Great pick up from my extraordinary interview this week on our Beeb Watch podcast. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...

This week on Beeb Watch we speak to Dame Caroline Dinenage the MP chairing Parliament's inquiry into the BBC's Royal Charter Review. Plenty to discuss - funding, governance, impartiality. And there's a moment we've never had in the history of this podcast. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

“If you’re only making the case in places that you feel are friendly and supportive, you’re by your very nature just talking to a certain audience." Ex BBC Dir of Communications John Shield picked up from my Beeb Watch podcast. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06...

This is a great conversation with Helen about the realities on the ground.

“About a third were experiencing what we thought were serious harms" Prof Helen Wood (@AstonUniversity ) explains what her 3 year ReCARE TV study reveals about casting, consent, working conditions and duty of care in reality TV. Latest episode of Beeb Watch here 👉 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Has the BBC been “captured”? Great conversation with @robburl.bsky.social – writer & ex BBC Editor of Live Political Programmes & Deputy Editor of Newsnight – about his UnHerd piece on the BBC, trans coverage, culture & due impartiality. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Great pick up from my interview with @adamboulton.bsky.social on Beeb Watch this week. Listen to the full interview here: podfollow.com/beebwatch www.theguardian.com/media/2026/m...

This week I'm joined by ex Sky News Political Editor @adamboulton.bsky.social we talk Keir Starmer’s position, multi party politics, the future of political journalism – and, in this clip, Ofcom’s handling of GB News. 👇 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

"Freedom of expression is absolutely essential. What I don't want is a pretence of regulating for due impartiality when it's not actually happening." Former Ofcom Director of Standards Chris Banatvala on Ofcom, GB News and due impartiality. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

On Beeb Watch, Prof Richard Tait CBE @richardgrahamtait.bsky.social – former BBC governor, trustee & ITN Editor-in-Chief – argues for more spending on BBC News, not less, and a clear change of direction amid fake news, political pressure & shrinking resources. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

“Let’s call it what it is. Ofcom’s negligence is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of British democracy right now.” @liambyrnemp.bsky.social on Ofcom, GB News, media money & why politicians need to send a “pretty clear message” to the regulator. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

With Lisa Nandy announcing a permanent Royal Charter for the BBC, is the charter review a real consultation – or a done deal? Prof Lee Edwards @mediareformuk.bsky.social @lsepress.bsky.social discusses the speech, the charter “consultation” & public accountability. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Former DG Lord Tony Hall discuss Matt Brittin’s appointment as director general, who should be in his top team, the BBC’s direction in a digital world, Ofcom and impartiality, collaboration with other PSBs, the World Service and future funding. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

“British Muslim citizens are being thrown under the bus by politicians, by the media & the powers that be, & no one blinks an eyelid.” Rizwana Hamid, Centre for Media Monitoring @cfmmuk on their new report on how UK media covers Muslims and Islam. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

⏰ The clock is ticking. Time to respond to the Government’s consultation on the future of the BBC. I talk it through with Colin Browne of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer. 🎧https://podfollow.com/beebwatch Gov consultation: www.gov.uk/government/c....

Is there an ‘exceptionalism’ in how UK broadcasters cover Israel compared with other crises? @rabbiromain.bsky.social Rabbi Jonathan Romain joins me to discuss media coverage of Israel, Gaza and British Jews, antisemitism, & religious literacy. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

What does the BBC’s YouTube deal really mean for public service children’s TV? In this week’s episode, Greg Childs from the @cmfoundation.bsky.social Children’s Media Foundation digs into algorithms, “prominence”, and why this deal matters more than it might seem. 🎧 👉 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Is the BBC right to report from Iran under the current conditions? Ex BBC World Service Director Jamie Angus reflects on deal that lets the BBC report from inside Iran & discusses his Henry Jackson Society report on funding & the future of the World Service 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Millions in the UK are already digitally excluded: 🔹 3–4 million lack affordable access 🔹 10–11 million lack basic digital skills Yet we’re talking about online‑only TV (and maybe radio) by 2034. Elizabeth Anderson, Digital Poverty Alliance explains the implications. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Which “heritage” media is consumed by 90% of the population? In the latest Beeb Watch we talk to Phil Riley radio exec about: 🎧 BBC funding, BBC Sounds & a possible “radio licence” 📺 The 2034 DTT switch‑off & what it means for radio 🏙️ BBC Local Radio & local journalism 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Has Trump just hit a turning point? I spoke to Rob Crilly (ex–Chief US Correspondent at the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail Online) about Minnesota, the media, public broadcasters under pressure – and whether US democracy is as fragile as it looks. 🎧 full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Are we settling for the status quo with the Government’s Charter review—or missing an opportunity for real change? Prof Lee Edwards LSE & Media Reform Coalition dissects the green paper in this thought-provoking episode 🎧 Listen podfollow.com/beebwatch #BBC #Podcast #MediaReform #PublicService #LSE

Sir Max Hastings takes on the right-wing press, BBC’s future, and media silence in a must-listen interview. 🎧 Listen to the full interview: podfollow.com/beebwatch #Media #PressFreedom #BBC #SirMaxHastings #Podcast

🎙️ New episode: Patrick Barwise (London Business School Prof, former Which? chair, co-author of "The War Against the BBC") dives into the new BBC green paper: governance, funding models, what's left out? Also, should the BBC settle with Trump? Hear his surprising take. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

What can the BBC learn from public broadcasters around the world? 🌍 Authors of the British Academy bsky.app/profile/brit... report break down the evidence from international comparisons—and what it means for the BBC’s future. Curious what works best? 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch #BBC #BritishAcademy

Great chat with Jon Williams—Exec Director of Rory Peck Trust, former BBC & ABC News editor—about the challenges freelance journalists face, rising risks, media pressures, lawsuits in journalism, and who should be the next Director General of the BBC. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

A transformative moment may be approaching for UK broadcasting. Dan Thomas, Global Media Editor at the Financial Times, discusses the potential implications of a Sky/ITV deal for the BBC, Channel 4, and the wider media landscape. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation: podfollow.com/beebwatch

🎙️New episode. Author Andy Webb (“Dianarama: The Betrayal of Princess Diana”) discusses his investigation into the BBC Panorama interview, Martin Bashir’s controversial methods, and how BBC actions may have shaped Princess Diana’s fate. 🎧https://podfollow.com/beebwatch #PrincessDiana #BBC #Dianarama

10 Million homes do not have pay-TV of any kind. Another 3.6 million homes use Freeview on at least two sets where they also have pay-TV i.e. are regular users of Freeview. Source: Everyone TV, the company behind Freely, Freeview and Freesat. How would they react to Nigel Farage's plans for the BBC?

“‘It invites corruption.’ Richard Ayre, former BBC executive, raises serious concerns about political influence over BBC appointments and what this means for public trust and governance. Full conversation on our latest podcast episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch #BBC #Governance #PublicTrust

🎙️ New episode: Patrick Younge, former BBC Chief Creative Officer & ITV Studios board member, discusses BBC Panorama bias allegations, the impact of media consolidation, charter reform, & what’s next for PSB in his British Broadcasting Challenge report. 🎧https://podfollow.com/beebwatch

MattFrei of @channel4news.bsky.social talks about his The Media Society @rtsmedia.bsky.social Steve Hewlett Lecture: 🇺🇸 The state of US democracy — whether it could happen here 📺 BBC’s Gaza coverage 📰 The future of traditional news 💬 GB News, Trump & media polarisation 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Ofcom keeps the rules the same — but the game has changed Prof @stephencushion.bsky.social on Ofcom’s decision & what it means for impartial broadcasting. Are we heading for more opinion-led TV and radio? 🎧 Full episode podfollow.com/beebwatch #Ofcom #BBC #Impartiality #Media #BeebWatchPodcast

Been a bit behind on my listening, but caught up onlast few weeks of @beebwatch.bsky.social while batch cooking yesterday PM. There’s another one out today, shining a vital light on broadcasting. By people who love the industry, but also hold it to account. podfollow.com/beebwatch/view

Great pick up from Beeb Watch this week. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

The BBC World Service reaches more than 300 million people — but should it be funded from the Defence budget? 🎙️ Mary Hockaday, fmr BBC World Service Controller discusses its future & what’s at stake for global journalism, soft power, & editorial independence. 🎧 Listen here: podfollow.com/beebwatch

🎙️ New episode out now! My guest is Stewart Purvis — former Editor-in-Chief & Chief Exec of ITN, and once a regulator at Ofcom. We discuss: Lisa Nandy vs GB News Impartiality in broadcasting ITV at 70 Stewart’s career highs (and a “nipple-gate” low!) 🎧 Listen here: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Is the BBC’s recent ‘song and dance’ over its international audio changes really worth it? Former BBC Trustee Mark Damazer shares his doubts about the payoff. 🎧 Hear more in our latest episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch #BBC #podcast #media

New Beeb Watch episode is out! 🎧 Robin Aitken — former BBC journalist & Telegraph contributor — joins us to discuss his chapter in The BBC: After the Licence Fee? We cover impartiality, Brexit, religion & audience trust. Listen here 👉 podfollow.com/beebwatch

🚨New report finds UK media often misleads on immigration & the ECHR. From the bogus “chicken nuggets” deportation story to judges labelled “enemies of the people,” coverage creates a toxic “data fog.” We ask co-author Prof. @alicedonald.bsky.social can PSBs cut through the pollution? 🎙️

🚨 New Beeb Watch series 📚 Prof. John Wyver @illuminations.bsky.social discusses the campaign to protect access to the BBC Written Archive Centre & wider challenges facing the arts at the BBC. 🎧 watch clip & listen now in full: 👉 podfollow.com/beebwatch #Archives #PublicServiceBroadcasting #BBC

Prof Cathy Johnson's report on "Behind the Screen" with @ibtrust.bsky.social @campaignforthearts.org @universityofleeds.bsky.social & Sandford St. Martin exposes how algorithms are destroying genre diversity, civic content, & the social purpose of broadcasting. 🎧 Listen podfollow.com/beebwatch

Good to see pick up from my interview with Richard Ayre, former BBC Executive. Listen to the interview in full: podfollow.com/beebwatch www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...

🎙️ BBC Governance, Not Government Interference. Richard Ayre joins us to unpack: 🎥 Gaza documentary scandal 👨‍🍳 MasterChef presenter exits 📞 Culture Secretary & Ofcom pressure 🕵️‍♂️ Editorial oversight challenges 📊 The BBC’s annual report 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch #BBC #BeebWatch #PublicBroadcasting

🎙️ New episode: Marcus Ryder, CEO of the Film and TV Charity, on the Greg Wallace controversy & the culture crisis in UK film & TV. ➡️ 50+ new complaints ➡️ 41% say they’ve faced bullying or harassment ➡️ Why so few feel safe to speak up ➡️ How the industry can change Listen 👉 podfollow.com/beebwatch

🎙 @miqdaad.bsky.social joins us to unpack “BBC on Gaza-Israel: one story, double standards” — a major report by @muslimcouncil.bsky.social "We want to engage positively and constructively. I'm not here to just attack the BBC." 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

🇳🇱“If you think that’s fair broadcasting, I’m a Dutchman.” 🎙️ Iain Dale on his latest book on Thatcher, the BBC, and public service broadcasting—plus the time he refused to go on Newsnight 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch #IainDale #Thatcher #BBC #Newsnight #Broadcasting #Podcast

“The BBC’s coverage actually is quite timid… there’s a kind of ‘Don’t go there.’” Veteran journalist John Ware critiques the BBC’s reporting on Gaza and Israel — & calls for more original journalism. 🔗 Full podcast: podfollow.com/beebwatch 🎙️ #BBC #Gaza #Journalism #JohnWare

“Somewhere near a third of homes are purely internet TV households.” On the latest Beeb Watch podcast, Jonathan Thompson (CEO of Everyone TV) discusses Freely, Smart TVs, & the future of free UK TV. 🎧 Listen here: podfollow.com/beebwatch #Freely #EveryoneTV #Streaming #UKMedia #Broadcasting

“The bigger risk actually is if the current governance system is maintained." @tommills.bsky.social Dr Tom Mills lays out what mutualising the BBC could really mean—and why it might protect journalism like Jeremy Bowen’s. 🎧 Beeb Watch podcast: podfollow.com/beebwatch #BBC #MediaReform