Episodes

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012008102920081101 (R4)Dr Susan Blackmore challenges society's attitudes towards drink and drugs.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

Dr Susan Blackmore challenges society's attitudes towards drink and drugs.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

0220081105

Edward Stourton chairs a live discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Andrew Keen, one of the pioneering entrepreneurs of the internet boom, argues that Web 2.0 is an anarchic movement that destroys culture of real value.

Andrew Keen argues that Web 2.0 is an anarchic movement that destroys real culture.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

022008110520081108 (R4)

Edward Stourton chairs a live discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Andrew Keen, one of the pioneering entrepreneurs of the internet boom, argues that Web 2.0 is an anarchic movement that destroys culture of real value.

Andrew Keen argues that Web 2.0 is an anarchic movement that destroys real culture.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

0320081112Professor Jagdish Bhagwati argues that buying products from sweatshops helps the poor.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

032008111220081115 (R4)Professor Jagdish Bhagwati argues that buying products from sweatshops helps the poor.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

020120090909

Edward Stourton chairs a live discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Economist and writer Philippe Legrain argues that Britain should abolish all immigration controls. The movement of people across our borders should, he says, be as free as the movement of goods and services.

Legrain's views are challenged by Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, Labour MP for Keighley and Ilkeley Ann Cryer and Tony Saint, a writer and former immigration officer.

Economist Philippe Legrain argues that Britain should abolish all immigration controls.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

02012009090920090912 (R4)

Edward Stourton chairs a live discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Economist and writer Philippe Legrain argues that Britain should abolish all immigration controls. The movement of people across our borders should, he says, be as free as the movement of goods and services.

Legrain's views are challenged by Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, Labour MP for Keighley and Ilkeley Ann Cryer and Tony Saint, a writer and former immigration officer.

Economist Philippe Legrain argues that Britain should abolish all immigration controls.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

020220090916

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Kenyan economist James Shikwati argues that aid to developing countries does more harm than good. He says that aid promotes corruption and complacency, damages local economies and teaches people to be beggars.

Economist James Shikwati argues that aid to developing countries does more harm than good.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

02022009091620090919 (R4)

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Kenyan economist James Shikwati argues that aid to developing countries does more harm than good. He says that aid promotes corruption and complacency, damages local economies and teaches people to be beggars.

Economist James Shikwati argues that aid to developing countries does more harm than good.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

020320090923

Edward Stourton chairs a live discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Cambridge lawyer, Prof John Spencer, says that we should make it legal for young teenagers to have sex. He says the age of consent, fixed at 16 by the Sexual Offences Act 2003, makes criminals of half the population.

Prof John Spencer says we should make it legal for young teenagers to have sex.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

02032009092320090926 (R4)

Edward Stourton chairs a live discussion series in which guests set out their strong views on a subject, before being challenged by a panel of experts.

Cambridge lawyer, Prof John Spencer, says that we should make it legal for young teenagers to have sex. He says the age of consent, fixed at 16 by the Sexual Offences Act 2003, makes criminals of half the population.

Prof John Spencer says we should make it legal for young teenagers to have sex.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

030120100825

Edward Stourton chairs a live debate in which Professor David Marsland defends his view that the mentally and morally unfit should be sterilised. Professor David Marsland is Emeritus Scholar of Sociology and Health Sciences at Brunel University, London and Professorial Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Buckingham. He argues that the only way to prevent the abuse and neglect of children whose parents are incapable of looking after them is to stop them from being born in the first place. It should be open to police and social workers to recommend that drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally disabled should be irreversibly sterilised - and the courts should be able to enforce this. Challenging his views will be three expert witnesses including a senior social worker, a drugs charity lawyer and a moral philosopher.
Join in the debate by emailing iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text during the programme on 84844.
Producer: Peter Everett.

Professor David Marsland argues that the mentally and morally unfit should be sterilised.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

03012010082520100828 (R4)

Edward Stourton chairs a live debate in which Professor David Marsland defends his view that the mentally and morally unfit should be sterilised. Professor David Marsland is Emeritus Scholar of Sociology and Health Sciences at Brunel University, London and Professorial Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Buckingham. He argues that the only way to prevent the abuse and neglect of children whose parents are incapable of looking after them is to stop them from being born in the first place. It should be open to police and social workers to recommend that drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally disabled should be irreversibly sterilised - and the courts should be able to enforce this. Challenging his views will be three expert witnesses including a senior social worker, a drugs charity lawyer and a moral philosopher.
Join in the debate by emailing iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text during the programme on 84844.
Producer: Peter Everett.

Professor David Marsland argues that the mentally and morally unfit should be sterilised.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

030220100901

Journalist Stephen Pollard argues that we should stop spending public money on the arts. "Why should we give taxpayers' money to opera but not to football clubs or pop concerts? Subsidy encourages elitist art which prides itself on its failure to appeal to the masses; it gobbles up funds from the National Lottery which could otherwise be used to benefit the people who actually buy the lottery tickets."

Stephen Pollard's views will be challenged by Moira Sinclair of the Arts Council, James Heartfield (Director of the think-tank 'Audacity') and Neil Nisbet (professional dancer turned arts journalist and film maker). The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton.

Join in the debate by emailing iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text us during the programme on 84844.

Producer: Peter Everett.

Journalist Stephen Pollard argues that we should stop spending public money on the arts.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

03022010090120100904 (R4)

Journalist Stephen Pollard argues that we should stop spending public money on the arts. "Why should we give taxpayers' money to opera but not to football clubs or pop concerts? Subsidy encourages elitist art which prides itself on its failure to appeal to the masses; it gobbles up funds from the National Lottery which could otherwise be used to benefit the people who actually buy the lottery tickets."

Stephen Pollard's views will be challenged by Moira Sinclair of the Arts Council, James Heartfield (Director of the think-tank 'Audacity') and Neil Nisbet (professional dancer turned arts journalist and film maker). The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton.

Join in the debate by emailing iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text us during the programme on 84844.

Producer: Peter Everett.

Journalist Stephen Pollard argues that we should stop spending public money on the arts.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

030320100915

Journalist and author James Bartholomew argues that the National Health Service should be abolished. "It is not one of the best health-care systems in the world - it's actually one of the worst." His views will be challenged by Dr Sam Everington (a G.P. from the East End of London), Sir Gerry Robinson (presenter of the TV series 'Can Gerry Robinson Save The NHS?') and Nick Seddon (deputy-director of the think-tank 'Reform').
The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton. Join in the debate by emailing iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text during the programme on 84844.
Producer: Peter Everett.

Journalist James Bartholomew argues that the NHS should be abolished.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

03032010091520100918 (R4)

Journalist and author James Bartholomew argues that the National Health Service should be abolished. "It is not one of the best health-care systems in the world - it's actually one of the worst." His views will be challenged by Dr Sam Everington (a G.P. from the East End of London), Sir Gerry Robinson (presenter of the TV series 'Can Gerry Robinson Save The NHS?') and Nick Seddon (deputy-director of the think-tank 'Reform').
The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton. Join in the debate by emailing iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text during the programme on 84844.
Producer: Peter Everett.

Journalist James Bartholomew argues that the NHS should be abolished.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

04012011081020110813 (R4)Gordon Graham, Professor of Philosophy and the Arts at Princeton Theological Seminary, argues that democracy is overrated. 'There is a relentlessness about the democratic process that eliminates all possibility of dissent despite the myth to the contrary.

Professor Graham's views will be challenged by Edward Lucas (European Editor of The Economist), Professor Robert Hazell (Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London) and Professor David Chandler (of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster).

The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton. You can join in by e-mailing: iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text 84844.

Producer: Peter Everett.

Professor Gordon Graham argues that democracy is overrated.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

04022011081720110820 (R4)Professor Julian Le Grand of the London School of Economics argues that inherited wealth is bad for the nation. His views will be challenged by Madsen Pirie (Founder and President of the Adam Smith Institute), Philip Beresford (Compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List) and Faiza Shaheen (Researcher on Economic Inequality for the New Economics Foundation).

The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton. You can join in by e-mailing: iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk

or text 84844

Producer: Peter Everett.

Professor Julian Le Grand argues that inherited wealth is bad for the nation.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views

04032011083120110903 (R4)Charlie Wolf argues that the Geneva Convention should not apply to the war against terrorism. His views will be challenged by Richard Norton-Taylor (Security Editor of The Guardian), Dapo Akande (Co-Director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict) and Dr Robert Barnidge (School of Law, University of Reading).

The live studio discussion is chaired by Edward Stourton. You can join in by e-mailing: iconoclasts@bbc.co.uk or text 84844.

Producer: Peter Everett.

Charlie Wolf argues: The Geneva Convention should not apply to the war against terrorism.

Edward Stourton chairs a discussion series in which guests set out their strong views