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Live broadcast has been part and parcel of radio since its inception. We go behind the scenes of BBC OS to hear how live radio is made daily on one of the flagship news programmes of the BBC World Service. Breaking news is fast moving, at one moment there is a vacuum of facts and the next a deluge, all of which must be packaged and presented to inform the public responsibly. Presenter Qasa Alom speaks to Danny Savage, BBC News Northern England correspondent, who reported live on location in the aftermath of the October 2025 Manchester synagogue attack. A familiar companion for radio sports fans is the voice of the commentator. Building plays word by word, adding colour, spitting stats and giving words to pure emotions, a live radio sporting event does not exist without commentary. Qasa speaks to BBC Sport commentator John Bennett, from Morocco where he is covering the Africa Cup of Nations. We also hear from listeners about their memories listening to live radio. Presenter: Qasa Alom Producers: Jill Achineku and Emily Uchida Finch 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

The proposed switch from BBC Sounds to a new BBC app has been weighing heavily on the minds of some listeners. Many of you have been unhappy. Well it seems listener power has prevailed and there has been an important change! We bring you the BBC’s update. Plus , the true crime podcast series The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby, is about one apparently pregnant young woman’s desperate lie. We speak with its presenter Sarah Treleaven. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

A number of journalists working for BBC Russian have been labelled “foreign agents”, severely restricting their professional and private lives. We hear from the editor of BBC News's Russian service about the impact. Plus, a listener has been in touch to praise a moving eyewitness report on Newsday. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

The documentary Donald Trump’s New World Order set out to explain the reasons behind these turbulent times. Presenter Jamie Coomarasamy reveals how he overcame the problems of staying up to date when the Trump Administration seems to be announcing new policies day by day? We hear your views. Presenter Rajan Datar Producer Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for BBC World Service

We hear listeners’ reactions to the news that in the near future BBC Sounds is to end for international online listeners, and a new BBC app is to launch in its place. We put your points and questions to the BBC and, with the help of a media expert, investigate what this might all mean for you. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC

In a special edition, Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th US president was comprehensively covered by all BBC World Service news shows, including a special edition of the Global News Podcast. But what challenges do the Trump presidency present for journalists, including the BBC’s news teams? We’re joined by a senior news editor and we hear listeners’ feedback. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

For our first show of the new year, four listeners from Brazil, the US, the UK and Italy set the agenda for what they would like from the BBC World Service in the coming year. Do they want different types of programmes, does news fatigue affect them, and how much do they feel the BBC World Service is still needed in 2025? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

It was billed as too close to call right up to the night itself, but in the end the US presidential election saw a clear victory for the Republicans. We hear listeners' views on World Service coverage of the vote, and are joined in the studio by the team behind the election night show America Decides. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

We hear listeners’ bugbears about one aspect of news programmes that really annoys them: why do live interviewees sometimes get abruptly cut short by the interviewer? We go behind the scenes to reveal the pressures of live news production with one of the BBC’s news editors, Karen Martin. Plus, a listener tells us what he likes so much about his favourite programme: Weekend. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

Stumped is a weekly digest of news, features and debate from the world of cricket - but are you bowled over by it? We hear your comments and are joined by one of its hosts, Alison Mitchell. Plus, a listener asks why, when listening online, the volume level changes so much? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

The Reith Lectures are an annual tradition, started in 1948 by the BBC’s first director general. In a special edition, we hear your thoughts on the programme, and we’re joined by the man who gave this year’s address. We also talk to the BBC executive who commissioned it. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

In a specially extended edition, we have Jon Zilkha, the controller of BBC World Service English, in the studio to answer listeners’ questions about what they’ve heard on the World Service in the past year. Some are happy - others feel there’s work to be done! Topics include news coverage of the Middle East conflict, proposed schedule changes and the BBC’s long-term finances. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

We hear listeners’ thoughts on the BBC World Service’s reporting of the ongoing events in the Middle East. We ask if the war in Ukraine really has dropped out of the news headlines and discuss the issue of “news fatigue” with the head of journalism at World Service English, Simon Peeks. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service

We examine arts programming on the BBC World Service as we talk to the teams behind two of its long-running shows: In the Studio and The Cultural Frontline. Do you enjoy these arts series? Or does arts programming in general leave you cold? Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service