Over to You

With COP30 taking place, presenter Qasa Alom looks at how climate is covered on the network. She hears from listeners and speaks to Angus Foster, the BBC News climate and science lead. He explains how climate is prioritised when there are competing stories. The flagship climate programme for the BBC World Service, The Climate Question, launched its first visualised episode in November 2025. Anna Doble, the commissioning editor, talks to Qasa about how visualisation is helping the network reach a younger audience. And finally, Qasa speaks to Richard Kenny, a producer on People Fixing the World, about how the stories they cover help give listeners a “a sense of hope and agency that they can do something”. Presenter: Qasa Alom Producer: Jill Achineku Executive producer: Robert Nicholson A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

There is a new programme in the schedule, World Business Express. It has been on air for around six weeks and is a partial replacement for the now-decommissioned World Business Report. We hear listeners' comments and we are joined by its editor, Justin Bones. Plus, and after nigh-on a thousand editions of Over To You, this is the final edition hosted by Rajan Datar. He looks back on his nearly 20 years of airing your feedback and interviewing programme makers and BBC execs on your behalf. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

It’s been one of the biggest talking points in our inbox this summer, the launch of a new BBC app to replace Sounds for international listeners. Now it has launched, we hear what listeners make of it and find out how they are finding its everyday use. And BBC Studios, who developed the app, respond to what listeners are saying. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

A recent Heart and Soul told the story of how a boy, Carlo Acutis, who died from cancer nearly 20 years ago has been declared a saint. We hear your feedback on this documentary and also from the show’s presenter, William Crawley. How did he approach this sensitive topic? Plus, major schedule changes are only two weeks away, we look at which WS shows are ending. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

The World Service has launched a news sports show that it says will “tell the stories beyond the scoresheet”. We hear your views on whether More Than The Score will appeal to sports fans who are interested in the bigger picture. And we meet one of its presenters John Bennett plus the show’s producer, Jonathan McKeith. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

The Global Story has had a revamp and makeover. In a special edition, we examine the editorial changes and ask one of its presenters Tristan Redman and executive producer Annie Brown why the focus is now so emphatically on the US and its relationship with the world. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

People Fixing The World is all about discovering the people and the projects trying to make the world a better place. But what qualifies a project to be on the programme and how much scrutiny is applied? We talk to presenter Myra Anubi and editor Jon Bithrey and hear what listeners make of the programme. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

World Book Club usually interviews authors about their work, with questions from the audience. But September’s edition featured an author who died nearly a century ago. We’re joined by presenter Harriet Gilbert to talk about the show's special episode on Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Will they do something similar with other deceased authors? Plus, already announced major programme changes will take effect soon, but listeners have already been in touch concerned about what’s happening with Business Matters. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

We look at the Conversation, the weekly show that brings together two women from different cultures and talks about their paths to success. We hear listeners’ comments and feedback on recent episodes and we’re joined in the studio by one of the presenters Datshiane Navanayagam and its producer Jane Thurlow. Plus BBC Verify Live has launched a real-time live news feed. We want to invite your thoughts on this new service. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We look at The Conversation, the weekly show that brings together two women from different cultures and talks about their paths to success. We hear listeners’ comments and feedback on recent episodes and we’re joined in the studio by one of the presenters Datshiane Navanayagam and its producer Jane Thurlow. Plus BBC Verify Live has launched a real-time live news feed. We want to invite your thoughts on this new service. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

“It launched like a rocket and landed like a plane!” Series three of “13 Minutes Presents” turns its attention to the Space Shuttle programme, beginning with the Columbia project in 1981. We hear your thoughts on this ten-part documentary and are joined by its presenter and producer. Plus a listener asks if Artificial Intelligence is dominating science and technology programmes, whilst another turns the spotlight onto its financial reporting. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

There is a new series of the podcast Untold Legends. This time the focus is one of Hollywood’s golden-age stars Hedy Lamarr. We hear your comments and speak to the show’s presenter. Plus, the annual BBC Global Audience Measure figures have been release. So what do they reveal about who is listening to what and where? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Part two of our conversation with a senior BBC executive about the switch from BBC Sounds to using a new BBC app and BBC.com for international listeners. Among the questions listeners ask is the subject of paying a subscription - might that give access to what used to be available before? And we get the definitive answer as to how to keep listening to the World Service now the switchover is complete. Plus a listener gives us his critique of the BBC Eye investigation The Battle for Bangladesh. Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

For users outside the UK, the BBC Sounds app is now no longer available, as many of you have been in touch about. It's been replaced by a new BBC app. But how are you finding it? Is it user-friendly? And just why did Sounds end? We air your feedback and we’re joined by a senior executive, one of the team responsible for the switch. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Are you suffering from Trump fatigue? That is too much of the US president on the BBC? A listener in the US told us last week how he is and it seems many of you agree. We are joined in the studio by head of journalism Simon Peeks to discuss the phenomenon. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Why has the BBC brought back a Polish Language Service 20 years after the previous version was scrapped - and how are AI and social media making this one different? Plus, OTY has previously discussed what’s termed “news fatigue”, now a listener in the US raises the possibility of “Trump fatigue”. And BBC Sounds is coming to an end this week for those outside the UK, with international users switching to a new BBC app. We hear more listener comments on the change. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for BBC World Service

BBC Trending is the show that investigates stories related to online trends, social media, and viral phenomena. We speak to its editor about a recent edition focussing on North Korea - and a listener asks about the programme’s wider editorial remit and why there are not more uplifting news stories? Plus BBC Sounds has finally been given a date for its turn off - we hear your initial thoughts on its replacement. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

The BBC has introduced a paywall for people looking at parts of its website from within the United States. We hear listeners’ reactions to being asked to pay for something they previously got for free, whilst others outside the US ask if it sets a precedent for the rest of the world. We are joined from New York by the BBC Studios executive in charge of the project, Rebecca Glashow. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

The BBC News Persian service has provided expertise and analysis to the whole of the BBC, in spite of being banned from Iran. We hear how journalists with BBC News Persian have been broadcasting reports about the situation in Iran and we are joined by the head of its service. Plus, The Killing Call tells of the murder of Indian music star Sidhu Moose Wala. The executive editor of World Service documentaries tells us of the various challenges producers faced in its making. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

The World Debate broadcast last weekend considered the rapidly changing international landscape under President Trump. Is the world a safer or more dangerous place, it asked. We hear listeners' views on how the debate shaped up and we are joined in the studio by a BBC news editor who oversaw the broadcast. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service