Over to You

What makes someone an expert, and how do BBC producers decide who has the right expertise to appear on air? In this episode of Over To You, we hear listeners’ views on who they trust and why. We go behind the scenes with The Engineers and CrowdScience to find out how programmes choose their contributors, and explore the editorial principles behind using experts on the BBC. Plus, as more of us encounter experts through TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, we ask how social media is changing who we see as an authority. We also speak to BBC Verify about how it assesses expertise and decides who and what audiences can trust.

The BBC’s recent announcement of substantial cuts across the organisation will affect World Service listeners, as three programmes face closure. We put your questions to Jon Zilkha, controller of BBC World Service English, and explore what the changes mean for audiences.
We also go behind the scenes at the Wimbledon Championships to discover how the World Service’s flagship sports programme, Sportsworld, prepares for an action-packed month of live sport.
Not by the Playbook explores the inspiring stories of athletes who have overcome adversity and achieved success in unconventional ways. Presenter Qasa Alom speaks to its presenter, Katie Smith, about how the programme reveals the human stories behind sporting achievements.
Presenter: Qasa Alom
Producer: Simon Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

From extraordinary personal stories with Outlook's Jo Fidgen, to Hollywood directors with Nikki Bedi, the interviews and interviewing you hear on the World Service are hugely varied. But what goes into finding the interviewees and preparing for the interview? When you are in the room, face-to-face with someone, how do you get the best out of your interviewee? Qasa also speaks to Ivana Davidovich, the host of the new World of Secrets podcast Searching for Soldier Dad, to explore how the interview process works in an investigative podcast series.

In this episode of Over To You, we hear listener feedback about how they think the BBC World Service is reporting on the recent war in Iran. Plus, we find out how the World Service approaches reporting on global conflict in general, from protecting programme-makers and contributors in dangerous locations, to sharing sensitive content about war online.

The East Asia region, comprising of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan, is undeniably a key player on the world stage.
We go behind the scenes of The Fifth Floor, the programme that brings the news from the BBC World Service language services. We hear how people in Seoul are reacting to the comeback of BTS, the superstar South Korean boyband, whose first tour since 2022 kicks off in April.
Hong Kong cinema has influenced film-makers around the world. For a recent In the Studio episode, film-maker Shan Ng followed Kwan Pun Leung, one of the cinematographers of the Hong Kong and 20th Century classic, In the Mood for Love. We hear what Shan learnt following a fellow film-maker and what surprised her about Kwan's process.
In November 2025, the BBC World Service launched a new visualised podcast, Asia Specific. Presented by veteran journalist, Mariko Oi, it covers the Asia Pacific region, of which East Asia is part of. Mariko tells Qasa why a podcast for the region was essential and the stories they hope to cover.
And finally, in February, the director general Tim Davie warning that the network would run out of funding if a deal was not agreed with the government. His warnings set the Over to You inbox alight with questions and concern. Qasa speaks with the head of the school of journalism, media and culture at Cardiff University, Dr Matt Walsh and explores what all this means for the World Service.