Melvyn Bragg Steps Down From BBC Radio 4's In Our Time After 26 Years
- Reference: 0178998416
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/09/03/2253256/melvyn-bragg-steps-down-from-bbc-radio-4s-in-our-time-after-26-years
- Source link:
> Over the last quarter of a century, Melvyn has skilfully led conversations about everything from the age of the Universe to 'Zenobia', Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. He has welcomed the company of the brightest and best academics in their fields, sharing their passion and knowledge with a fascinated audience right around the globe. While he will be much missed on [2]In Our Time , Melvyn will continue to be a friend of Radio 4 with more to come to celebrate his extraordinary career, and a new series in 2026 (details to be announced soon).
>
> Melvyn Bragg says: "For a program with a wholly misleading title which started from scratch with a six-month contract, it's been quite a ride! I have worked with many extremely talented and helpful people inside the BBC as well as some of the greatest academics around the world. It's been a great privilege and pleasure. I much look forward to continuing to work for the BBC on Radio 4. Thank you for listening." [...] In Our Time will be back on Radio 4 with a new presenter who will be announced in due course.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/melvyn-bragg-decides-to-step-down-from-presenting-in-our-time
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl/episodes/player
How do you value that shows like this are free? (Score:4, Insightful)
We underestimate the real prosperity of the world today because we don't value things like this. Impossible 40 years ago, access to this is now part of our life. Yet it is not captured in measures of social well being. For those of us to whom such things are attractive - and there are many equally valuable other things on the net - we live in a golden era. Yes, and in this case, ad free as well, thanks to the generosity of the British TV licence fee payer!
Re: (Score:3)
> I don't think it is fair to call it "generous" when payment is required, rather than voluntary.
The BBC is funded primarily through the [1]license fee [bbc.com].
That's GBP13.35 / month (per household), of which GBP2.09 is for radio (paying for In Our Time).
It's not voluntary, but there is a lot (including In Our Time) that the BBC offers to the rest of the world - perhaps you could say thanks to the "generosity" of UK households.
The programmes have always been of high quality, and historically have often been a vital lifeline to parts of the world facing strife.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/governance/licencefee
Re: (Score:2)
If you just have a radio and no TV, then In Our Time is very much free.
Re: (Score:2)
Not required
[1]https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/... [tvlicensing.co.uk]
[1] https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ104
Top Quality (Score:5, Insightful)
This was *the* top quality podcast for many years.
Calm, intelligent explanation of a topic (history, literature, science, ...). Genuine experts invited to go through it with Bragg.
If anyone hasn't heard it before, I thoroughly recommend it. There's a massive [1]podcast archive [bbc.co.uk] of past episodes.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl/episodes/downloads
Re: (Score:2)
Thank you!
200 Internet points!
Not AI Slop (Score:4, Insightful)
Elsewhere on Slashdot, there is a thread about "boring history" that is generated by AI.
In Our Time is presented by real people, all of whom are experts in their field. And it is definitely not boring.
He's known about (Score:2)
by the people that matter...
If you're going to be snarki, then so shall I! :)
Guests (Score:2)
A couple of friends of mine had the honour of being guests (one twice, IIRC). Bragg is apparently as much a gentleman in person as he seems to be when you hear him on the radio.
Pulled against the countervailing tides (Score:5, Insightful)
This program always assumed its audience was clever, capable and curious. It provided a way in to difficult topics without making concessions. You grew by listening to it, rather than shrinking. As such, it was a powerful antidote to the glorification of stupidity that has become so prevalent in so many places.