Latest news with #LyseDoucet
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Newscast The RAF Base Break In
Available for over a year Today we're looking at the reaction to a security breach at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Pro-Palestinian activists broke into the base and sprayed two military planes with red paint. The home secretary will move to proscribe the Palestine Action group in the coming weeks, effectively branding them as a terrorist organisation, the BBC understands. Paddy and Laura look at the political row surrounding the incident. And the BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins us to answer your questions on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast'. It works on most smart speakers You can join our Newscast online community here: Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The weekend series editor is Chris Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Broadcasting House The UK sends jets to the Middle East as Israel and Iran exchange air strikes
Paddy O'Connell and Lyse Doucet present this week's Broadcasting House as the conflict between Israel and Iran ramps up. Cabinet minister Darren Jones discusses the UK's role, as well as the announcement of national inquiry into grooming gangs. Plus, the hyperglot who speaks more than 15 languages, and the BH press review with Alice Bunn of UK Space, George Parker of the Financial Times, and writer and broadcaster Maria McErlane.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
The BBC World Service debate: Is Donald Trump making the world safer or more dangerous?
Update: Date: 18:45 BST Title: The BBC World Service debate: Is Donald Trump making the world safer or more dangerous? Content: Lyse DoucetChief international correspondent Hello and welcome to the BBC World Service debate, live from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in London. Events are moving quickly. We're recording our discussion as tensions escalate sharply in the Middle East and beyond after Israel attacked Iran, and Tehran retaliated. President Trump promised to be a peacemaker - can he end this confrontation? He also boasted he would end the wars in Ukraine, as well as Gaza. He has put peace talks on the table in many places, and pushed his allies in many regions to take more responsibility for their own security. But his critics say his approach to diplomacy is reckless and chaotic, and so far the dealmaker in chief has not delivered a deal. Is Donald Trump making the world safer or more dangerous? Lyse will be joined by a panel of guests to discuss the escalating tensions in the Middle East, and the rapidly changing international landscape during President Trump's second presidency. Watch the debate live at the top of this page from 19:00 BST (18:00 GMT).
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Newscast Are (Even More Of) Israel's Allies Turning Against Them?
Today, we discuss the new aid distrubition model in Gaza and why the EU's top diplomat has gone further in criticising Israeli strikes and aid distribution. The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins Adam in the studio to discuss the video footage of chaotic scenes at an aid distribution centre in Rafah. They discuss the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and vice president of the European Commission Kaja Kallas' criticism of Israel. And there's a fortnight to go until the spending review. Sir Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, has been on the radio lobbying the Chancellor for more cash. BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth is on the line with a politics wrap-up. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast'. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Radio 3 might be ‘dumbing down', but annoyingly it's working
Earlier this month, the BBC's veteran war correspondent Lyse Doucet said that she has been 'turning away from the news and listening to Radio 3 instead of Radio 4'. Doucet's reason was that the news has been so unremittingly depressing of late; Radio 3 was a sanctuary. She is far from alone – last week's Rajar figures showed that Radio 3 is on the up, with 2.15m tuning in, the station's best for many years. To add to the sense of achievement, almost every other BBC station had lost listeners in the same period. And before Radio 3 controller Sam Jackson could finish his first celebratory glass of fizz, someone was pouring him another, as Radio 3 won Station of the Year at the prestigious Audio and Radio Industry Awards (Arias). It is a vindication of sorts for Jackson, who has been fighting accusations of 'dumbing down' since he arrived two years ago. His predecessors would sympathise, going right back to George Barnes when he kicked off the Third Programme in 1946 and, two years later, was fighting accusations of 'vulgarisation' from EM Forster. The crime? Playing 'light' music concerts, including Bizet, Strauss and Mozart). Radio 3's gift and curse is that it emerged (or perhaps descended) from the Third Programme, which was set up to be strenuously high-minded, mixing classical music with poetry, philosophy and debate. Its mission wasn't simply to educate, inform and entertain, but to expand, refine and civilise. There are many Radio 3 listeners who still believe this is the station's mission – no wonder they bristle at the loss of Free Thinking and Drama on 3, at the perceived 'therapisation' of classical music, or at the existence of Jools Holland (the boogie-woogiefication of classical music). Those purists would suggest that Radio 3's recent resurgence isn't despite any 'dumbing down', but because of it – further evidence that it is slumping inexorably towards Classic FM territory. Is this fair? In response to the heartening Rajar figures, Radio 3's press release trumpeted their more highbrow content, from the Pierre Boulez centenary celebrations to 25 for 25: Sounds of a Century, 25 new commissions from contemporary composers. We don't know if it is this specific programming that is bringing the listeners in – specific figures were not provided – but it is encouraging to see the station take pride in its more challenging offerings. EM Forster may not agree, but when it comes to the music it's hard to make a strong case that Radio 3 has dumbed down. Classical Live, Radio 3 in Concert and Composer of the Week still offer a variety that the commercial stations wouldn't dare, while jazz, new music and opera are ring-fenced by dedicated programming. A push for 'diversity' (female composers!) has only broadened the station's offering. There is no doubt that in recent times the station has fallen into the trap of trying to attract listeners who like their classical music to be 'calm, soothing and mindful', and often accompanied by birdsong and lapping waves, but this is hopefully something that will be redressed by the launch of new 'mindful' digital station Radio 3 Unwind. However, it is in the spaces in between the music where Radio 3 has undoubtedly grown more populist, and this is something unlikely to be reversed. Listeners long ago got used to the audience interactivity that was once the preserve of Radio 5 Live, but it is the presenters who seem to stir up the most passion. The likes of Tom McKinney, Katie Derham, Jess Gillam and Linton Stephens lean more into being informally enthusiastic than tweedily knowledgeable, while the inclusion of Holland and newsreader Clive Myrie suggest a safety-first approach. 'Don't be scared! We love classical music and we're not going to be stuffy about it!' As someone who is a far-cry from being a classical music buff, I am a good test case – and I have found the station to be more approachable and accessible of late. That will likely send shudders down the spines of the purists. While Jackson did not begin the jettisoning of spoken word programming, it does seem he is keen to finish the job and create a purely classical music station. Some decisions are financial – on Radio 4's Feedback he said that budget cuts forced him to choose between live classical music and drama – but there is the sense of brand-building here too. Not Classic FM, but the anti-Classic FM. A classical music station with highbrow aspirations, but, crucially, a classical music station. If you want wider culture, off you go to Radio 4. It's understandable, but it's a pity – and I eye the superb Sunday Feature nervously. Yet, if the listener numbers are rising, then it can only be that Radio 3 is successfully bringing classical music to new audiences, dumbed down or not.
