Radio 4 last word

They don't necessarily do it the same week as someone dies, it can take a bit longer. Write in and suggest it.

'It's a really sad state of affairs that after a lifetime of being a constant radio listener I now am getting used to living in a silent house because it's preferable to what's on the radio'

This is me. We moved house nearly three years ago and I didn't set my radio up in the kitchen, having previously had R4 as my day long background for 20 years.

Dumbing down is part of it - Saturday Live without Richard Coles' erudite questions is like some awful ITV magazine show. So many comedian/other presenter combinations - what on earth is that about? Do the producers think we can't listen to 30 minutes of science broadcasting without some inane comedic interlude.

There was a Saturday morning programme about travel on for several weeks with 2 or 3 contributors cackling stupidly, at the end of which I had learned precisely nothing. The dramas are now usually either weird or worthy (done the same to the R4 dramas as they've done to Dr Who only made it unlistenable instead of unwatchable.)

The sharply intelligent and genuinely funny doesn’t seem to exist any more. And why so many unnecessary schedule changes?

I know they're all about trying to attract a younger audience but they're losing their core audience in droves because of their new podcast, soundbites content. I could cry.

@Howwindyitis I used to have R4 as 24 hour default with long, long periods of R3. For at least the last eighteen months I’ve pretty much had to give up R3 entirely. Can’t remember when they changed everything but now even the programme titles are vomit-inducing and give no indication of whether they’ll include the type of challenging new music I mostly want to listen to and be informed about.

And R4 now seems to be just a home for podcasts. Some days I listen to nothing but Today and The Archers.

I absolutely agree with you @Annabella92 .

I've never watched tv very much but I have a radio in every room, bar the bathroom. I listened to radio 4 most of the day, interspersed with a bit of 4extra or radio 3.
Now I can hardly listen to radio 4 at all. Switch it on, listen for a few minutes, and switch it off in disgust. Ditto for 4 extra.

So I still listen to radio 3. But they are making changes to that as well - I feel dumbing it down. I just hope that doesn't become unlistenable to as well.

It's a really sad state of affairs that after a lifetime of being a constant radio listener I now am getting used to living in a silent house because it's preferable to what's on the radio.

Wrong topic !

Podcasts

Will they though? Today has has huge losses in listenership and don't seem to care. Same with radio 2 which has become indistinguishable from radio1. I haven't heard a good thing about it from anyone, but theres no response from the BBC who do what they like and hang the plebs who may or may not listen to whatever slop they plan on dishing out.

Maybe that's a bit strong. I used to be a huge R4 fan and had it on 24/7. Now I pop it on every so often and just think "nope", and find a podcast.

Nominate someone you are interested in. But ultimately if it loses them listeners they'll stop that segment.