Ethics

Tough being a BBC executive - here's yet another example of their judge and jury role. Lord Singh, better known to listeners to R4's Thought For The Day as Indarjit Singh, has revealed to The Times (paywalled) a parting of the ways with Auntie over broadcasts last November.

He's said producers tried to change both his topics and his use of words: “The need for sensitivity in talking about religious, political or social issues has now been taken to absurd proportions with telephone insistence on trivial textual changes right up to going into the studio, making it difficult to say anything worthwhile. The aim of Thought for the Day has changed from giving an ethical input to social and political issues to the recital of religious platitudes and the avoidance of controversy, with success measured by the absence of complaints"

A review ordered by James Purnell, Director of Radio and Education (and Religion & Ethics) rejected his complaint. In case you hadn't noticed we're in the midst of a year of "special programming exploring Britain's beliefs and values", so that's all good then.