Outlook (radio programme)

Outlook
GenreHuman Interest and factual
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC World Service
Hosted byJo Fidgen and Emily Webb
Edited byMunazza Khan
Recording studioBroadcasting House
Original release4 July 1966
WebsiteOutlook
PodcastOutlook Podcast Archives (2006-2016)

Outlook is a radio programme on BBC World Service that broadcasts human interest stories from across the globe.[1] It broadcasts from Monday to Friday from 1206 to 1250 GMT.

History

This programme was first broadcast on 4 July 1966 by BBC. It began as a straightforward magazine programme and was presented for more than thirty years by John Tidmarsh.[2] More recently, it has been praised for a consistent ability to uncover fascinating stories.[3] It was credited with bringing solace to Terry Waite after his abduction by Islamic extremists in Beirut in 1987.[4]

Corruption of any kind is a favourite topic on the show[5] and it has achieved recognition for its high production values alongside other BBC radio programmes.[6]

The program previously had a weekend edition titled Outlook Weekend which formerly aired on Saturdays from 2332 to 2359 GMT. It has since been replaced by an extra weekday edition of Outlook on Fridays starting on 5 April 2024 known as the Outlook Mixtape.

Presenters

The first presenters were former BBC war correspondent Bob Reid, John Tidmarsh and Colin Hamilton. Other regular presenters have included John McCarthy, Barbara Myers, John Waite, Mike Bullen, Janet Trewin, Frank Partridge, Caroline Wyatt, Frederick Dove (between 1997 and 2008),[7] Heather Payton,[8] George Arney, Lucy Ash, Rajan Datar and Matthew Bannister (between 2008 and 2018). As of November 2024, it is presented by Jo Fidgen, Asya Fouks, Mobeen Azhar, India Rakusen and Emily Webb from BBC Broadcasting House in London.

In June 2020, Abdulmalik Fahd and Helen Oyibo were listed as presenters based in Lagos, Nigeria.[9]

Past theme music

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s its theme music was "The Hellraisers" by Syd Dale.

References

  1. ^ Foreign Affairs Committee, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons (2007). Global security: the Middle East, eighth report of session 2006-07. The Stationery Office. p. 70. ISBN 9780215035844.
  2. ^ Tidmarsh, John (2010). Horrid Go-Ahead Boy. Book Guild Publishing. ISBN 9781846244452.
  3. ^ Maume, Chris (15 January 2012). "Don't Log Off, Radio 4, Monday Outlook, BBC World Service". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  4. ^ Govan, Fiona (18 October 2005). "Waite's dismay at loss of radio show that kept him alive". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  5. ^ Whitehouse, Bruce (2012). Migrants and Strangers in an African City: Exile, Dignity, Belonging. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0253000828.
  6. ^ Sterling, Christopher (2003). Encyclopedia of Radio, Volume 1. Routledge. p. 388. ISBN 1579582494.
  7. ^ "World Service Presenters- Fred Dove". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  8. ^ "World Service Presenters- Heather Payton". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  9. ^ "BBC Outlook: Home". Retrieved 8 June 2020.