Over to You

Episódios

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  What makes an expert? 20.08.2026 26min

  What makes someone an expert, and how do BBC producers decide who has the right expertise to appear on air? In this episode of Over To You, we hear listeners’ views on who they trust and why. We go behind the scenes with The Engineers and CrowdScience to find out how programmes choose their contributors, and explore the editorial principles behind using experts on the BBC. Plus, as more of us encounter experts through TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, we ask how social media is changing who we see as an authority. We also speak to BBC Verify about how it assesses expertise and decides who and what audiences can trust.
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  A focus on East Asia 19.03.2026 26min

  The East Asia region, comprising of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan, is undeniably a key player on the world stage.We go behind the scenes of The Fifth Floor, the programme that brings the news from the BBC World Service language services. We hear how people in Seoul are reacting to the comeback of BTS, the superstar South Korean boyband, whose first tour since 2022 kicks off in April.Hong Kong cinema has influenced film-makers around the world. For a recent In the Studio episode, film-maker Shan Ng followed Kwan Pun Leung, one of the cinematographers of the Hong Kong and 20th Century classic, In the Mood for Love. We hear what Shan learnt following a fellow film-maker and what surprised her about Kwan's process.In November 2025, the BBC World Service launched a new visualised podcast, Asia Specific. Presented by veteran journalist, Mariko Oi, it covers the Asia Pacific region, of which East Asia is part of. Mariko tells Qasa why a podcast for the region was essential and the stories they hope to cover.And finally, in February, the director general Tim Davie warning that the network would run out of funding if a deal was not agreed with the government. His warnings set the Over to You inbox alight with questions and concern. Qasa speaks with the head of the school of journalism, media and culture at Cardiff University, Dr Matt Walsh and explores what all this means for the World Service.
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  How World Book Club played detective with Sherlock 13.09.2025 8min

  World Book Club usually interviews authors about their work, with questions from the audience. But September’s edition featured an author who died nearly a century ago. We’re joined by presenter Harriet Gilbert to talk about the show's special episode on Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Will they do something similar with other deceased authors?Plus, already announced major programme changes will take effect soon, but listeners have already been in touch concerned about what’s happening with Business Matters. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  The latest update on BBC Sounds internationally 26.04.2025 8min

  The proposed switch from BBC Sounds to a new BBC app has been weighing heavily on the minds of some listeners. Many of you have been unhappy. Well it seems listener power has prevailed and there has been an important change! We bring you the BBC’s update.Plus , the true crime podcast series The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby, is about one apparently pregnant young woman’s desperate lie. We speak with its presenter Sarah Treleaven.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
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  The challenges facing the BBC’s Russian service 19.04.2025 8min

  A number of journalists working for BBC Russian have been labelled “foreign agents”, severely restricting their professional and private lives. We hear from the editor of BBC News's Russian service about the impact.Plus, a listener has been in touch to praise a moving eyewitness report on Newsday.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  How to make a documentary on President Trump 12.04.2025 8min

  The documentary Donald Trump’s New World Order set out to explain the reasons behind these turbulent times. Presenter Jamie Coomarasamy reveals how he overcame the problems of staying up to date when the Trump Administration seems to be announcing new policies day by day? We hear your views.Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
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  The sound of a new BBC App launching 22.03.2025 8min

  We hear listeners’ reactions to the news that in the near future BBC Sounds is to end for international online listeners, and a new BBC app is to launch in its place.We put your points and questions to the BBC and, with the help of a media expert, investigate what this might all mean for you.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC
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  The challenges of change at the top of US politics 01.02.2025 8min

  In a special edition, Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th US president was comprehensively covered by all BBC World Service news shows, including a special edition of the Global News Podcast. But what challenges do the Trump presidency present for journalists, including the BBC’s news teams? We’re joined by a senior news editor and we hear listeners’ feedback.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Our listeners’ panel looks ahead to 2025 04.01.2025 8min

  For our first show of the new year, four listeners from Brazil, the US, the UK and Italy set the agenda for what they would like from the BBC World Service in the coming year. Do they want different types of programmes, does news fatigue affect them, and how much do they feel the BBC World Service is still needed in 2025?Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Meeting the team who produced America Decides 16.11.2024 8min

  It was billed as too close to call right up to the night itself, but in the end the US presidential election saw a clear victory for the Republicans. We hear listeners' views on World Service coverage of the vote, and are joined in the studio by the team behind the election night show America Decides.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Listener bugbears on truncating news interviews 13.04.2024 8min

  We hear listeners’ bugbears about one aspect of news programmes that really annoys them: why do live interviewees sometimes get abruptly cut short by the interviewer? We go behind the scenes to reveal the pressures of live news production with one of the BBC’s news editors, Karen Martin.Plus, a listener tells us what he likes so much about his favourite programme: Weekend. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  How has Stumped evolved over its 10-year innings? 23.03.2024 8min

  Stumped is a weekly digest of news, features and debate from the world of cricket - but are you bowled over by it? We hear your comments and are joined by one of its hosts, Alison Mitchell.Plus, a listener asks why, when listening online, the volume level changes so much?Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon.A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  The Reith Lectures: A tradition since 1948 06.01.2024 9min

  The Reith Lectures are an annual tradition, started in 1948 by the BBC’s first director general. In a special edition, we hear your thoughts on the programme, and we’re joined by the man who gave this year’s address. We also talk to the BBC executive who commissioned it.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard ShannonA Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Ask the BBC World Service English controller 2023 30.12.2023 26min

  In a specially extended edition, we have Jon Zilkha, the controller of BBC World Service English, in the studio to answer listeners’ questions about what they’ve heard on the World Service in the past year. Some are happy - others feel there’s work to be done!Topics include news coverage of the Middle East conflict, proposed schedule changes and the BBC’s long-term finances.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Is news fatigue something you worry about? 18.11.2023 8min

  We hear listeners’ thoughts on the BBC World Service’s reporting of the ongoing events in the Middle East. We ask if the war in Ukraine really has dropped out of the news headlines and discuss the issue of “news fatigue” with the head of journalism at World Service English, Simon Peeks.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Do listeners enjoy World Service's arts programmes? 11.11.2023 8min

  We examine arts programming on the BBC World Service as we talk to the teams behind two of its long-running shows: In the Studio and The Cultural Frontline. Do you enjoy these arts series? Or does arts programming in general leave you cold?Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service
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  A success for the women’s international game? 02.09.2023 8min

  The recent women’s football World Cup has been widely hailed as a success for the international game. We hear your thoughts on the BBC’s coverage. Plus, a listener asks if there’s a place for sports reporting in a serious news show.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  Explaining a solutions-focused documentary 25.08.2023 8min

  A documentary recently told the story of a 14-year-old American schoolboy who is on a mission to prevent billions of batteries going into landfill. We hear your feedback on this positive, solutions-focused programme, and the show’s presenter and producer join us to explain the process of working with young people.Plus, we hear some initial reaction to the World Service's coverage of football's Women's World Cup. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service
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  The transition from live radio show to podcast 15.07.2023 8min

  We are now well into the second month of changes affecting Focus on Africa and its switch to being primarily a podcast with a repeat radio airing later that same day. So how is it going down with listeners? Is it alienating those of you who do not have access to digital platforms? Does it feel less “live”? Or does the focus on it being a podcast mean it can now attract a wider audience from the African diaspora globally? We speak to the editor of Focus On Africa, Alice Muthengi.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for BBC World Service
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  Appealing to readers for over two decades 17.06.2023 8min

  World Book Club took to the air over two decades ago and it is still going strong. Each month an author is quizzed by a live audience. We speak with its long-running host Harriett Gilbert and ask how do you make a show appeal to those who are not heavy readers? And listeners give their thoughts.Plus, how a recent edition of HardTalk on Iranian Kurds hit the nail on the head for a listener in the US.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for BBC World Service