Over to You

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

It is America through the looking glass as documentary series The Coming Storm, enters a labyrinthine rabbit warren of American conspiracy culture. We hear your views on its second run and are joined by its host Gabriel Gatehouse. Plus, why a listener feels Outlook’s mixtape is a let-down. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

There are now almost 3,000 billionaires in the world today. But how do the super-rich amass their incredible wealth? The podcast Good, Bad Billionaire is back with season two to find out. We hear listeners’ reactions and questions, including what qualifies a billionaire to be featured on the show - and are there in fact more African billionaires than records reveal? We are joined in the studio by its presenter Simon Jack. 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

The documentary A slogan and a Land, saw reporter Tim Whewell travel from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea - perhaps the most contested piece of land in the world. We hear your views on this road trip and Tim tells us about the challenges he faced in making this two-part series. Plus, an emotional response to The Inquiry’s report on Easter Island - and just what do the initials O and S really stand for? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for 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

It was back in May 2022 that this programme reported on the launch of a new weekly podcast called Lives Less Ordinary from the Outlook team. Producers describe the show as a chance to step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Extraordinary stories from around the world. Two years on we ask listeners how they feel it has bedded in. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We hear your thoughts on series three of Dear Daughter which bills itself as a “handbook to life”. We are joined by its presenter Namulanta Kombo and producer Lucy Burns. Listeners ask if the series only appeals to women. Could there be letters from fathers to daughters or sons and express appreciation for the new run having more complicated and difficult conversations. Plus, a listener in the US feels the World Service’s reporting of the UK’s general election is proving to be too “England-centric”. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

A listener recently told us how he found correspondents' news reports that are repeated across different news shows “irritating”. We hear whether you agree with him. We invited BBC Newshour editor Tim De Faramond to respond listeners and understand why this repetition happens. Plus, a listener feels a recent History Hour was wrong in its use of terminology. The show’s production team respond. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown Production for BBC World Service