When I read the green paper’s criticism, prefixed with “there is an argument that” we are not distinctive enough, I thought: is that all you’ve got? There is an argument that the earth is flat, but it’s a rubbish argument because the facts don’t sustain it.

My drivetime show hosts the Radio 2 book club, now the most important media outlet for books in the UK. The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer, Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey and Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (among many others) all got their first attention here. On daytime, not tucked away in the wee small hours.

Chris Evans runs the 500 words competition, in which this year 120,000 children sat down and wrote a story to be judged by experts. That’s at breakfast. And then there’s our championing of the Museum of the Year and 115 hours of arts output.

But maybe that’s enough facts. They might not trump your ideology, but maybe it’ll give you pause for thought. (Did I mention 200 hours of religious output?)

Radio 2 DJ Simon Mayo responds to UK government suggestions that BBC Radio 1 & 2 should be closed down. From here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.