Over to You

Love Janessa is the podcast series that examines an online so-called “catfishing scheme” which deceives mostly men into falling for and giving money to an apparently beautiful young woman called Janessa. But, the seven-part series asks - just who is Janessa Brazil? We hear your thoughts on the series and we’ are joined by journalist Hannah Ajala who set out to uncover the truth behind this form of fraudulent online dating. Plus the show’s commissioning editor Jon Manel tells us how the BBC...

Why did Sportsworld fail to make it to air last Saturday ? We explain. Plus, the team behind the Global News Podcast have come up with a show called The Happy Pod. Listeners tell us if this is good news and the programme’s production team explain the thinking behind it. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Last month saw a year since Russia invaded its neighbour Ukraine. The documentary Ukraine: A Year of War brought BBC correspondents together to answer listeners’ questions. In a special edition of Over To You, we hear your feedback whilst the show’s producer tells us how a programme driven by listeners’ questions is put together. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

World Questions is the programme that puts people and their questions right at the heart of the debate. Listeners often ask questions about how programmes are made. This week World Questions series producer is quizzed about a recent edition from Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. What happens behind the scenes? How and why is a particular country chosen? And what determines which audience questions are used? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World...

It is billed as a “review of the week with the latest news” - we meet the team behind Weekend and put to them your comments and feedback. Plus, where does the BBC World Service stand on issuing programme transcripts? A listener in the Philippines wants to know. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown Production for BBC World Service

Focus on Africa is changing from broadcasting live to being pre-recorded. But will this affect the quality of its reporting and how it reacts to breaking news stories? We ask BBC Africa to explain. Plus what drives technology coverage on the WS? And listeners once again query that old chestnut of background music! Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

Prince Harry has had a very public falling out with the British royal family. And he has chosen to air his grievances in a best-selling book.But should his personal opinions have been given such prominence on the BBC World Service? We question a senior news editor. Plus, was the weekly online news quiz too UK-centric? One reader thinks so. Its compiler comes to its defence! Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

An ambitious 12-part radio drama version of the 1970s novel The Dark Is Rising was broadcast across Christmas and New Year, with each episode corresponding to the ‘real time’ of the novel’s unfolding. We speak to the series’ producer and commissioner to reveal how the spooky drama was made and the challenges they faced for the adaptation. What did listeners think of the radio drama? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We begin the first show of the new year with your thoughts on what you heard on the BBC World Service over the past 12 months. What subjects in 2022 caught your attention? And what shows perhaps didn't quite hit the nail on the head? The Inquiry, the Documentary, Outside Source, the Forum and Hardtalk all fall under the spotlight. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

BBC World Service English controller Jon Zilkha lays out his vision of how the World Service will develop in 2023, and explains more about how financial cuts and the BBC‘s commitment to a “digital first” approach will affect what you hear. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

The controller of BBC World Service English, Jon Zilkha, responds to your comments, views and questions - be they favourable or critical, in the first of a two-part special edition of Over to You. It has been yet another tumultuous year all over the world and the BBC World Service’s job has been to reflect that - but also to provide insight and diversion from the current affairs agenda. So how well do you think they are fulfilling that brief? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon....

This weekend sees the WS celebrates a significant birthday - it’s become a nonagenarian! For 90 years it has been broadcasting in dozens of languages to audiences counted in the tens of millions all over the globe. We hear your memories of your listening experience and what the service means to you. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

We are doing a bit of an audit of Business Matters. How does the programme go about explaining complex business stories in a way that people can understand? Listeners tell us if they think the mix of topics and invited guests is always on the money. Plus, we need your help with your questions for the controller of BBC World Service English. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

As the Fifa World Cup in Qatar makes global headlines, the weekly documentary recently set out to discover what women in Doha have to say about their lives in this strict patriarchal society. We speak with the show’s producer and hear your comments. Plus, a listener wants to know why the BBC ran an advert for an oil company ahead of a report in the Global News Podcast on COP27. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

In a special edition, we look into the art of the news interview. Listeners ask if there is perhaps a different way of doing things? Is there too much pre-empting of what an interviewee is about to say? We are joined by one of the BBC’s senior news editors who reveals the secrets of what makes a good question. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

The Assignment recently investigated how doctors - many from Nigeria - are being lured to move to the UK, contrary to UN guidelines. We hear listeners’ comments and also from reporter Paul Kenyon about how he made this disturbing edition on what is being called “the brain drain”. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

British politics has been making headlines globally with the country’s third prime minister in only three months. We hear your thoughts on the coverage, including an episode of The Real Story: What’s behind the turmoil in British politics?. W are joined by the BBC World Service’s political correspondent Rob Watson. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

After taking a break, Americast has returned for a new series with three new presenters - and one from the programme’s previous incarnation. We hear listeners’ thoughts and speak to the team about how they report events in the US. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

Untold Legends tells the fascinating story of a long-forgotten 1920s black female tennis and basketball champion Ora Washington. We hear your comments and the producer tells us of the difficulties faced in researching the series. Plus, we continue our debate on why most news interviews do not end with the guest having the final thank you. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service

The debate around Music Life resumes as World Service's schedule reverts back to normal after recent events. We hear from listeners who are both complimentary and critical of the series and the show’s producer joins Rajan Datar in the studio to answer the comments. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown Production for the BBC World Service