Melvyn Bragg leaves In Our Time - Radio 4.

[PrimevalStomp]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewnllp1de8o

No news on who will take over his role. I do hope it will continue; even if I’m only half listening it always feels solid in a world of madness.

That's a shame. It's such a wonderful programme and his knowledge and curiosity are perfect.

It's the only good thing left on R4, spoiled only by the horrific shouty ads the BBC insists on ruining all their podcasts with.

The person who releases a podcast app that autoskips the first 45 seconds of BBC podcasts will make millions.

Well I still listen to live radio. Most podcasts send my blood pressure into ‘five armed police’ territory.

Who do we think will ascend to the chair? One of the usual suspects from Front Row? A nepo-broadcaster? Or an outlier?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-our-time/id73330895

All 1000+ episodes are available. I like going back to 20 years ago and hearing how incredibly right John Gray was about politics and how incredibly mental he sounds to everyone else on the show at the time. 😂

He has been sounding a bit weary recently, and the research burden must be significant. It is a great strand of broadcasting - such a diverse range of topics. He leaves a huge legacy.

I’d vote for Nihal Arthanaike to take over. He took a while to grow on me when he was on R5, but he’s got the right level of intelligence and curiosity and would bring in some different listeners.

The Podcast Republic app does that!

I really enjoy in our time, it has such a diverse range of topics.

I love this programme. It’s like a post-doc seminar. The topic is always made interesting by the contributors who carefully explain and share their knowledge. I’m not sure who can replace Melvyn Bragg.Matthew Parris maybe?

In Our Time is the sort of programme that keeps me listening to Radio 4.

@GripGetter omg THANK you!!

@partystress I always assumed he had underlings to do such research as may be needed! And that he went into the studio with an A4 sheet of notes. It’s not as if he’s expected to be an expert on every subject.

Can you explain, for the benefit of the listeners, what the significance of X, Y, and Z was, in the context of the Great A and B, at a time when CDE was causing … etc?

Oh, but I’ll miss him …

@PrimevalStomp that’s probably true, but he always seemed to have a full grip in the discussion, whatever it was.

I agree. Please let it be a programme that doesn't get dumbed down or have an annoying presenter.

There was an interesting interview with him in The Times recently - I get the impression he is very frail now. I’m another big fan and fingers crossed the quality is maintained.

Dominic Sandbrook could do it, I think. He's the most thoughtful and wide ranging podcaster I can think of with a popular edge.

They'll probably just get a standup comedian in.

@Sellenis - oh, that has made me laugh! Maybe a TV comedy writer currently in search of a safe berth?

I hope to god they don't use his leaving as an excuse to 'modernise' the programme, by replacing thoughtful, challenging conversation with the over-excited and patronising Blue Peter style of presentation that has become so common.

The show is great but I can’t bear him. He can barely get his words out and he patronises the female guests. I know it’s sacrilegious but I’m glad he’s going.

Although … Natalie (Stands Up for the Classics) Haynes might welcome a more serious space …

I’m afraid I wouldn’t be thrilled by a podcasting native (that is, someone not born into radio), or an insta-poet (my greatest fear).

I’m not ‘glad’ he’s going - but it is time for him to relinquish it. He’s had a good run.

ive been worried about him for some time. He’s sounded frail. I’m quite sure his brain is still up to the job, but voices do falter as they age.

I like the programme, but he’s increasingly hard to understand. He mumbles and slurs his words a bit.

Which number episode was the John Gray one?

IOT is my go-to podcast to fall asleep to. It works every time but unfortunately that means I never get to the end!

@nap, try 116 'Human Nature'