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Free Thinking

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Free Thinking
Other namesNight Waves (1992–2014)
Running time60 minutes (9:00 pm – 10:00 pm)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
Hosted byVarious
Original release15 September 1992 (1992-09-15)[1] –
present
Audio formatStereophonic sound
WebsiteOfficial website

Free Thinking is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 weekly from Friday 5 April 2024.

It was previously broadcast on Radio 3 as part of its "After Dark" late night programming. The programme is a rebranded version of Night Waves, "Radio 3's flagship arts and ideas programme".[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.

Format

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  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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