Roger Bolton launches podcast, Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch

Less than a month after he was fired by the BBC, Roger Bolton is back with his own podcast, Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch.

With over 50 years in broadcasting and 23 years in the chair of BBC Radio 4’s Feedback, Bolton will cast a very independent eye on the public service broadcaster.

Bolton explained: “At a time when the Corporation faces an unprecedented financial squeeze from an unsympathetic government, Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch will keep a close eye on all things BBC. No views will be censored, no questions will go unasked. Whether you love or loathe the BBC this is the podcast for you.

“I’m a passionate supporter of public service broadcasting, but I’ll ask whether the BBC and the licence fee are still the best ways of delivering it. Freed from BBC oversight I will say what I really think about the BBC, its programmes and strategies.

“In the end the BBC is too important to be left to those who run it, or an unsympathetic Government which is strangling it financially. I will hear from critics and supporters, and no views will be censored. The debate about the future of the BBC starts here.”

Roger Bolton presented Radio 4’s Feedback, the programme that holds the BBC to account on behalf of its listeners, for 23 years. His last programme was on Sunday 28 August 2022. The BBC gave no reason on why Roger had been let go.

The BBC made this statement: “We want to thank Roger for being a brilliant presenter of Feedback for 23 years. He’s been a champion of our listeners, asked incisive questions of programme makers and helped the audience understand more about BBC radio. We know Feedback listeners have been grateful for all he’s done to reflect their views as are we at Radio 4.”

Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch is produced by Kate Dixon. She produced Feedback with Roger Bolton for three years. An experienced BBC journalist, Dixon has previously worked on programmes such as Newsnight, On The Record, World at One and PM. She was at the BBC for 17 years before going it alone seven years ago. Her company, Good Egg Productions, created Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch.

This weekly podcast will be published every Friday.