Radio 4 is choked with religion, but greedy CofE wants even more

The Church of England is continuing to press the BBC to appoint a “religion editor” to ensure that the Corporation’s religious output is what it calls “a trusted guide for people of faith and those without”.

The Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester and the Church of England's senior spokesman on communications, made the call in a response to the BBC Trust's review on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and digital station Radio 7, which is to be rebranded as Radio 4 Extra.

Usually the Church of England’s tactic is to condemn the BBC for its neglect of religious issues, but on this occasion it praises its commitment to "high quality radio that explores ethical and religious themes".

Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society, said: “No wonder the Church is happy with the amount of religion on BBC radio, it is quite disproportionate. The amount of Radio 4’s resources that are poured into religious programming, both directly and indirectly, probably outruns any other genre, except perhaps news. There are religious programmes every single day of the week – sometimes several in one day. This does not reflect the nature of the society that these channels are supposed to serve.

“Religion has Radio 4 in a headlock and it isn’t going to let go. But enough is enough, and the BBC is looking to make cuts. It should not spend another penny on religious programmes and, indeed, it should be looking to cut some of them back.”

The NSS has made its own submission (PDF) which may not go down so well in the “there can never be too much religion” national broadcaster. Submission for the BBC Trust service review of Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7