Evolution, not revolution

On the whole, Radio Four has had some good controllers over the years, the better ones being those who introduced gradual change. The two who were the least successful in my view both tried to rearrange the furniture after moving in; I’m thinking of Ian McIntyre in the late 1970s who, one felt, wanted to return radio to the 1950s, and, in the 1990s, James Boyle, who, enslaved by focus groups, brought in many pointless changes. He was succeeded by the successful Helen Boaden and last year Mark Damazer replaced her.

Wisely, perhaps, he hasn’t said much about his plans for the network, though he does have a few in mind. He gave an inconclusive interview in the Radio Times last month and answered listeners’ questions and concerns on Feedback on Radio Four last week (Friday) without giving much away. It became clear, though, that there would be no revolutionary change; he believed more in evolution. Having said that, I was caught out by Boyle’s participation in the same programme some years back when he soothingly indicated caution and respect for Radio Four only to set about it with an axe. Damazer told the presenter Roger Bolton that any changes he made would be phased in over the next year or so. ‘We know perfectly well that, if you disrupt the schedules too much, too quickly, the audience doesn’t like it. But the trick with Radio Four is to keep ringing the changes in some areas from time to time so that the network isn’t in standstill mode.’