Just over four years ago Gwyneth Williams, formerly Director of English Networks and News at BBC World Service, was appointed as Controller of Radio 4, succeeding Mark Damazer, who had resigned to become Master of St Peter’s College, Oxford.
She has proved to be quite a radical.
She has increased science and foreign coverage and the duration of the World at One, ensured that the Today programme finally had a second woman presenter, taken 15 minutes off You and Yours and introduced a range of 15 minute programmes in the newly empty space. She has even introduced chess to radio and promises a “dazzling digital future” for her network.
This New Year’s Day she has given over Radio 4 to a 10 hour adaptation of ‘War and Peace’, which she intends to listen to with a glass of vodka in her hand.
She has also appointed a new Editor of the Archers whose changes, agreed with her, have certainly hit the headlines and split the Feedback audience.
All this has been done against the background of continuing cuts in her budget, cuts which will continue for the next two years.
This year the Radio 4 budget added up to £120.6 million, of which £91.8 was allocated to content, £9 million to cover distribution, and £19.8 million to what is called Infrastructure/Support.
Ms Williams also controls 4 Extra. Its total budget is £7.4 million this year of which £4.1 million goes on content.
If the next Licence fee negotiation results in a frozen or reduced licence fee, the Controller will have to fight for both her network against other BBC services, at least one of which will probably have to be cut.
By the way, if any Feedback listener wants to scrutinise the BBC’s spending we would be delighted to help them.
Gwyneth Williams is unfailingly polite and modest, but none of this should disguise a very tough and shrewd operator who came through the killing fields of BBC news and current affairs unscathed.
On Thursday she came into the Feedback studio to talk to me and more importantly, directly to listeners.
Feedback is now off the air until the beginning of February, 2015, when the Editor of the Archers will come onto the programme to discuss his controversial tenure.
Please let me know what you would like him to be asked, and what else you would like us to investigate on your behalf. And if you just want to make a comment, that would be equally welcome.
Meanwhile I do hope you have a happy and peaceful Christmas
Roger Bolton is the presenter of Feedback
