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The original programme differed from its current form; for the first year or so it was entirely pre-recorded. Produced by
Michael Ember, a flamboyant producer from the BBC Hungarian Service, the 1970 show was supposed to be intelligent banter on a weekly theme held together in a jocular fashion by
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and went on sabbatical from the show, though he did chair a one-off episode in
November and several episodes in December 2013. He thereafter returned as the presenter of the show, but not on a full-time basis. Since 2013, he has alternated with various presenters, currently
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If that week contained
Valentine's Day, for example, the show would start with some hints as to proper behaviour for that day, a bit of history, then a tape recorded by Doug Crawford, a former
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pm the same evening. Its guests typically come from the worlds of politics, journalism, science and the arts. Prior to Marr the programme had a number of regular secondary presenters including
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Paxman's tenure was relatively short for a broadcaster of his stature because his aggressive style of interviewing was not considered compatible with the programme.
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DJ, consisting of a montage of music, archive recordings, opinions recorded on the street and the like, presenting the public's image of the day in question.
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The programme had a regular following but was thought to be too light-hearted and irreverent for 9.00am on Monday mornings by a new
Director of Programmes.
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After eight minutes or so, the programme returned to the live studio for anecdotes and discussion from a variety of guests. Regulars included
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Andrew Marr took over as the programme's presenter in 2002. Occasional stand-in presenters in recent years have included
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Awards, and is only the second programme to win the award twice.
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It is broadcast (usually) live on Monday mornings between 9:02
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won the Best Radio
Programme category in the 1994 and 2005
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am, and repeated in a shortened, edited version at 9:30
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which began in April 1970. The current presenter is
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567:. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 236.
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280:, which occupy the slot on other days."
123:. The previous regular presenters were
115:is a discussion programme broadcast on
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1019:The Poet Laureate Has Gone To His Shed
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579:Life on Air: A History of Radio Four
565:Life on Air: A History of Radio Four
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313:, and Bragg himself vs (separately)
799:John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme
438:. In January 2013, Marr suffered a
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679:"Start the Week: Episodes by date"
472:Voice of the Listener & Viewer
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627:"Plato or Nietzsche? You choose"
531:from the original on 24 May 2022
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652:Dowell, Ben (4 November 2013).
591:Popham, Peter (25 March 1996).
348:Jeremy Paxman (1998–2002)
224:Russell Harty (1987–1988)
186:Richard Baker (1970–1987)
889:BBC National Short Story Award
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236:Melvyn Bragg (1988–1998)
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1578:British talk radio programmes
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391:Andrew Marr (2002–2020)
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1573:1970 radio programme debuts
827:Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones!
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1344:From Our Own Correspondent
785:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
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834:The Museum of Curiosity
1568:BBC Radio 4 programmes
862:The Unbelievable Truth
301:and Bragg vs novelist
1509:Greenwich Time Signal
1184:The Listening Project
563:Hendy, David (2007).
1432:Something Understood
1372:The Westminster Hour
813:Mark Steel's in Town
1446:Thought for the Day
1365:Today in Parliament
1177:The Life Scientific
1163:The Kitchen Cabinet
1086:Crossing Continents
1026:With Great Pleasure
970:Desert Island Discs
271:Desert Island Discs
262:programmes such as
23:
1478:Test Match Special
1425:Prayer for the Day
1323:Broadcasting House
1100:The Food Programme
998:Round Britain Quiz
820:Meet David Sedaris
607:on 3 November 2012
410:. You can help by
367:. You can help by
38:Approx. 43 minutes
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1524:BBC Radio 4 Extra
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1471:Shipping Forecast
1418:The Daily Service
1386:The World Tonight
1079:Costing the Earth
778:Ed Reardon's Week
549:Richard Baker on
527:. 25 March 1996.
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171:Catherine Bennett
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82:April 1970 –
43:Country of origin
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1499:Radio 4 UK Theme
1379:The World at One
1261:Tweet of the Day
1254:Thinking Allowed
984:Pick of the Week
956:Brain of Britain
942:Book of the Week
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1316:Any Questions?
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1309:Any Answers?
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1275:Woman's Hour
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848:The Now Show
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771:Dead Ringers
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683:. Retrieved
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661:. Retrieved
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635:. Retrieved
631:The Guardian
621:
609:. Retrieved
605:the original
594:
593:"Do we need
586:
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577:David Hendy
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533:. Retrieved
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412:adding to it
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369:adding to it
364:
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327:Tony Parsons
323:William Cash
311:Libby Purves
284:
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250:George Melly
239:
230:Melvyn Bragg
227:
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215:Zena Skinner
206:
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196:pirate radio
193:
189:
175:Lisa Jardine
144:
133:Melvyn Bragg
111:
110:
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59:Home station
35:Running time
15:
1247:The Reunion
1135:In Our Time
1128:In Business
1121:Great Lives
935:A Good Read
917:Short Works
882:The Archers
740:BBC Radio 4
658:Radio Times
449:Kirsty Wark
303:Kathy Lette
260:middle-brow
149:am and 9:45
141:Andrew Marr
117:BBC Radio 4
63:BBC Radio 4
51:Language(s)
1562:Categories
1504:Sailing By
1233:Soul Music
1072:Case Notes
977:Loose Ends
872:Drama and
855:The Skewer
748:Programmes
685:27 January
663:27 January
492:References
457:Amol Rajan
315:Joan Smith
277:Loose Ends
246:Sue Lawley
159:Ken Sykora
30:Discussion
18:Radio show
1396:Religious
1337:File on 4
1219:Open Book
1198:Money Box
1170:Last Word
1107:Front Row
342:life peer
291:Ben Elton
242:Kate Adie
69:Hosted by
1547:Category
1299:News and
1142:In Touch
1093:Feedback
1051:Analysis
949:Bookclub
764:Bunk Bed
529:Archived
478:See also
419:May 2011
376:May 2011
255:gravitas
1268:Uncanny
1036:Factual
874:fiction
265:Midweek
211:calypso
181:History
99:Podcast
89:Website
84:present
54:English
1439:Sunday
756:Comedy
637:18 May
611:18 May
535:18 May
463:Awards
440:stroke
155:
151:
147:
1492:Other
1456:Other
1358:Today
903:Drama
340:as a
27:Genre
687:2014
665:2014
639:2011
613:2011
537:2011
455:and
434:and
329:and
274:and
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