Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards What next for the BBC?
Apr 2, 2026
A probing look at the BBC’s future under a new director general and whether senior managers will be accountable for output. Sharp concerns about GB News and Ofcom’s enforcement. Reflections on the decline of long-form political programming and lazy commissioning. Questions about talent departures, institutional complacency and what public-service broadcasting should actually do next.
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Make Ofcom Enforce Impartiality Rules
- Enforce and clarify impartiality rules and make Ofcom act decisively against partisan broadcasters.
- Richards urges appointing a new Ofcom chair ready to enforce laws and, if necessary, have government clarify ambiguous rules.
In The Print Shows Murdoch's 1980s Battle
- Richards recounts the play In The Print about the 1980s print workers' dispute with Rupert Murdoch.
- He uses Brenda Dean's fight to illustrate media power shifts and Murdoch's temporary triumph over print unions.
BBC Needs A Clear Public Service Mission
- The BBC needs a fresh public-service mission distinct from streaming and commercial models.
- Steve Richards argues Matt Britton must combine commercial experience with deep thinking about a publicly funded broadcaster's unique role.