Talk Radio

Want to listen to uninterrupted, advert-free radio? There are currently no radio stations, in Ireland, that cater for someone who demands this type of listening. With the latest JNLR survey results just published, there can be no better time to do a case study of how real radio should sound.

From early morn to the darkest of nights, one radio station keeps the listener educated and informed on a daily basis. While many radio stations busy themselves with commercial gain, Radio Four is solely concerned with serving the public. Many specialist programmes are featured and when you tune in (Long Wave or Online) there is nearly always something that will make you think. What follows is a short selection of the programmes on offer at the station.

Start the week is on air each Monday morning at 9 o’clock where a range of guests discuss what’s happening in the world of culture for the week ahead. Originally the show was presented by Melvyn Bragg, and then Jeremy Paxman before the baton was passed to current host, Andrew Marr. Each guest gets an opportunity to talk about their contribution and the programme ends after roughly 40 minutes when the listener is sufficiently stimulated, or bored depending on the content of the week’s programme.

Broadcast on Friday’s at 8pm, Any Questions brings together a panel of guests (usually politicians) to debate news and current affairs. It is an opportunity for listeners to concentrate on the political issues of the week and the discussion is chaired by the thoroughly professional, Jonathan Dimbleby.

Comedy is also catered for on Radio Four. One of the funniest and best acted is Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show. This character mispronounces words and phrases and can be extremely amusing. The programme has run for a number of series’ – demonstrating its popularity with listeners. Radio Four has other comedy shows broadcast daily and is at the cutting edge. Lucy Porter, Jeremy Hardy and Laura Solon are just a few of the comedians to be heard.

BBC Radio Four has many other highly stimulating programmes aimed at the discerning listener but space precludes me from mentioning them here. Suffice to say you’d be doing yourself a favour by tuning in to what must be the doyen of talk radio in these islands.