Episodes

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01Celebrity Privacy20100505

David Aaronovitch invites two guest speakers to turn their established views on their head and debate the contrary position.

Speakers are given two weeks to research their arguments before appearing in the debate in front of an invited audience at Cambridge University. We follow the debate, but also hear about their research process and from the people who have acted as their mentors.

At the end of a programme, a vote is taken, and the speakers are invited to reflect on the experience. Has it changed their established views?

The motion is: 'Celebrities have no automatic rights to a private life.'

Speaking for the motion is TV presenter John Leslie, and against is columnist and writer Toby Young.

In an increasingly celebrity-centric society, should stars who ultimately survive on the oxygen of publicity have the right to a private life? Is a lack of clear privacy laws eroding the freedom of the press, and are celebrities hypocritical when it comes to balancing privacy with publicity - or do they need protection?

The programme is recorded in front of an invited audience at Judge Business School in Cambridge.

Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Two speakers debate the motion, 'Celebrities have no automatic rights to a private life.'.

David Aaronovitch invites guest speakers to turn their established views on their head

01Celebrity Privacy2010050520100508 (R4)

David Aaronovitch invites two guest speakers to turn their established views on their head and debate the contrary position.

Speakers are given two weeks to research their arguments before appearing in the debate in front of an invited audience at Cambridge University. We follow the debate, but also hear about their research process and from the people who have acted as their mentors.

At the end of a programme, a vote is taken, and the speakers are invited to reflect on the experience. Has it changed their established views?

The motion is: 'Celebrities have no automatic rights to a private life.'

Speaking for the motion is TV presenter John Leslie, and against is columnist and writer Toby Young.

In an increasingly celebrity-centric society, should stars who ultimately survive on the oxygen of publicity have the right to a private life? Is a lack of clear privacy laws eroding the freedom of the press, and are celebrities hypocritical when it comes to balancing privacy with publicity - or do they need protection?

The programme is recorded in front of an invited audience at Judge Business School in Cambridge.

Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Two speakers debate the motion, 'Celebrities have no automatic rights to a private life.'.

David Aaronovitch invites guest speakers to turn their established views on their head

02Terrorism20100512

Two guest speakers are invited to turn their established views on their head and debate the contrary position.

The motion is: "Terrorism can only truly be defeated by ignoring it in our everyday lives."

The debate will explore the strategies and ideologies behind the war on terror: is it real or a construct made by governments, and if so for what gains?

Speaking in favour of the motion is former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who spent almost six years in the Ministry of Defence during Tony Blair's time as Prime Minister and was responsible for much of the government's response to terrorism threats after 9/11.

Speaking against the motion is Jamie Bartlett from the think tank DEMOS, who in the past have argued that the state have overreacted to terrorism.

Richard Hollingham presents.

The programme is recorded in front of an invited audience at Judge Business School in Cambridge.

Producers: David Prest and Rose de Larrabeiti
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Richard Hollingham hosts the debate where speakers are invited to reverse their viewpoint.

David Aaronovitch invites guest speakers to turn their established views on their head

02Terrorism2010051220100515 (R4)

Two guest speakers are invited to turn their established views on their head and debate the contrary position.

The motion is: "Terrorism can only truly be defeated by ignoring it in our everyday lives."

The debate will explore the strategies and ideologies behind the war on terror: is it real or a construct made by governments, and if so for what gains?

Speaking in favour of the motion is former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who spent almost six years in the Ministry of Defence during Tony Blair's time as Prime Minister and was responsible for much of the government's response to terrorism threats after 9/11.

Speaking against the motion is Jamie Bartlett from the think tank DEMOS, who in the past have argued that the state have overreacted to terrorism.

Richard Hollingham presents.

The programme is recorded in front of an invited audience at Judge Business School in Cambridge.

Producers: David Prest and Rose de Larrabeiti
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Richard Hollingham hosts the debate where speakers are invited to reverse their viewpoint.

David Aaronovitch invites guest speakers to turn their established views on their head

03Fashion and Feminism20100526

David Aaronovitch invites two guest speakers to turn their established views on their head and debate the contrary position. Speakers are given two weeks to research their arguments before appearing in the debate in front of an invited audience at Cambridge University.

In this final programme in the series, the motion is:

"The fashion industry has been bad for feminism."

The fashion industry has produced female icons like Coco Chanel and Vivienne Westwood, but has it helped or hindered the cause of feminism?

The speakers are fashion expert, designer and former Clothes Show presenter Caryn Franklin and Feminist author, Guardian journalist and co-founder of the group Justice for Women, Julie Bindel.

The programme is recorded at Judge Business School in Cambridge.

Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Designer Caryn Franklin and author Julie Bindel debate the impact of fashion on feminism.

David Aaronovitch invites guest speakers to turn their established views on their head

03Fashion and Feminism2010052620100529 (R4)

David Aaronovitch invites two guest speakers to turn their established views on their head and debate the contrary position. Speakers are given two weeks to research their arguments before appearing in the debate in front of an invited audience at Cambridge University.

In this final programme in the series, the motion is:

"The fashion industry has been bad for feminism."

The fashion industry has produced female icons like Coco Chanel and Vivienne Westwood, but has it helped or hindered the cause of feminism?

The speakers are fashion expert, designer and former Clothes Show presenter Caryn Franklin and Feminist author, Guardian journalist and co-founder of the group Justice for Women, Julie Bindel.

The programme is recorded at Judge Business School in Cambridge.

Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Designer Caryn Franklin and author Julie Bindel debate the impact of fashion on feminism.

David Aaronovitch invites guest speakers to turn their established views on their head