Category: News; Radio 4
Date: 28.11.2005
Printable version
The 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 Today programme has again invited five guest editors to take the helm between Christmas and New Year...
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This year's guest editors are: David Blunkett MP; HSBC Chairman Sir John Bond; Anna Ford; Queen Noor of Jordan; and Steve 'Chandrasonic' Savale from the band Asian Dub Foundation.
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Their editions of Today will be broadcast between 27 and 31 December 2005.
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Among other ideas, David Blunkett plans to turn the tables by interviewing John Humphrys about the condition of the fourth estate, Queen Noor of Jordan will measure progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and Anna Ford will tackle ageism.
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David Blunkett said: "Editing the Today Programme is something that I'm sure most listeners (and I am very much a listener now!) would want to have a go at.
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"I'm particularly keen to reflect a better social and geographical spread, without alienating the traditional audience.
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"I hope it will be entertaining - not full of heavy politics!"
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Anna Ford said: "At last a chance to get my hands on the running order and content. What an opportunity! I'm really looking forward to it."
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Today's regular Editor Kevin Marsh said: "Today's guest editors have been a great success. They've brought some fascinating and thought-provoking radio to Today listeners - and always from a fresh standpoint."
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Guest editors are responsible for between a third and a half of their programme's output but the normal day and night duty editors are on hand to make sure their material is newsworthy and meets the 91Èȱ¬'s Editorial Guidelines.
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Each guest editor is helped to turn their ideas into radio journalism by Today's team of producers and reporters.
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Previous Today programme guest editors include: Bono, the Duchess of York, Lord Tebbit, film director Anthony Minghella and Professor Stephen Hawking.
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And, following on from 2004's Listeners' Lord poll, this year Today will ask: "Who runs Britain?"
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Listeners will be invited to suggest who they think has the most power in or over the nation.
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The suggested candidates will be shortlisted by a panel including Kevin Marsh, Dame Stella Rimington and Sir Bill Morris.
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Listeners will then be given the opportunity to vote on the shortlist to compile a list of the top ten most powerful people in Britain.
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The poll opens with a series of on air debates from 12 December. The final result will be announced on 2 January 2006.
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Notes to Editors
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The Today programme is Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme.
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Almost 6.5 million people listen to Today each week.
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