Radio religious programmes not popular

RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMES are the least popular of those broadcast by BBC Radio 4, according to a new report from the corporation’s governing body, writes Joanna Moorhead.

Results from the most comprehensive review of the BBC’s speech radio output, which included an ICM poll of more than 2,000 interviews, reveal that only 15 per cent of Radio 4 listeners say they listen to religious programmes, compared with 88 per cent who listen to news programmes and 87 per cent who listen to current affairs programmes.

Listeners were also more critical of religious output than of other programming, with 34 per cent of those who listened to them saying they were “OK” as compared with “excellent” (22 per cent), “very good” (16 per cent) or “good” (25 per cent). Two per cent of listeners said the output on faith was “poor”.

In its report on the research, the BBC Trust defended its religious output, saying it was “highly appreciated” by listeners. Among those who did tune in to individual programmes such as Prayer for the Day, it said, there was high audience appreciation.

The report said Radio 4 “has no plans for change to its output at present”.