The Forum (radio programme)
| File:The Forum (BBC World Service) logo.jpg | |
| Running time | Programme is broadcast in two parts, 26.5 minutes and 23 minutes |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC World Service |
| Hosted by | Bridget Kendall |
| Website | The Forum main website |
| Podcast | The Forum podcast The Forum 60 second idea podcast |
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The Forum is the BBC World Service's flagship discussion programme. It brings together prominent thinkers from different disciplines and different parts of the world to try and create stimulating discussion, informed by highly distinct academic, artistic and cultural backgrounds.
Format
Each episode of The Forum brings together three thinkers, leading figures from different academic and artistic disciplines. A typical line-up might include a scientist, a writer or other artist, and a philosopher or cultural thinker.
Each guest is questioned by the presenter about their latest big idea, a topic area which is of particular interest to them and in which they are a particular expert. During the course of each section the other guests are invited to contribute with criticisms, insights and support of their own.
Sixty Second Idea
Each week one of the guests is invited to present an idea in just sixty seconds which they believe will make the world a better place. These ideas are not always practicable, but they are frequently entertaining and insightful. The 60 Second Idea and the discussion it produces is released as a podcast[1].
History
The first episode of the show was broadcast on the BBC World Service 6 April 2008. It has been broadcast every week since then.
Presenters
The programme's presenter, who has been part of the show since its inception, is BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall.
Guest presenters
Distribution
The Forum is broadcast through the BBC World Service and its international broadcasting partners. The show is also available online, to download and as a podcast[2]. There is also an online archive of all previous shows[3].
Previous Guests
Previous guests include:
- Nobel Prize winning biologist John Sulston[4]
- Political scientist Joseph Nye[5]
- Former Afghan finance minister Ashraf Ghani[6]
- British astrophysicist Lord Martin Rees[7]
- Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie[8]
- Canadian writer Naomi Klein[9]
- Egyptian writer Alaa Al Aswany[10]
- Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah[11]
- Argentinian architect Cesar Pelli[12]
- US psychologist Steven Pinker[13]
- South African judge Albie Sachs[14]
- Polish Canadian writer Eva Hoffman[15]
- British philosopher John Gray[16]
- Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy[17]
Notes and references
- ^ The Forum Sixty Second Idea podcast
- ^ The Forum Podcast
- ^ The Forum Online Archive
- ^ John Hulston's appearance on the 10/08/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Joseph Nye's appearance on the 11/05/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Dr. Ashraf Ghani's appearance on the 01/06/2006 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Lord Martin Rees' appearance on the 1st episode of The Forum on 06/04/2008 retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Chimanda Ngozi Adichie's appearance on the 13/04/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Namoi Klein's appearance on the 25/05/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Alaa Al Aswany's appearance on the 20/04/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Kwame Anthony Appiah's appearance on the 06/06/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Cesar Pelli's appearance on the 29/06/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Steven Pinker's appearance on the 15/06/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Albie Sach's appearance on the 15/06/2009 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Eva Hoffman's appearance on the 04/10/2009 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ John Gray's appearance on the 13/07/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009
- ^ Marcus du Sautoy's appearance on the 27/04/2008 episode of The Forum retrieved on 28/10/2009