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Stephen Fry discusses JK Rowling, cancel culture, the BBC and the future of public service broadcasting
If anyone deserves to be called a Renaissance man then one of the leading contenders must surely be Stephen Fry, actor, novelist, comedian, campaigner, Norwich City Football fanatic, long time host of QI, gay icon and the list goes on.
Having just closed his twitter account after Elon Musk’s takeover, transferring his loyalties to Mastodon, we talked to him about the BBC, the future of public service broadcasting, JK Rowling and cancel culture, and much else.
“I would...wish them both to retreat, and to consider that it is possible for trans people to live full, accepted lives, according to their terms, in society, and for women to have all the rights and dignities that they demand. But it isn't possible if each side looks on the other as an enemy."
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12. Rory Cellan-Jones ex BBC Technology Correspondent on Tim Davie’s speech, 'Movers and Shakers', 'Ruskin Park' and #SophieFromRomania
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29:47Magnus Brooke is Group Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ITV where profits are down by 60%. The digital revolution is changing broadcasting fundamentally and destroying former business models. So does ITV have a future as a Public Service Broadcaster? We also discuss the Media Bill and the added responsibility on Ofcom's shoulders - and whether it's up to the job. And the funding of ITV's smash hit 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'.“You can't fund dramas on television now, just out of the receipts of broadcasting. And that does create pressure on dramas that are very UK specific. I don't know whether we'll recoup in international distribution what we paid out on ‘Mr. Bates’, we may not ultimately”.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membershipOr if you'd rather make a one off payment please use our crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roger-boltons-beeb-watch-podcast @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com9. Peter Taylor, veteran BBC journalist discusses his latest documentary 'Our Dirty War: The British State and the IRA'
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28:14Baroness Kidron is one of the country's foremost drama and documentary directors. Her long list of credits includes ‘Storyville’, 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', 'Victoria and Abdul' and 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'. She now sits as a crossbench peer and is the founder of the Five Rights Foundation. For the past five years, she has been one of the most instrumental figures in ensuring better protection for children through the passage of measures such as the Online Safety Bill. On this week's programme we discuss Bridget Jones, controlling the tech giants, ad funded public service broadcasters and what can be done to protect children from online abuse.“The tech companies go in and out of the White House, and in and out of Downing Street, like they've got a cat flap.When I started on this journey, 11 years ago, I was treated like a middle-aged woman who didn't understand the new rock and roll. I am actually quite pleased to say that a lot of people have joined me in saying, actually, this is bad for democracy.”To support our journalism please sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.comFormer film and documentary director Baroness Kidron on Bridget Jones, the threat of tech giants and ad funded PSBs
00:48Baroness Kidron is one of the country's foremost drama and documentary directors. Her long list of credits includes ‘Storyville’, 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', 'Victoria and Abdul' and 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'. She now sits as a crossbench peer and is the founder of the Five Rights Foundation. For the past five years, she has been one of the most instrumental figures in ensuring better protection for children through the passage of measures such as the Online Safety Bill. On this week's programme we discuss Bridget Jones, controlling the tech giants, ad funded public service broadcasters and what can be done to protect children from online abuse.“The tech companies go in and out of the White House, and in and out of Downing Street, like they've got a cat flap.When I started on this journey, 11 years ago, I was treated like a middle-aged woman who didn't understand the new rock and roll. I am actually quite pleased to say that a lot of people have joined me in saying, actually, this is bad for democracy.”To listen to this podcast now and support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com7. Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust on the Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting
27:09Anna McNamee, an award-winning Canadian journalist and writer with a background in BBC radio, is the Executive Director of the Sandford St Martin Trust, dedicated to promoting excellence in religious broadcasting. We discuss the new Media Bill, the importance of religious literacy, the decline in programming on religion and ethics, commissioning practices, and the critical need to ensure public access to broadcasting. “This is legislation, which is made for commercial broadcasters, it has commerciality at its heart, it's about leaving enough, not even a little bit of wriggle room, but loads of space so that broadcasters can respond and do whatever they want.” Sign up now for £1.99 per month to support our journalism: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.comThe Media Bill, religious literacy, commissioning and accessible broadcasting with Anna McNamee, Sandford St Martin Trust
00:56Anna McNamee, an award-winning Canadian journalist and writer with a background in BBC radio, is the Executive Director of the Sandford St Martin Trust, dedicated to promoting excellence in religious broadcasting. We discuss the new Media Bill, the importance of religious literacy, the decline in programming on religion and ethics, commissioning practices, and the critical need to ensure public access to broadcasting.“This is legislation, which is made for commercial broadcasters, it has commerciality at its heart, it's about leaving enough, not even a little bit of wriggle room, but loads of space so that broadcasters can respond and do whatever they want.”To listen to this podcast and support our journalism sign up now for £1.99 per month: www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @BeebRogeremail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com