A seasoned BBC presenter has acknowledged to being upset at the way the organization’s executives avoid appearing in public to address complaints from licence fee payers.
After 23 years as the host of Radio 4’s audience response programme Feedback, Roger Bolton was fired yesterday. On his final show, he fired a shot at BBC executives.
He claimed that although it was part of their’responsibility’ to answer to the individuals who pay the licence fee, they were able to do so due to the corporation’s distinct funding model.
Speaking to listeners, he asserted that the BBC would be able to “ask questions of individuals who ran the firm” if it were a publicly traded company.
However, licence fee payers are unable to hold the BBC’s management accountable.
The 76-year-old Mr. Bolton claimed that when his show has asked managers to go on the programme and discuss issues highlighted by viewers, “they deny considerably more often than they accept.” According to him, the majority of managers who do appear on the programme “don’t seem to have the confidence to accept mistakes or to acknowledge there are alternative ways to look at things.”
Adults like presenters Justin Webb and Evan Davis, who had the self-assurance to admit “nobody does it right all the time” and to apologise when things go wrong, were those who were “most honest.” He suggested that BBC managers emulate them more.
Feedback reveals listeners’ worries about a variety of topics, and Mr. Bolton found it “very, very frustrating” how frequently BBC executives turn down requests to address them. I get really angry on your behalf, he declared.
Listeners, you pay for and own the BBC, thus you have a right to the answers to these questions. After all, if the BBC were a publicly traded corporation, there would be shareholders, a required annual meeting, and the opportunity to question people in charge of the business. ‘The BBC should put themselves up,’ he continued. “They are in this privileged position of having this unique money, and you really have no choice but to pay the licence fee.
“I think that’s part of the kind of responsibility they have, and I’m quite disappointed and frequently upset when they don’t,” the speaker said.
Mr. Bolton concluded by urging listeners to keep raising challenging queries and adding, “After all, the BBC belongs to those who pay for it.” nor those who receive payment from it.
‘Feedback has an exceptional track record of bringing BBC management, programme producers, and presenters to account,’ a Radio 4 spokesman said. “The BBC strives to supply the programme with interviews wherever possible.”
Roger was a fantastic presenter, and we want to thank him for that. He has stood up for our listeners.