Podcasts Culture Feedback Why did Radio 6 Music decide to shake up its schedule?

Why did Radio 6 Music decide to shake up its schedule?

Published: April 9, 2019, 9:08 a.m.

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Roger Bolton discusses changes at Radio 6 Music , the end of iPM and re-inventing local radio, and talks to Eric Robson about saying goodbye to GQT.

Judging by audiences and awards at least, Radio 6 Music was on a roll. So it surprised many when a major shake up of the schedule was announced for 2019, including giving Lauren Laverne the coveted breakfast show and moving the much loved Radcliffe and Maconie from weekdays to weekends. Roger puts listener views to the Head of Radio 6 Music, Paul Rodgers, and asks why he made this decision.

iPM, the listener driven weekly companion to PM, is the latest victim of BBC cutbacks. We hear from listeners who have filled the Feedback inbox with frustration at the news.

What does it mean to "re-invent" local radio? A few weeks ago, Feedback went to Leeds to try and shed some light on the BBC\'s plans to reverse a decline in local listening figures and transform its local offering to attract younger and more diverse audiences. This week, Roger speaks to Chris Burns, the BBC\'s recently installed Head of Local Radio, to find out more.

And Eric Robson has chaired Gardener\'s Question Time for 25 years but, at the end of the month, he\'s stepping aside to be replaced by Kathy Clugston. Ahead of a recording in the idyllic surroundings of the Oxford Botanical Garden, he reflects on his career and offers advice to his successor.

Presenter: Roger Bolton\\nProducer: Robert Nicholson\\nExecutive Producer: Will Yates

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

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