Over to You

It is our annual Ask the Controller special as we have the boss of BBC World Service English Jon Zilkha in the studio to answer your questions. How much are budgetary cuts affecting programme quality? What do you like and what concerns do you have about the BBC World Service? And what would you like to hear more of in 2025? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

The latest series in the World of Secrets strand is Finding Mr Fox, an investigation of a miscarriage of justice involving two sailors. But could this series’ conclusion be described as a “spectacular anti-climax”? The show’s two presenters respond to listeners’ comments. Plus, after a listener recently complained about an annoying echo sound effect used in programme trailers, we air the reverberations that has caused. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Listeners assess the documentary Me and My Digital Twin. “A comprehensive synopsis” or “pure nonsense and fantasy”? The presenter responds. Plus a listener complains The Conflict, a show about learning the lessons of history, fails to do just that with its own timeline for the Middle East. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

BBC Trending is the show that brings you in-depth reporting on the world of social media. But it is an ever-changing online landscape so how does the show’s production team keep up? We hear listeners’ views and questions. Plus Over to You's annual ask the controller edition - do you have any questions or gripes - for the boss of World Service English? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We examine trust, a fundamental cornerstone of the BBC but one that has come under renewed scrutiny and criticism following recent events and the continued prevalence of disinformation. We hear listeners’ views on whether they feel trust is being eroded and are joined in the studio by the controller of World Service English, Jon Zilkha. Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

It was billed as too close to call right up to the night itself, but in the end the US presidential election saw a clear victory for the Republicans. We hear listeners' views on World Service coverage of the vote, and are joined in the studio by the team behind the election night show America Decides. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

Hard Talk is a long-standing in-depth interview programme but it is now facing the chop. Listeners give us their views about its proposed closure. And the BBC tells us why the decision to end the show is being taken. Plus, a listener argues that special effects used in some programme trailers are off putting. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

How do you keep the World Service’s flagship foreign investigations series fresh and relevant? We meet the editor and a producer from the documentary strand Assignment and we hear listeners’ feedback on recent editions, including one on the war in Ukraine. Plus, we hear listeners' reaction to the news that Hard Talk potentially faces the axe next March. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food and what it takes to put food on your plate. But is it passing judgement on what people eat? Or simply advising them about what it is they are putting into their mouths? We are joined by its presenter Ruth Alexander and we hear listeners’ feedback. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods is the latest investigative mini-series in the World of Secrets slot. We put your feedback to the series editor Matt Willis and ask him how interviewees now felt able to discuss upsetting accusations of sexual abuse. Warning: the following discussion involves the topic of sexual abuse which some listeners might find distressing. Plus, how a listener feels the 5th Floor fell short with its analysis on Mexico’s first female president. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

What makes for a good story from a BBC correspondent? And how do you ensure there is enough variety in a programme devoted to these first-hand reports? That is the weekly task of From Our Own Correspondent - soon to celebrate 70 years on air. We hear listeners’ views and we are joined by its editor, Richard Fenton-Smith. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We hear listeners' reactions to the BBC Eye investigation The Midwife’s Confession, which deals with the topic of infanticide in India - and in particular of baby girls. “It’s the responsibility of the BBC World Service to tell this story” says one listener. We are joined on the line from Delhi by the programme's presenter Amitabh Parashar and editor Ankur Jain. And a warning: some might find the discussion upsetting. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We hear your feedback on how the BBC World Service has covered an incredibly busy summer of sport - from big football tournaments to the Olympics. Over the top - or under-reported? The network’s head of sport Colin Patterson responds to your comments. Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon. A Whistledown Production for the BBC WS

It’s become an institution on the BBC World Service with in-depth, hard-hitting interviews with people in the news. In a special edition, we hear listeners’ views on Hard Talk and meet its regular host Stephen Sackur and ask if its approach always lives up to the show’s combative title? Listeners say they want to know why there are not more women guests and how Stephen knows when to stop pushing if an interviewee does not want to answer. Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon. A Whistledown Production for the BBC WS

A listener recently told Over to You that he does not enjoy the science show Unexpected Elements because he feels he is being “talked down to”. We asked you to tell us what you think about this show and other science programmes on the BBC World Service - and our inbox has been inundated! So it’s a forum for listeners’ forensic dissection of science on the World Service - both critical and positive. Plus, it has been a busy “summer of sport” and we reveal what listeners made of BBD World Service’s sporting coverage. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We get listeners’ reactions to drama on the radio, as part of the BBC World Service and British Council's International Playwriting Competition. We’re joined by the competition’s winning authors. Plus the annual Global Audience Measure figures are out, so what do they reveal about who’s listening? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Last week we aired a candid interview with the departing boss of the BBC World Service. This week listeners react to what Liliane Landor had to say - and reveal their hopes and fears for the future. Plus, the BBC is currently running a trial using Generative AI - artificial intelligence. We ask what it might mean for you the World Service listener. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

It’s all change at the top of the BBC World Service as the boss for the past three years leaves. We ask the departing director Liliane Landor about the challenges she faced during her time at the helm. She gives us an honest personal appraisal of the highs and lows - and the challenges her successor faces. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We get your comments on one writer’s endless curiosity about the effects of culture wars on ordinary lives. And we ask that journalist, Jon Ronson, about how he approached making the Things Fell Apart mini-series. Plus, a unique broadcast that is unlike anything else heard on the BBC World Service for the world’s smallest audience! We tell the story of the Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast 2024. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We hear how listeners feel about the BBC World Service's reporting on the plethora of elections around the world. By way of a case study, we focus on India and hear about the challenges faced by the corporation in reporting the country’s recent elections. We are joined from Delhi by the BBC’s director of journalism with the Collective Newsroom, Mukesh Sharma. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service