Job Vacancy: Radio 4 Controller

Roger Bolton talks to former Radio 4 Controller Mark Damazer about the challenges and joys facing whoever takes the job next, James Runcie reflects on his role as commissioning editor for arts on Radio 4, and we hear your responses to a slate of new breakfast shows. Zoe Ball and Lauren Laverne are the new voices of Radio 2 and Radio 6music's breakfast shows, and John Humphrys has announced his departure from the Today Programme. Listeners give their reactions to changing sounds of early morning BBC radio. In January, Gwyneth Williams announced her departure from the BBC as Radio 4's controller. Now the job is up for grabs, former controller Mark Damazer speaks to Roger about the joys, hurdles and room for experimentation open to whoever takes on the role next.What makes a good arts programme? In the first part of Roger's interview with Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Arts James Runcie, he hears listener reactions to the programmes he's put on air since he took the job in 2016, and discusses his hopes for inclusion and diversity. And the presenter and co-producer of Beyond Tara and George, Audrey Gillan, discusses the difficulties of being both a friend and journalist to the homeless couple at the heart of her series. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Robert Nicholson Executive Producer: Will Yates A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4