"It’s corrupt. It invites corruption. We have to take all public appointments out of political hands, and that includes the non-executive directors of the BBC." So says a former BBC Trustee Richard Ayre An important interview this week on Beeb Watch.

"Skydance Paramount CBS - they own Channel 5. CBS is actually the BBC News partner at the moment. So if there's any shift in CBS News values, what does that mean for the BBC? This idea that the BBC is hermetically sealed and is in its own world? That's for the birds."

“If your funding is cut, what happens is it puts you under a lot more pressure in your work, but also it just smashes morale at the organisation, and it makes people less self confident.” Another thought provoking interview with @peteryork.bsky.social and @tommills.bsky.social

"I think actually, on the whole, it's a good thing, you know, that you have something like GB News, as long as, again, you keep them within the Ofcom bounds, which are really, really useful, because it is another point of view." Fascinating interview with Matt Frei. 🎧https://podfollow.com/beebwatch

"My interpretation of the rules... Sir Keir Starmer could potentially present BBC Newsnight, and it would be within the Ofcom rules. Of course, the BBC wouldn't allow it, but I think it would be permissible." Thoughtful interview with @stephencushion.bsky.social

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

“If you look at the last few days, we've had the Prime Minister making a speech, of which actually Nigel Farage was his main subject... but on GB News, you've actually had the subject of the story having his own programme, to have his own view.” Listen in full: podfollow.com/beebwatch

“The big question, I think, that people are asking now is whether we need a change in the rules regarding impartiality, or whether or not, in fact, Ofcom needs to change its interpretation of the act.” Excellent interview with Stewart Purvis 🎧 Listen to the full episode:

Episode 1 of Food Britannia is out! 🥚 Proud that Good Egg Productions made this series with Max Cotton — living on a UK-only diet, £30 a week per person. Big questions about British food, sustainability, and our connection to it. 🌾🥖🥛🌱🍲 Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

“The BBC will, in its coverage, generally take as a starting point for the coverage of an issue, a point which it considers to be non controversial, but is always on the liberal, left side of the equation.” Robin Aiken, former BBC journalist has a robust conversation with Roger on Beeb Watch.

"After the National Archives at Kew and probably the British Library, the BBC Written Archive Centre is the most significant repository of documents about British history over the last century” Important interview with Prof John Wyver @illuminations.bsky.social 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

“They were gagging for it” – a fascinating new book by @pauldixon77.bsky.social‬ exposing how British generals drove unwinnable wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. A must-read for anyone interested in democracy and accountability.

America’s far-right culture wars. Big money. Big religion. Big trouble — heading our way too, if Katherine Stewart’s right. @katherinestewart.bsky.social Produced by @katefdixon.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... #CultureWars #Podcast #PeterYork

America’s far-right culture wars. Big money. Big religion. Big trouble — heading our way too, if Katherine Stewart’s right. @katherinestewart.bsky.social Fascinating interview with @peteryork.bsky.social 🎧 Listen now: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... #CultureWars #Podcast #PeterYork

"Three years to save public service media." A sobering interview with Catherine Johnson on the findings of her report "Behind the Screen" - an impressive body of research which highlights the decline of genres, disappearing from view under the dominance of the algorithm.

Big Tech's $500B AI gamble: Sir Martin Sorrell, advertising guru reveals to @peteryork.bsky.social how tech giants are becoming "basically nation states" - transforming global economics, creativity, and power. Can regulation stop it? 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... #AI #GlobalEconomics #Technology

"Ofcom is directly accountable to ministers, and the speed with which the chief executive of Ofcom appears to jump on anti BBC bandwagon from time to time is dispiriting." Richard Ayre former BBC Trust member and Ofcom content board member doesn't pull his punches on Beeb Watch this week.

Did @theginamiller.bsky.social just say bring back Boris? Watch this 👇 🎧 Full chat with @peteryork.bsky.social on Peter York's Culture Wars House Party podcast: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

“So what we’re having is too many people feeling uncomfortable at work, but more importantly, not feeling that they can talk about it.” Powerful interview with Marcus Ryder. 🎧Listen to the full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

🎧 Matthew d’Ancona joins @peteryork.bsky.social for a sharp conversation on Trump, the BBC, identity politics—& the end of the political pendulum. 📺 “These are all hallmarks of fascistic behaviour.” Full episode: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... #CultureWars #MatthewDAncona #Fascism #Media #Politics

"So, most of the BBC's reporting on this conflict has been, in my view, reactive. .....I don't see much original journalism coming out of this conflict." Excellent interview with veteran journalist John Ware on Beeb Watch 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

A proper look at what “mutualising the BBC” —an idea supported by Culture Secretary @lisanandymp.bsky.social - could really mean. Timely, provocative interview with @tommills.bsky.social Dr Tom Mills co-author of the report “Our Mutual Friend: The BBC in the Digital Age” 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Heroine or “mad cat lady”? @carolecadwalla.bsky.social joins @peteryork.bsky.social to discuss the Observer’s new owners, Big Tech’s creeping influence, and whether democracy is being dismantled—quietly. 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... #Podcast #CaroleCadwalladr #UKPolitics #PressFreedom

“You didn’t love us when we came. Now you do—because so many of us are rich, and they fund you.” 🔥 @yasminalibhaibrown.bsky.social Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Conservative hypocrisy, the hidden machinery of media censorship & cultural warfare 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... #CultureWars #Tories

🎙️@peteryork.bsky.social & Dylan Jones—ex-GQ editor, Evening Standard editor from “literally no experience” to shaping UK style & politics: ➡️ Culture wars ➡️ Melania as a Bond girl ➡️ Russell Brand, Piers Morgan, Alastair Campbell ➡️ The fate of the suede loafer 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Laugh out loud moments in @peteryork.bsky.social chat with @iaindale.bsky.social ➡️ can the Conservatives be rebuilt? ➡️ how the UK is “five years downstream” from US culture ➡️ Trump, Ashcroft, and media moguls ➡️ public discourse: from antisemitism to trans rights 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Thoughtful interview with Nick Kent. “We're living in a time when the BBC is in jeopardy, and what's at stake now is higher, I think, than it's ever been, in terms of what the BBC can provide.” 🎧Listen to all Beeb Watch episodes here: podfollow.com/beebwatch

"The coup has already happened." Ex-Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter unpacks America's cultural battlefield. “I’ve never seen Donald Trump in any living room ever in 50 years of being in New York, & nobody would invite him anywhere." 🎧 : podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... @katefdixon.bsky.social

"The coup has already happened." Ex-Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter unpacks America's cultural battlefield with @peteryork.bsky.social “I’ve never seen Donald Trump in any living room ever in 50 years of being in New York, & nobody would invite him anywhere." 🎧Listen: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

“They've kind of hidden that under a bushel." @james.crid.land radio futurologist on the BBC's audio strategy & he breaks down the BBC Annual plan. Informative interview on Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast. 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

BBC broadcaster Kirsty Lang on changes to BBC Sounds for listeners abroad, the impact of cuts and a call to arms. "We should be cherishing the BBC. We should be writing to our MPs..... We should be saying, 'Let us save this important national asset.'" 🎧 Beeb Watch podcast: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Another fascinating interview by @peteryork.bsky.social with investigative journalist @petergeoghegan.bsky.social 💰 Dark money & political fraud 🏛️ Think tanks as corporate lobbyists 🌍 Tufton St → K St connections 🤝 Soros & Paul Marshall’s past friendship 🔗 Listen now: podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

🚨 Impt interview with @stewartpurvis.bsky.social ex Ofcom & RTS VP: 🔹 RTS Awards controversy 🔹 GB News vs. Ofcom legal case 🔹 Foreign influence in UK media "What's at stake is the future of broadcast journalism.The system is creaking. We need to decide whether we’ll fix it."🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

Forthright interview with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast: 🔍 BBC’s withdrawn Gaza documentary 📰 Media bias & lack of critical journalism in the UK 🏛️ Influence of pro-Israeli groups in British media 📡 PSB’s responsibilities 🎧 podfollow.com/beebwatch

As crunch time approaches in decisions about the BBC our Spring Bulletin features opinion from leading voices in the public service media debate including Roger Bolton's @rogerbolton.bsky.social Beebwatch @katefdixon.bsky.social To read the Bulletin in full head to vlv.org.uk/vlv-bulletins/

"York has always operated as a social anthropologist rather than a journalist, and he's as beady as ever in this stimulating podcast in which he lines up guests at the thinkier end of the media spectrum to get into the guts of the culture wars." Gc Great review 🎧 Listen podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

🎙️ Richard Ayre former BBC exec on the fallout from the Gaza documentary controversy, BBC future funding models, the World Service and a generational charter. ⚠️ “That’s very worrying... the BBC’s inquiry may unearth some bodies.” 🎧 Listen to Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast: podfollow.com/beebwatch

“I've never seen fundamental anti-Semitism at the BBC… I don’t believe it’s there.”🎙 Tony Hall, ex BBC DG, on allegations of anti-Semitism and the BBC’s future: 📌 A long-term vision for the BBC 📌 A permanent charter? 📌 A new funding model 📌 Accountability & engagement 🔊 podfollow.com/beebwatch

A gripping interview [email protected] with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social 🔥 From a Conservative upbringing to activism 🔥 Neoliberalism & how it infiltrated think tanks & academia 🔥 Is there an alternative vision? 🔥 Is the BBC a “timorous, cowering beastie”? 🐭 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

📢 "[Sky] It's never made money. You've got this broadcaster, which has been going for 30 plus years, and it's never made $1 of money in that entire time." @danielthomasldn.bsky.social Dan Thomas @financialtimes.com Global Media Editor. 🎧Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Not surprising that @peteryork.bsky.social has landed a hit with his new 'Peter York's Culture Wars House Party' podcast. What's not to like? Fascinating & fun interviews: Martin Wolff, LBC's @mrjamesob.bsky.social & Gabriel Gatehouse 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-... www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-r...

A fascinating listen. 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

Unmissable: Gabriel Gatehouse,ex-BBC Newsnight & author The Coming Storm, talks to @peteryork.bsky.social 🔹 QAnon & conspiracy culture 🔹 Elon Musk & tech optimism 🔹 Identity politics & the culture wars 🔹What if Bernie Sanders won the nomination? 🔹 Can it happen here? 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

🇺🇸Fascinating insights into Trump's presidency from @dailymail.co.uk Chief US Political Correspondent @robcrilly.bsky.social on sidelining traditional media, Keir Starmer, communications strategy & Trump's impact on politics 🎧 Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast now: podfollow.com/beebwatch/view

BBC Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky: 🔥 Being fired by the BBC Plays department 🎬 Wolf Hall & the creative process 📺 The fight to fund UK-focused stories 💰 A UK cultural fund to back British dramas 🎧Listen to Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch podcast now: podfollow.com/beebwatch

"For the first time in my life, I can conceive of a far-right government in this country." Chilling words from @mrjamesob.bsky.social But who knew that selling a white suit to John Major kick-started his career and 1.5m listeners? Listen to Peter York's podcast now: 🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...

🎭 Adjoa Andoh RSC & Bridgerton actor is a fascinating listen this week as she reveals her shock at the extent of radio drama cuts: "we're sort of the frog being boiled slowly". And voices her concerns over the future of our creative landscape. 🎧 Roger Bolton's Beeb Watch pod podfollow.com/beebwatch