Labour Lord David Blunkett claimed that BBC Radio 4 has lost its core audience and is too focused on its presenters.
The 74-year-old former home secretary said that although he supported the BBC, Radio 4 was shooting itself in their own feet with its’miserable programs’ that talk about ‘identity politics.
Radio 4’s average listener age is 56. Blunkett’s critique of Radio 4 was brought about by claims that it violated impartiality guidelines and displayed veiled left-wing bias.
Blunkett believed radio dramas were the most important. The Labour politician said that enjoyability was lost while moral messages were added to what was supposed to be an easy listening experience.
Lord David Blunkett (pictured), 74, bashed BBC Radio 4, which he has listened to since it replaced the Home Service in 1967, for forgetting its key audience. According to Blunkett, the station was broadcasting’miserable programmes’ about ‘identity politics.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie (pictured 54), stated that the corporation would represent all citizens of the UK. However, Lord Blunkett criticised him for not seeing a shift and claimed that there was no way to make it happen.
Blunkett also stated that news programming at the station was not sufficiently covering enough stories.
The Food Programme was criticized for focusing more on the presenters of the meal than people watching at home, which he took the opportunity to do.
‘I fear that good, easy-listening drama that doesn’t have to lecture us or ensure we are “right-on” has gone [from Radio 4]for some time,” he said to The Times.
People don’t want misery or constant reference to identity politics.
He stated, “They must cease taking.” [their]Core audience taken as a given
“Stop thinking about yourself and start looking at what is important in the larger sphere.
An open letter he wrote to The Telegraph this week said that the drift to metropolitan self-indulgence and pretentiousness is fast approaching at Radio 4.
The 54-year-old BBC Director General Tim Davie claimed that he would make sure the BBC represented all people in the UK. Blunkett however stated that he could not see any change.
A series of controversial decisions by Mr Davie have brought him under scrutiny, including the hiring of Jess Brammar (ex-Huffington Post editor) as Head of News Channels.
It has been alleged that the corporation created a non-job of six figures for the editor of left-wing magazine, which has come under fire for past criticisms of Brexit and for supporting Black Lives Matter.
Radio 4 has been the latest BBC part to be criticised after bias claims in its hierarchy
A former reporter Martin Bashir was accused of using shady means to obtain an interview with Princess Diana. Pictured: Bashir interviewing the Princess Of Wales on BBC Panorama 1995
Davie acknowledged that he wasn’t sure if anyone had been hired to the top of the company who supported Brexit.
He replied, “I don’t know.” It’s not clear where my top Brexit team is. It’s not like this.
Lord Blunkett attacked the BBC’s corporation. The BBC replied: “People who are passionate about Radio 4 will always voice their opinions on what we do, and we’re always open to hearing from them.”