Richard Herring's Objective returns

Richard Herring returns to Radio 4 tonight with a new series of Richard Herring's Objective at 6.30pm. Examining and dissecting objects of scorn and controversy, in the first series the comedian investigated "The Hitler Moustache", "The Hoodie" and "The St. George's Flag". On his blog, part of which is below, Richard talks about the first choice for the new series - PM.

"The script for the first Objective of the second series has been a tricky one to get right - the golliwog is an incendiary item and I wanted to write a show that was funny, though not disrespectful to the broader issues. Even attempting to defend the golliwog could be needlessly offensive to many (though others would undoubtedly feel offended that this "innocent" toy would need defending).

It's been a really fascinating subject to research. Having met the original Golliwogg at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, I was able to see he was a bullied and unattractive doll who Upton turned into a hero and children saw beyond his outward appearance and recognised his inner goodness.

Comedian Ava Vidal was my guest - she is black and has a great routine about the golliwog, but had also just been to a protest about the doll being stocked in a South London shop. But she gave some context to how the golliwog had affected her own childhood, which hopefully would make the people who said it was just a harmless toy think again."

Richard Herring presents Richard Herring's Objective

• Read more of Richard's post on his blog.

Richard Herring at the recording of the second series of Richard Herring's Objective