Roger Bolton is leaving Radio 4's Feedback programme

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Next week's programme is his last. He just said 'The BBC have decided there will be a new presenter when the series returns'. He's had a long innings. I remember when he took over from Chris Dunkley, who was very critical indeed, leading to speculation that the BBC got rid of him in the hope that they would get less of a mauling on Feedback. I'd say they have, but I hope they're not going to put in a yes woman/man to replace Roger Bolton. He does manage to ask a few difficult questions from time to time. I like him as a presenter and will miss him.

I like him too, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g .

I was shocked too, he had a gentle way of asking the probing questions, surely that's the whole idea of the programme?! Really enjoy feedback on a Friday on my way home, won't be the same without him

I liked the Friday afternoon of TA, GQT, Last Word and Feedback. Currently listening to AQ.

That’s so sad.

I liked him too. The BBC is obsessed with chasing the youth audience (despite the fact people move to R4 as they get older) so he'll probably be replaced by someone younger

I like him too. Does he look a bit like sir Robert Winston or is that just in my head?

Just in your head.
I started listening to R4 in my 20s. Never listened to R1 or R2.

I also imagined he'd look a bit like that too!

I'm an oldie listener - I have halved my listening in the last couple of years. I suspect it will be a minority group person with a regional accent. Not that that's bad but why change something that is ok.

He's currently being interviewed by a listener at the end of his last programme. The BBC has thanked him but not explained why they're replacing him, so par for the course. He says he doesn't know who will replace him.

Since the whole point of the programme is to challenge and question BBC content it will cease to have value if the new presenter doesn't challenge. If the new presenter is just a younger Roger Bolton then it will certainly look like ageism.

I find I listen to R4 a lot less these days, partly its repeats, partly the quality just isn't there which I put down to cuts in budget.

The BBC is in a very difficult position at the moment, I accept, but instead of refusing to engage with criticism they need to respond and have a genuine two-way dialogue with their listeners and viewers. RB made it very clear in his last few minutes that he and his producer have often asked for a senior BBC representative to come on and answer listeners' questions/criticisms, and very often the answer is no. When they do go on, or provide a statement, they become very defensive. It's the same when people make an official complaint. They hardly ever admit they got something wrong. RB said individual presenters had been far more relaxed and willing to admit to making mistakes.

I hadn't considered the budget aspect, but the quality seems to have gone downhill. I love some of the presumably low-budget programmes - You & Yours, Any Answers, Last Word, the Moral Maze, Week in Westminster, for example.
I don't like the programmes that seem to be 'light', and usually switch off. The dramas haven't appealed to me recently.
This week's programme that was on between the World at One and TA was very good.

I liked his choices, but I'd have picked Cabin Pressure over Scenes from a Long Marriage. He didn't mention Today. I sort of love Today and never miss it but I can't say that I listen to it all.

You've all said what I think too. I shall miss Roger Bolton and I also find less that interests me on R4. It used to be on all day and I would constantly discover hidden gems, but they are considerably less frequent these days.

And as for the drama...

The hidden gems is what I miss most along with a decent critical view of current affairs. I can think of times i've been ill and just let it roll and found myself locked into an item about starfish or a museum I've never visited or a writer I'd never heard of of an in depth view of a politician/business person or significant figure - all on the same day.

This is rare now - repeats, lower budget stuff with low budget research, "balance" being presented as one person from each side and the pretence that even the most absurd positions are equal to evidence based data. And yes the quality of drama.

I still listen to R4 Today and I like many of the presenters, but I listen to it on skip forward and find I can skim a three hour programme in less than an hour with ease. That is a content problem not a presenter issue. The business news is risible - its just a ten minute advertorial for which ever business or lobby group appears. I'm not part of the Evan Davies fan group - his style is too much about him and he is unable to present some issues in an even handed way.

At the moment I find Times Radio seems to feel more able to hold politicians and business and lobbyists to account.
The World Service still has quite a bit I like and seems less beholden to paymasters.

Otherwise my speech radio time is coming from podcasts.

I guess he's been doing it for nearly a quarter of a century, and freelancers (I'm presuming he is one) don't "retire" so if you don't want your presenter going on into their 80s/90s you do have to ditch them at some point. Mind you I've no idea why they've got rid of him while other more boring presenters are left to run and run!

...And probably someone with greatly inferior diction. :-) I'm find with the regional accents, but the ubiquitous dropped 't's together with the Haitches and "I'm sat here" expressions used by people who didn't actually grow up using them make me cringe!

"fine". Not "find". Sorry - I don't see an "Edit" option.

The BBC are actually carrying the story of how outraged listeners are on their own newspage, as well as pointing out that they couldn't find a single tweet that supported their decision.
I'm not on Twitter-so don't know how to start a trend-but it would be great if there was a campaign to have him him reinstated.

He is such a great presenter, I'll really miss him.

I agree @MissPankhurst it seems crazy they are so aware it's not a popular decision. I really like his presenting style and the programme and have listened for years.

I worry about the obvious rejection trend of older presenters by the BBC. I genuinely feel it'll give other employers license to squeeze out older staff who have the confidence and experience to question and challenge.

How ageist of the BBC!

He had a great presenting style and will be much missed. Less and less reason to listen to any BBC radio.

I’ll miss him too. I’m another who finds they’re listening less and less these days.