Free Thinking

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Free Thinking
Other namesNight Waves (1992–2014)
Running time60 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home station BBC Radio 3 (1992–2024)
BBC Radio 4 (2024–present)
Hosted byVarious
Original release15 September 1992 (1992-09-15) [1]  –
present
Audio format Stereophonic sound
Website www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0144txn
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Excerpt from an episode
Voice of Martin Amis, recorded April 2010
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Free Thinking is a British radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 every Friday night. It was previously broadcast on Radio 3 as part of its "After Dark" late night programming.

Contents

The programme is a rebranded version of Night Waves, "Radio 3's flagship arts and ideas programme" that had been broadcast since 1992. [2] Night Waves was broadcast every Monday to Thursday evening, except during the Proms season. Radio 3 rebranded Night Waves as Free Thinking from 7 January 2014, and reduced the number of first-time broadcasts per week from four to three (plus one repeat). It had a 45 minute running time on Radio 3 (from 10pm-10:45pm). In April 2024, the show was moved to Radio 4 where it is transmitted just once a week, but with a 60 minute running time (from 9pm-10pm).

Format

Programmes usually included a mix of interviews, reviews, previews, discussions, commissioned writing and reports. Some episodes included a single interview with a prominent figure in the worlds of arts or ideas. The programme's presenters include Matthew Sweet, Philip Dodd, Rana Mitter, Shahidha Bari and Anne McElvoy.

Reception

The Guardian said in May 2010: "...the king of radio arts programmes is undoubtedly Night Waves, a programme so clever that it regularly makes me stand still and listen, usually halfway to the dishwasher with a plate in my hand...It's the desire to untangle arguments, to lift up their corners and see what lurks there. There's a gleeful range of references too...and a relish for intelligent debate." [3]

References

  1. ↑ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 15 September 1992.
  2. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 - Night Waves". BBC.
  3. ↑ Elisabeth Mahoney "Radio head: Night Waves", The Guardian (blog entry), 19 May 2010


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