Radio 4 has been too depressing this yr with out sufficient escapism and pleasure, the station’s boss has admitted.
Mohit Bakaya mentioned main political occasions had dominated the information in 2022 and at occasions it felt ‘type of relentless’ for listeners. He insisted he needed to ‘up our stage of enjoyable’ and is planning to launch a sequence of pilot comedy exhibits.
Protection of three Prime Ministers, together with the loss of life of the Queen and the struggle in Ukraine has figured prominently on the station. Talking on Radio 4’s viewers response present Suggestions, Mr Bakaya mentioned: ‘I feel… given what an enormous political yr it was this yr, we didn’t at all times convey sufficient escapism and pleasure to the viewers.
‘I feel typically it felt prefer it was type of relentless and I feel individuals have been searching for avenues of escape.’
Mohit Bakaya mentioned main political occasions had dominated the information in 2022, not bringing sufficient pleasure to the viewers
He added: ‘I do know we’re numerous sequence to try to discuss little tales of issues that individuals do which convey hope and pleasure to individuals’s lives.
‘I feel we’re additionally a complete vary of recent comedy pilots to only actually type of up our stage of enjoyable.’
Mr Bakaya, who can be the BBC’s director of speech, defended As we speak programme presenter Amol Rajan towards complaints that he ‘gabbles’ or speaks too rapidly.
He informed Suggestions: ‘I don’t hear him gabbling. I perceive the whole lot he says… I don’t ever hear and go “Effectively, what’s he saying now?”’ He additionally revealed that Radio 4 will launch a brand new present centered on local weather change subsequent yr.
In the course of the interview he additionally admitted typically the background music on exhibits was ‘too loud’ and he had spoken to producers about preserving ranges proper so speech is ‘at all times intelligible’.
Mr Bakaya beforehand hinted that spin-off station Radio 4 Additional may very well be saved, saying its closure is ‘not a accomplished deal’.
