Feedback

The radio drama Life and Time finished its third series recently. The six inter-linked plays explore the experiences of prisoners and prison staff. The main theme running through all the plays is the system of imprisonment for public protection sentences - IPPs. These were open-ended sentences with no fixed release date, which was instead decided by parole boards. Listeners have been getting in touch with their thoughts and critiques and Andrea Catherwood puts your views on the series to its award-winning writer James Fritz.
It was recently announced that 6Music would be getting an extension - Indie Forever, a 24 hour stream set to launch on BBC Sounds on 22nd July. It follows the extensions to BBC Radio 1 and Radio 3, made public last year. But do listeners want more indie? We hear from you.
Also, there's another nomination for our Interview of the Year. This week listener Barbara puts forward an interview she heard on The World Tonight. Presenter James Coomarasamy was talking to Natalie Needham, whose baby died after being discharged from a NHS maternity ward in Nottingham. The interview followed the findings of an inquiry into the largest maternity scandal in NHS history.
If you'd like to get in touch with the Feedback team, you can send a WhatsApp voice note to Oh Three, Triple Three, Triple Four, Five Double Four [03 333 444 544]. You can also ring that number and leave a voice message. On X and instagram it’s @BBC R4Feedback. The email is feedback@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Andrea Catherwood
Producer: Pauline Moore
Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie
Executive Producer; David Prest
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

The BBC recently reported that they'd tracked down Twana Jamal, one of the most prolific people smugglers in recent history - who had previously been arrested in France but was living and working in the UK. The investigation was carried out by journalists Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie for Radio 4's Intrigue series To Catch a King, and they found Jamal ahead of the police or the Home Office.
This sparked a question from a listener - about how journalists interact with authorities to uncover serious crimes. Presenter Andrea Catherwood sits down with journalist Sam Poling, whose own work on BBC documentary and podcast Who Killed Emma led to an arrest and later a conviction, to ask how it works.
We also return to the subject of BBC cuts. We'll hear more of your thoughts and from an expert on the topic of the cuts and charter renewal. Dr Tom Chivers from Goldsmiths, University of London, gives his views on how much the cuts will affect the BBC's relationship with the public as the corporation prepares for a new chapter.
Presenter: Andrea Catherwood
Producer: Pauline Moore
Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie
Executive Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

Andrea Catherwood hears your comments on the cuts to BBC Radio 4 news programmes and talks to a former Radio commissioner about her experience of bringing in changes to Radio 4.
Also, our listeners share their views on the news coverage over the past few weeks as Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister and Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, arrived at London Euston station to a press pack.
And a recent distressing episode of a dog attack on sheep in The Archers has motivated listeners to get in touch.
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

It's a new series of Feedback. Andrea Catherwood sits down with Misha Glenny, former foreign correspondent and investigative journalist to talk about taking on the reins of In Our Time, following Melvyn Bragg's departure from the programme last year. Did Misha's long years in the fields of academia, Investigative journalism and being a BBC Foreign correspondence prepare him from taking on topics that range from cybernetics to Handel's Messiah?
We also received a comment from a listener who feels that the Today programme is changing editorially with too much chat between presenters.
And coverage of the new social media ban for under 16s in the UK has been featured heavily on BBC radio's news programme. A listener shares their opinion on PM's recent coverage of this move.
Finally, another nomination for our annual search for Interview of the Year. This time it's for an episode of Private Passions on Radio 3, in which presenter Michael Berkeley interviews sports and nature writer Simon Barnes.
Presenter: Andrea Catherwood
Producer: Pauline Moore
Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie
Executive Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

Recent headlines have announced that the BBC is set to implement a massive wave of cuts across all of its programming, in order to make a saving of £500 million. The first of these major cuts has just been announced and listeners will soon notice the effects of these changes, with Radio 4 programmes like much-loved The World Tonight being axed. But who's making these choices, and why weren't listeners consulted first? Andrea Catherwood talks to John McAndrew, the Director of BBC's Live and Daily News to get some answers.
Radio 4 might not be the first place you look to for football, and admittedly some listeners might view it as a safe haven from the world's most played sport. But David Baddiel's recent series 60 Years of Hurt for The History Podcast aimed to pin down what "Englishness" means through the history of the England's men's football team. David joins Andrea to hear listener feedback on the series.
Presenter: Andrea Catherwood
Producer: Pauline Moore
Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie
Executive Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4