BBC Radio 4 boss admits the station was too miserable this year

Radio 4 has been too miserable this year without enough escapism and joy, the station boss has admitted.

Mohit Bakaya said major political events had dominated the news in 2022 and it felt “a bit unforgiving” to listeners at times. He insisted he wanted to “raise our level of fun” and plans to launch a series of pilot comedy shows.

Coverage of three Prime Ministers, the death of the Queen and the war in Ukraine played a prominent role on the station. Speaking on Radio 4’s public reaction show Feedback, Mr Bakaya said: ‘I think… given the big political year this year was, we haven’t always brought enough escapism and joy to the public.

“I think at times it felt like it was unforgiving and I think people were looking for escape routes.”

He added, “I know we watch different series to try and talk about little stories about things that people do that bring hope and joy to people’s lives.

“I think we’re also looking at a bunch of new comedy pilots to really spice up our fun a little bit.”

Mr Bakaya, who is also the BBC director, defended Today program presenter Amol Rajan against complaints that he ‘gabbles’ or speaks too quickly.

He told Feedback, “I don’t hear him babbling. I understand everything he says… I never listen and think, ‘Well, what is he saying now?’” He also revealed that Radio 4 will launch a new show about climate change next year.

During the interview, he also admitted that the background music on shows was sometimes “too loud” and had spoken to producers about keeping levels so that speech is “always intelligible.”

Mr Bakaya previously hinted spin-off station Radio 4 Extra could be bailed out, saying the closure is ‘not a foregone conclusion’.