FAVOURITE RADIO PROGRAMMES - COMING NEAR THE TOP IS PROBABLY MELVYN BRAGG'S IN OUR TIME

This morning's programme on BBC 's World Service mentioned the one thousand episodes of IN OUR TIME, which I invariably hear first or perhaps later via BBC Radio 4's Sounds. 

I believe the first programme went out in October1998 and within a year or two, I was asked to meet and interview the host and presenter Melvyn Bragg who appeared at one of our first Essex Book Festival events in Brentwood, Essex. The feature eventually appeared in the local press.

Lord Bragg's disarming way of explaining often difficult topics of conversation was admired, particularly when he interviewed academic specialists about almost any subject of interest. I also loved the strict rule that one should not carry out any book-plugging - we have enough of that (even though I do this when I am allowed and the occasion presents itself!)

This programme eventually evolved in an unusual way to become the BBC's winning way to become the BBC’s most downloaded weekly podcast globally, as well as one of the most popular for younger people. 

The formula is a recorded conversation - perhaps over forty-five minutes in which the specialists are quizzed about almost any topic of human life.

Check out this programme and follow the BBC links.