The BBC's Director-General Lord Hall has said it is up to licence fee payers to determine the size and shape of the BBC. It's Annual Report, out yesterday, shows how spending and staff numbers rose, despite cost cutting at the corporation. The Chairman of the BBC Rona Fairhead also said there are likely to be further cuts in "scope," prompting speculation that services would be cut. Steve Hewlett talks to Professor Lis Howell, Director of Broadcasting at City University, and the BBC's former Head of Strategy Mark Oliver, about the health of the BBC, where savings may be made, and how the corporation is positioning itself ahead of Charter renewal.
The Shadow Culture Secretary has warned that speculative government plans to scale back the BBC would see it becoming a 'national irrelevance by 2027'. Chris Bryant used a major speech last night to say the 'BBC is under siege' from the government, ahead of a Green Paper on the future of the corporation out on Thursday. Steve Hewlett talks to Chris Bryant about his role as 'critical friend', why he thinks it's important the BBC remains culturally significant, and what he would do to improve the organisation.
The presenter and documentary-maker Alan Whicker was best known for Whicker's World, a combination of travelogue and social commentary. In one of the longest running series in British television history he featured a range of people from despots, jet setters to eccentrics. A new foundation set up in his name has launched three documentary filmmaker awards - one for first time documentary makers over 50. Jane Ray, Consultation Artistic Director of the Whicker's World Foundation talks to Steve about the awards, and his style of documentary making.
