was funny!

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Just eight or ten or twelve years back Radio 4 was pushing their great new comedic discovery Andrew Lawrence. Can’t imagine him getting a spot anywhere on the BBC these days.

[@susanwestern6434]

I started listening to Radio 4 in the mid 1970s. I was a teenager. It wasn't aimed at teenagers. But there was always something interesting to listed to. It used to be on most of the day. I stopped listening to it a couple of years ago. The agenda of everything white British very bad, everything multicultural and the religion of peace very very good. Just can't listed to as it annoys me so much.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

I started listening aged 19 at University. Stopped aged 57, three years ago when a BBC Executive wrote to tell me I made too many complaints. 45 in a year. They banned me for life from their websites and refuse to correspond with me ,even via Ofcom.

[@deja-view1017]

Same here. 😢

[@cornishhh]

We always had the Today program on as I was getting ready to go to school. I mainly listened to Radio One as a teenager, but there were some great comedy shows on 4 that I remember. I stopped listening to the Today program about 2010 when it had become more about the presenters trying to humiliate their guests and trick them into saying things that were then taken out of context. I went over to BBC local radio, but stopped listening to that for quite a while due to the relentless and unquestioning covid coverage.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@@stephfoxwell4620 As a publicly funded broadcaster, I could not have imagined the BBC would have the right to cut you off. Showing their lack of accountability and rank cowardice. Utterly disgusting - but thanks for posting what happened.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

@@comealongcomealong4480 I appealled it to Ofcom in June. Despite three letters they refuse to even acknowledge my complaint. But they clearly forewarned the BBC as I got a further letter saying, "having reviewed your letters we believe you have made a gross violation of our guidelines and we will no longer correspond with you" It is extraordinary. There is no recourse. They are immune to criticism.

[@ppullman5470]

I randomly switched the radio on to either Radio 3 or Radio 4 over a few days just to see what was on air. No matter what the time of day was or what the programme was supposed to be about, Africa, India and Slavery came into the topic every single time. The irony is the vast majority of people from those non-European cultures don't listen to Radio 3 and Radio 4, they have their own programmes and the indigenous population don't tune in to be deceived by this insideous lecturing. The few people of African or Indian origin who do listen, no doubt don't tune in to be lectured to or patronised about slavery etc. We are told people with an ethnic background are a tiny minority here, so why does every BBC programme try to pander to their needs and (alleged) interests at the expense of alienating what had been a large and loyal audience? When will the BBC change, when they are down to their last 100 listeners? Self-harming is so sad to witness.

[@Habu2]

Good account......I know it's poncey graduates, (producers etc) who feel extremely pressured into towing the party line....it must be hell for the few that can see through the BS.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

My recent two month survey shows 77% of Radio 4 output is on either race, gender or climate issues.

[@Habu2]

Good man for the survey......poor BBC with all them pencil necked graduates who have swallowed all the recent bollocks.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@@stephfoxwell4620 😱

[@sheilaoneil18]

I have returned after living in Ireland (Republic of) and was so looking forward to Radio 4. I had been missing it so much. The upshot, after listening a few times, is that I have given it up. It's absolutely dreadful. So disappointed!!

[@duncan649]

polite note to Mike Graham: STOP INTERRUPTING YOUR GUESTS!

[@neilh4729]

Spot on about Radio 4. Can't stand it anymore, everything seems to be about one minority or another, which I'm sure is of no interest to the majority of listeners. It's a total wokefest.

[@WetBandit-qo9xd]

The difference between Parkinson then and interviewers now is that he wanted to hear what the guest had to say rather than using the guest as the straight guy to make jokes. Norton, Evans, Ross etc use their chat shows as vehicles for their own cult of personality. It was only a few weeks ago I re-watched Kenneth Williams on Parky, it was perfect as it was only about Williams being funny, not about Parkinson trying to one-up his anecdotes.

[@steadfastandyx4947]

Yes

[@reggiesmith3866]

Like many on here I am sick and tired of the BBC`s obsession with and promotion of WOKE issues. Another of their obsessions is with pop stars and time and time again Radio 4 news bulletins include loud bursts of pop music as they mourn the passing of some old "star" of years ago that I for one had never heard of. Surely there are more than enough pop music channels quite capable of doing this without us having to suffer this noise on Radio 4 news bulletins?

[@malp78]

Thank god. Its not just me then. Every Radio 4 program is woke including comedy (apart from vintage episodes), drama, quiz shows, nature programs, panel games etc. I cannot listen to this propaganda. On the plus side I now listen to gb news.

[@Jane-rc2rk]

Bbc comedy is an oxymoron! Can’t stand radio 4 comedy.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Yep. Only reason to listen these days is the vintage stuff. Anything made by the BBC within the last ten years is almost certain to be dreck.

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

I gave up listening to Radio 1 during the 1st Gulf War as I wanted to listen to adults in the room. Radio 4 fitted the bill perfectly. Now the only thing in the room is the elephant covered in rainbow flags, diversity,equity and inclusion banners, climate crisis hysteria pamphlets swinging from its unflattering behind. It’s become, like most corporate media outlets, utterly nauseating. I’m glad to not defile myself by paying for a TV licence.

[@redset11]

Spot on Rod. Stopped listening to Radio 4 years ago and tv is mostly unwatchable today. Very sad to have witnessed the demise of our culture.

[@gigabyte2573]

@@redset11 Agreed, I grew up in the 50s onwards, and the BBC was like a staunch friend, someone you could rely on to tell you the truth, but sadly today that thought is only a distant memory, all those wonderful comedies they made, which were incredibly funny, right up till the 90s as well, but then the 00s came round and something changed, the rot set in, and gradually the once great BBC began to disintegrate from within, I can no longer watch or listen to anything the BBC produces today, So sad for me as a lifelong fan of the BBC.

[@paulstephenson5220]

Well said

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

@@gigabyte2573 I was a tanker driver in the 80s and 90s, and used to while away my 15 hour shifts accompanied by the Today program, Moral Maze, the often excellent afternoon plays, You and yours, PM and the 6PM news. Monday evenings were my favourite- I’m sorry, I haven’t a clue, Just a Minute and the News Quiz were all brilliant. I find most content on mainstream Television to be about as appealing as vandalism.

[@stanionman8178]

@@escapetheratracenow9883 Yes I too used to listen to some of those, but as you say the BBC has been wrecked from within by employing diversity managers and the woke brigade taking over the programming !

[@MrWindermere123]

Spot on. There was a lesbian kiss in The Archers a few days ago and the next time I switched on Radio 4 a gay tour of the Isle of Wight was claiming Alfred Tennyson as a gay poet. Female 'comedians' on Radio 4 have it written in their contract apparently to mention their wives and female presenters - Sue Perkins and Claire Balding for example - seem to be lesbians as a requirement of their job. This is warm and fuzzy to BBC types but to the rest of us it's propaganda for an estimated 10% of the population. I don't have a TV, so luckily I don't pay for this clumsy indoctrination.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

In May and June I conducted a survey of Radio 4. I randomly turned on the wireless four times a day for sixty days. I waited two minutes then noted the subject being discussed under four headings. Race and slavery. Gender issues. Manmade do mate change and Other. The results were; Race 34% Gender 22% Climate 21% Other including sport 23%. Their three preoccupations took up fully 77% of time. Even the Archers were decolonising Lower Loxley Hall.

[@Hereford1642]

Well done on doing the record keeping. I noticed the same thing myself some years ago; I would turn the radio on and wait and see how long it took before the usual minority topics appeared. It was quite relentless and so, after having Radio 4 on all day for some years I ended up turning it off completely. It is a shame because I have some lovely old radios but no reason to ever turn them on.

[@kenricnarbrough8191]

That's hilarious

[@garabandal8690]

I thought of doing likewise , cheers, you saved me a job. Also, noticeable: a sudden predominance of female voices (which implies they were rarely given air time previously); the female struggle; very bad language, and people facing problems - the sheer volume of it can hardly be classed as entertainment. I don't switch on radio 4 or 3 to be railroaded into bbc groupthink or middle-class sociology lessons.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Switched off BBC radio about eight years ago, when I found myself shouting at the radio at just about every opinion expressed.

[@xmfclick]

Ah, The Archers. I stopped listening when whatsisname took a swan dive off the roof. Having a science degree and feeling rather nerdy, I calculated from the 3 seconds of his scream, before he hit the deck, that the roof of Lower Loxley Hall must be 45 metres high. Quite some building! … but the show had lost all touch with reality long before.

[@joerobinson1672]

Thank goodness, i thought it was just me. 10 yrs ago I listened to it all day while i worked in my studio, now i cant bear 10 minutes; its just every woke agenda shoe horned into everything from women’s hr, the news to plays: mindnumbing!

[@spotontheroad1]

I too find Radio 4 almost impossible to stomach these days which is a source of great sadness. It should simply inform not constantly seek to influence. That is not it's role and nor should it be.

[@roblloyd1879]

Used to enjoy radio 4, now have very little to do with the B/S broadcasting Corporation.

[@bfree2speak_freely48]

Radio 4 is dangerous to listen to when driving as I feel like smashing up everything within reach on the rare occasions I accidentally tune into it.

[@ianabroad]

I thought it was just me that felt like that. I wonder if the BBC management take note of peoples views?

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

@@ianabroad only the virtuous people's views....

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@@ianabroad There is one answer to your question in this thread from our perspicacious, former listener @stephfoxwell4620 !! Astoundingly, the BBC have blocked her access to their online services and banned her subscription (I think that's right). Steph had the courage of her convictions to submit 45 complaints to the BBC about the standards, quality and demonstrable bias of their reporting and programming. Who knew the Beeb had a threshold?!!

[@davidjackson3818]

I said 'adios' to Radio 4 and the BBC tax many years ago. Too full of woke crap.

[@exiled2home]

I joke with my wife, every time I habitually try to listen to BBC radio 4 that within a few minutes there’s going to be something about, race, inclusivity, feminism etc etc. Usually there is.

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

And if it's Woman's Hour you'll get all of that in every episode. Surely if it's for angry females let's call it Time Of The Month. Certainly not Happy Hour.

[@cornishhh]

And the climate change CRISIS.

[@stuart-st1gu]

I started to listen to Radio 4 at the age of 12 (1982) and was fascinated by it. Now it's all Woke rubbish and i now find it impossible to listen to.

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

same here

[@whovotedforthat]

Every time I have listened to radio 4 their is always a gauranteed dig at men

[@FeckWoke]

White men to be clear

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

Hetro white men - yes - I've noticed that too and it is rancid.

[@user-xn2hf9re8r]

R4 used to be brilliant. I wrote to the controller years ago when it started to include sport and music - now it's crappy dramas about blacks and asians - they listen to their own radio stations NOT R4. sick of it

[@yiabwstetienne7474]

🎯

[@nebbyscumbold]

Parkie did what Mike Graham seems unable to do: allow their guests to speak without interrupting them.

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

It is a short attention span disease today . .I must interrupt you there...

[@robertmarlow255]

Not only does he interrupt any guest that may have the audacity to hold a different view to the editorial line, his guest's mic is also turned down low in order for The Plank to talk over them.

[@nickc6583]

It’s because he’s Scottish!!😂

[@hetrodoxly1203]

Listening to the occasional drama set in Africa, India and the West Indies or about people from these continents was a treat, now it's every bloody program, all the comedy and panel shows have the same woke approved people who are 100% politically aligned, Trump hasn't been president for three years but when a joke about one is needed he's still used, Biden struggles to put a sentence together, he's constantly falling over, his son Hunter is a drug addict who's trafficked prostitutes across county lines, not one mention or joke have I heard, off course people are turning off, the BBC doesn't make anything for the majority.

[@rhodiusscrolls3080]

If youre black youll.be.back every day if you are white they have only one word for you.

[@leebritnell8668]

Used to listen to the drama,but the last one I heard was(of course)about a brave Ukrainian soldier.I've heard plays about Nigerians,Sengalese,Muslim women,Irish women,etc. I don't have problems with plays about issues and difficulties we face today,but can't we have a MIXTURE of stuff.Put on the odd corny country house murder,comedy,horror or thriller.It's true that Radio 4 extra has this,but how about a little diversity on the main channel?

[@SingleTrack66]

It’s absolutely awful what they have done radio 4.

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

I am old enough to remember when they put on the ground breaking "Hitch hikers guide to the Galaxy" and all manner of great things. Now? I can hardly cope with the silly carry on.

[@SingleTrack66]

@@user-ow1to2rq9h yes I loved that series on the radio.

[@barmouthbridge8772]

The BBC feels like it's morphed into being essentially a lecture to Britain of old about being so hateful. the message gets rammed via painfully one-sided access to facts in their news output. the way it now avoids glaring social problems obviously connected to uncontrolled immigration is pitiful. it's only remaining customers i.e. 50 plus, it resents and makes no effort to reach. the youth don't even know what it's for. within a decade it's gone under the existing funding model. hardly anybody I know respects it's output anymore. I'm 52. White . Welsh.

[@jameskinsey4182]

The last news I heard on radio 4 was that air pollution is the cause of anti biotics not working I turned it off immediately I will never listen to this woke station ever againn

[@rogersimmons8788]

I started to listen to radio 4 but was very quickly put off by so many guests who insisted on putting the inflection in the wrong place, making everything sound like a question.

[@petersumner7367]

Every morning I watch BBC breakfast at 6am, every interview has someone crying, great way to start the day!

[@brentwestbrook]

I don't really believe that R4 knows their audience. Are they really trying to convince the 50+ traditional audience with their utter claptrap?

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

they know how to nag their audience

[@alanpearson7554]

Stopped listening to R4 when the Archers became woke - about 20 years ago

[@baronlowie]

My wife's once favourite R4 program is now unbearable to her because of current content, particularly the apparent obsession with women's sport.

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

I am surprised because the England women football team doesn't look very diverse

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

@@Marvin-dg8vj- I believe the women’s team is pretty representative of the UK population as a whole. England &Wales is still 82% white, Scotland is 96%. Despite all the advertising propaganda only 4% of the population is black.

[@GMN360]

I wish flirting between men and women would return. Flirting was wonderful!

[@jbuckley2546]

What are you doing Saturday?

[@GMN360]

@@jbuckley2546 I’d love to be out flirting!

[@jbuckley2546]

@@GMN360 Have fun sweetie!

[@dcollins4679]

I was an atypical teenager in the 70s and avidly listened to Radio 4 stopped in the last 15 years as it dumbed down, lost focus and cancelled many great programmes.

[@nandarajaram7740]

I grew up with the Home service,and the third programme.Listened to it while at university,and all through my working life.5 years ago I stopped listening.I couldn’t tolerate the blatant propaganda from an organisation that seemed to believe that gender was assigned at birth,amongst many other absurdities.I would not give them a single penny.

[@neilcampbell60]

Afternoon drama writers should be committed to mental establishments

[@mre7550]

I used to love R4 now I never listen to or watch the BBC

[@robertlisternicholls]

Rod spot on as usual. R4 can cause accidents with viewers being so angry with it.

[@abacussin]

Did you know? Radio 4 can go for about twenty minutes maximum before having to spurt out some propaganda on climate change.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

I’m sure they’ll put that in the new BBC statutes fairly shortly. Alongside the edict that if a man appears anywhere on the BBC, he must be accompanied by a woman at all times, and they cannot both be white.

[@roncouch]

Radio 4 is boring and biased……….

[@user-ub4pl6tz2e]

Sad I grew up with him Those were the days When you could actually listen to the top guests Michael was very patient listening ❤ No chance today We don't have any interesting people to listen to.... Actually we had the best 1950/60/70 People who actually achieve success in life Today Make one rubbish film Every one gets Oscars Thanks i was 1950/60/70 ❤ Great England back then ❤

[@mikeoglen6848]

I 've listened to R4 for most of my life but now I have plummeted...

[@shaungilmartin1505]

gave up on it 25 years ago...was like being lectured at by primary scool teachers

[@leanneclare3750]

There are no contenders Rod! Mike is right a lot of people are not of a calibre that would make good tv. People are so vacuous, who would want to listen to the crap most people talk about. I’ve listened to radio 4 since I was 28 years old. I gave up listening in 2016 in my 50’s. The quality is so poor and too woke.

[@iainsan]

Like many others, I really miss Radio 4. I listened to it regularly from the 60s until about 10 years ago. It used to represent Britain to me. Now, it's impossible to tune in because of the infuriating constant social conditioning and outrageous political bias. No programme is free from it; the news, quizzes, comedy, documentaries, even Gardener's Question Time! It's a really sad loss.

[@MrWindermere123]

Yes, Gardeners' Question Time is trying too hard to be funny and the lame puns are embarrassing. Bob Flowerdew is always worth listening to - I think he should replace that silly woman as presenter.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Yes, Radio 4 was great until about ten years ago. Probably one of the best resources of its kind in the entire world. Such a grave cultural loss.

[@benjaminallen917]

My late wife adored radio 4 and would tell me of the afternoon plays she had heard that day whilst I was at work, and she had the radio on all day as she did the daily chores etc. I'm so pleased she had the golden ages of radio, and pleased she is not now exposed to the drip drip drip of the new BBC. It needs closing down! She was an angel, bless her, and damn the new BBC!

[@ellehann]

Yesterday on a BBC radio programme, dont know which one, I listened to half an hour at least to people wittering on about bed bugs and the generational trauma experienced due to ancestors being bitten by them. I kid you not. I never tune into BBC voluntarily.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

Most so called "experts" they have on are Indian or American women.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Generational trauma? They’ll demand reparations soon. Not sure who was responsible for bed bugs 200 years ago - Oh, I know, the patriarchy.

[@felawes]

I used to listen to Radio 4 for hours and had done since a boy. Now I can last about 30 seconds.

[@rowbearly6128]

The same applies to the Australian Broacasting Commission. the ABC in Australia. What was once a beacon of reason and home of many fine comedies is now a cesspit of juvemile idiocy. All by design.

[@Mike-br8zt]

Absolutely - inner city propaganda from those who know better.

[@markwillis2800]

Does anyone under the age of 30 listen to Radio 4 these days?

[@royjacobs1204]

Probably very few, but their problem is the over 40s abandoning it in disgust.

[@MartianTom]

No... which is why most of them are entitled, selfish air-heads who care more about their cars, phones and tattoos than anything else going on in the world.

[@yvettedavis2256]

I detuned ALL BBC stations from my radio store buttons years ago. Couldn’t stand listening to the incessant bs.

[@tonygreen769]

Race,gender,climate change,immigration.regardless of which program they are airing these are the only subjects the biased broadcasting corporation can talk about.the immigration being a posit thing of course.

[@catherineallinson8562]

How can you forget the Dame Edna interviews? Just the best.

[@jfro5867]

Despite an increasing dislike for the BBC I did listen to Radio4 however it’s become so woke and preachy I can’t bear it anymore. The comedy shows as so predictable and well …..dreary . Bad impressionists, weak humour. Nah had enough…..I’m in the defund it camp.

[@terrymullins9772]

Yep , that comedy club is unfunny boring crap with comedy for 10year olds ,

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

Six Thirty Comedy ? It's time to switch off. Although, I must say that Thought For Today, with its fake christians, in sombre tones, was always an absolute hoot. Sadly now, there are so many different faiths, that the comedy value isnt there.

[@1669Python]

Rod has a good point. I'm switching off with an increasing regularity.

[@MartianTom]

Liddle once said - in print, by the way, so a public document - that he could never have been a school teacher because he'd have ended up wanting to shag the kids. Do you think that's another good point he's made?

[@lenwilkinson672]

Just a lovely man the salt of the earth.He will be well remembered.

[@tommiller1315]

Why does R4 need to give sport updated every twenty or thirty minutes? R5 in its variety of options should be containing this BBC output!

[@Hickalum]

British Olympic swimmer Helen Smart died a few days ago, aged 42. She was supremely fit and healthy … Then, a sudden heart attack in her sleep. Did anybody hear about that from the BBC ? … No ??? … I wonder why not ??? Good luck to you if you are an athletic person who took the S&E because the BBC coerced you to.

[@Alan-gx8gf]

I used to listen to BBC Radio 2 and the John Dunn Show , sadly there is very little quality radio shows like this any more , and every time you tune into Radio 4 it is all about " Diversity " etc which we never asked for , so cancelled my Tv Licence 6 years ago , the Licence fee for the should be scrapped and the BBC should survive on it's own .

[@zx9mel]

People still listen to and watch the BBC ? Why ?

[@sueanne3139]

The lefty's still watch it...there is a lot of them about.

[@j.harrison6744]

Middle England are a bit slow and dim.

[@KM-wl1tp]

Same with LBC. Managed about 5 mins the other day. I occasionally listen to it for a laugh

[@borjastick]

Two best parts of the week living as I do in the IROMG are Hitchens on a Monday and Liddle on a Thursday. Keep it up El Presidente.

[@tommiller1315]

R4 - Weekday evenings, 1830 - Why the need for producers to force presenters and contestants to say or shout sh** once or twice in every show???

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

Cos deep down, they know how infantile their product is.

[@anthonymarch-ti1fq]

When i put radio 4 on, i just shout at the radio. One minute they talk about these poor migrants coming in small boats, then next there having ago at the Torys because they can't stop the boats. There the migrant mouthpiece.

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

Onl;y the gullibles look at single fighting age men, who hide their identity by getting rid of their passports and think "Nothing wrong with that" You have to be a BBC gullible to report this and add "Aren't we great for taking in these poor women and children - and it's fine to take more and more"

[@alanthomson1227]

No one mentioning the dreadful Helen Mirren questioning . I appreciate he did some classics .

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

I wonder if that was pre-rehearsed and scripted, because it became notorious?

[@denisescutt1865]

We no longer listen to any bbc radio and their ideology nor the BBC news on tv. Neither do my family and many friends.

[@HarryFlashmanVC]

Rod doesn't look well, he's a national treasure hope he's ok

[@mwmds]

Smoking 20 a day for 40 years will do that

[@jamesjarrett52]

'National treasure'. 🤣🤣

[@MartianTom]

This 'national treasure' once said - in print, by the way, so a public document - that he could never have been a school teacher because he'd have ended up wanting to shag the kids. Does that sound like someone you'd agree with?

[@ben31uk]

What’s the bbc 🧐

[@paulpilkington1797]

Loved his interviews with Peter Ustinov

[@BladeRunner21577]

I dont even know why BBC Radio 4 put on those kinds of shows because anybody who would be interested in listening to it wouldnt be listening to Radio 4. So theyre not talking to their audience, and they are not attracting the people they want to. So everybody gets what nobody wants. I can only imagine its for the social kudos

[@terrymullins9772]

THEY have millions of new immigrants now to follow their bullshit.

[@leonblittle226]

Endless drivel about some guy on TV. Now he's the greatest, before that it was Johnny Carson being the unquestionable greatest........ it's tedious.

[@Hairnicks]

Used to leave the pub on time to watch Parky with my parents and sisters, glued to the telly, Spike, the goons, Kenny Williams, still watch them on you tube. Miss you Parky.

[@niguel4438]

Try listening to BBC world news through the night for wall to wall wokisms and anti British colonialism rants.

[@user-kc4lt2eg6u]

New to talk TV. This was a fun and honest chat, very refreshing 👍

[@MrMjp58]

This morning they had a programme on about the ‘re-writing’ of history via museum exhibits and the way they are presented. A real and pernicious phenomena. A vaguely traditional viewpoint was being put - under duress from the presenter, when the contributor’s line went dead. This happened several times. The main impression throughout was that the production crew of the show thought that modish zealotry was utterly normal. Earlier today, we were subjected to a looking-back style programme on Jerry Springer the Opera. All the participants seemed rather aggrieved that some ‘illiberal’ religious groups objected to it a bit it at the time… How dare they? I still listen, for as long as I can stand it, just because I like background burble and commercial radio manages to be even worse.

[@Hickalum]

Don’t. Don’t listen to it. It will make you mentally disturbed.

[@MrMjp58]

I know what you mean.

[@stopthatluca]

It's true, Radio 4 is impossible to listen to for more than 5 minutes.

[@neilwade7663]

I grew up listening to R4. Now it turns me off immediately. Only have Steve Wright on Saturdays left to listen to. Sad, don't need a Liberal fascist telling me how the world works.

[@dangerouscoffeeangelkeen9314]

Michael Parkinson allowed his guests to talk, something the so called interviewers of today seem unable to do !

[@expressoevangelism80]

I first discovered Radio 4 in ‘83, when I stumbled upon ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.’ A good one to start with, I think everyone would agree, after that I was hooked throughout the day, as I drove around between appointments, but now I see no reason to turn it on at all, which is such a pity. The apparent modern slant on the mis name ‘liberal’ agenda, Woke committee, headed by the LGBGTQPFN….WTF++ whatever that may stand for, will just fade of the scale, just as it has with Disney ratings and Bud-Light, which is playing itself into exhaustion. The funny thing is, they BBC, still demand licence money for continually repeated programmes⁉️

[@puritan7473]

Rod Liddle "You couldn't have him today because our attention spans have got so short". Obviously he does not know about the internet. For example, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro or the hundreds of others who get thousands or in some cases millions of viewers to watch long form interviews!

[@garymitchell5899]

Which podcaster regularly gets millions of views?

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

These are a minority cut out of mainstream broadcasting completely

[@puritan7473]

@@garymitchell5899 Joe rogan for a start

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

Richie Allen Show, Delingpole, All kinds of people out there are providing content - that is a little bit off the wall, to be sure, but they are gaining popularity by word of mouth.@@garymitchell5899

[@rustshoo5068]

“(Parky) could dig under the surface” is more of less what Liddle says in appreciation of Michael Parkinson. Parky was able to get his guests “to divest themselves with anecdotes”. And back in the gloomy days of the 70s, that was great consolatory entertainment, in a way connecting the country better than anything now as we all used to watch the show, as there were only three TV channels. But Mike Graham is such an exhausting interviewer he doesn’t allow Liddle to reminisce more about the guests on Parkinson he remembers watching. He destroys the lamented long interview of old right here, even though he was himself lamenting its demise, here, by his scattergun pub chatter style. For instance, why could Graham not have asked Liddle about the James Stewart interview. If he had done so, Liddle would have gladly talked about that one: and it would all be in honour of Parky anyway. Then Graham painfully mentions something about Parky getting much out of his guests. We did not really get much out of Liddle here! With Parky you could sip a cup of tea watching his interviews. But here you’d forget to sip your tea as you silently urge Liddle on to get on top of this guy. Liddle hardly spoke, in my view. You’d be forgiven if you thought Graham was the one being interviewed!

[@piggerGg]

I never knew Rod Liddle was of African heritage but the smoke alarms never lie.

[@j.harrison6744]

LOL

[@judestevenson4943]

No body likes long form interviews? Not heard of Joe Rogan? I like both these guys, but legacy media is past it's sell by date.

[@royjacobs1204]

It's so funny to watch, I spend an hour in the morning catching up with news clips on yt. The rest of the day in my tractor is podcasts, so much choice is available so many subjects so many viewpoints. I get home, music over dinner and bed. The idea of sitting down to watch tv is a very distant memory.

[@j.harrison6744]

​@@royjacobs1204Same here. The only time I turn on the TV is to watch a film. Broadcast TV is completely dead for me.

[@marilynsmith8054]

I’ve just switched from LBC to Radio 4 because I got fed up with listening about migrants in boats and trans people.

[@johnmoncrieff3034]

Meg Ryan had had an argument prior to going on the show and had downed a quantity of alcohol to lessen the pain she had from the facial work she had done! She wanted to go home but was legally obliged to appear! The other arguably one of his horrific interviews was with Robert Mitchem, (notorious for being monosyllabic) !

[@MrMjp58]

Helen Mirren was also poor.

[@user-ow1to2rq9h]

She was very funny too..... tied him up like a kipper and he knew it (and loved it)@@MrMjp58