BBC Radio 4 Today criticised for 'left-wing tosh' chosen by guest editor PJ Harvey
Listeners flood Twitter with complaints over musician's selection of contributors for special edition of flagship radio programme, including Julian Assange and John Pilger
Scores of listeners have criticised the BBC for broadcasting "left-wing tosh" after the musician PJ Harvey was invited to be guest editor of Radio 4's flagship current affairs programme Today.
Angry Radio 4 devotees took to the internet to complain about the use of a series of contributors linked to left-wing issues, among them Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, John Pilger, the campaigning journalist, and Phil Shiner, the lawyer who has represented Iraqis who allege they were tortured by British troops.
They also protested at the inclusion of "dreary" songs and poetry, including verse by Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and Shaker Aamer, the last British resident held by the United States in Guantanamo Bay.
Harvey's choices won praise from other quarters, however, with other listeners arguing that she had got the BBC to cover issues that were normally "censored".
The critics included a Conservative Cabinet Minister and the BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson.
David Jones, the Welsh Secretary, said Thursday's edition of Today, was "rather unusual".
He added: "Today's @BBCr4today is apparently the work of a 'guest editor'. Have to wonder who extended the invitation."
Today's @BBCr4today is apparently the work of a "guest editor". Have to wonder who extended the invitation.
— David Jones (@DavidJonesMP) January 2, 2014
Mr Robinson suggested that Mr Pilger had unfairly criticised the BBC in an item about censorship commissioned by Harvey.
He said: "Pilger always thought-provoking but was he really suggesting that BBC ignore Obama's Mandela grief as he is a hypocrite? Or Sunni Shia massacres in Syria as Blair & Bush's fault? Surely, John, those are what we call opinions not facts?"
However, Paul Mason, the former BBC2 Newsnight economics editor who now works for Channel 4 News, was impressed by the different slant on the Radio 4 morning fixture.
He wrote: "Brilliant @PJHarveyUK edition of @BBCr4today demonstrating difference between 'truth' and 'editorial policy' - amazing how weird it feels."
Ordinary listeners were sharply divided about whether the BBC's experiment had paid off.
Melvyn Bloomberg said: "Today Radio 4 taken over by P J Harvey as guest editor. Left-wing tosh, even weather messed with. I hope she never edits the programme again."
Ashley Perks said he was forced to turned to a rival broadcaster to find out what the day's top stories were.
"Now I'm watching Sky News to get some idea of what's important today. Wrong to test this weird format and dreary music," he said.
Seema Kennedy said on Twitter: "The nonsense coming out of @BBCr4today today has riled me so much that its forced me out of bed."
Maggie Lavan added: "Come back Today Editors. All is forgiven."
Several listeners complained that some of the contributions were more redolent of "sixth form politics" than a national broadcaster.
Phil Bryer wrote on Twitter: "Er, nice to hear Dave Spart [a caricature of left-wing earnestness] from @PrivateEyeNews getting a long overdue go on @BBCr4today"
However, others warmly welcomed Harvey's choices, with David Hendy writing: "Well done @PJHarveyUK for getting #r4today to discuss issues that are censored on every other day of the year."
Another Twitter user added: "Anyone who thinks the BBC is run by lefties needs to hear today's #r4Today prog. This is what being run by lefties would be like. I like it."
Harvey, 44, is an acclaimed singer-songwriter who won the Mercury Prize in 2000 and 2011 for her albums Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea and Let England Shake.
She said she had made the BBC agree that her contributors would not face any restrictions on what they could say and that their pieces would not be edited without their full consent.
“When I was invited to be guest editor on Today, I saw it as an opportunity to try and do something unusual with the format and content of the programme,” she added.
“I began by thinking of people I consider to be highly articulate, stimulating and extremely interesting to listen to - people who challenge us and move us to examine our deepest beliefs and feelings. I wanted to fill my programme with their voices.
“Most importantly, I wanted to let them be heard in a manner of their choosing, whether that be a monologue, a poem, or interviewing others. What I didn't want was for them to be restricted from saying what they wanted to say.”
A BBC spokesman said: "The well-established role of the guest editors is to bring their own unique ideas and expertise to the Today programme, working closely with the regular programme team.
"Our guest editors come from all walks of life and represent a range of views. This year they have included Antony Jenkins, CEO of Barclays Bank, Eliza Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5, Tim Berners Lee, director of the World Wide Web Consortium and the writer, traveller and broadcaster Sir Michael Palin."
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