Talkback (radio programme)

Creation

Talkback is BBC Radio Ulster's award-winning daily political and current-affairs phone-in programme, currently presented by William Crawley. It was launched on 8 September 1986 [1] and runs from Monday to Friday, from just after the midday news to 1:30 pm (1 pm on the Radio Foyle simulcast).

The programme's first presenter was Barry Cowan, who died in 2004, aged 56. Talkback took the Silver Award in the 2006 Sony Radio Academy Awards for the News and Current Affairs programme of the year, and the programme marked its 20th anniversary on Friday 7 September 2006.

David Dunseith

Barry Cowan was replaced as presenter in 1989 by David Dunseith[2] fronting the programme for twenty years.[3]

When he stepped down in 2009 the then BBC Director-General, Mark Thompson, said of Dunseith and Talkback "for 20 years, David provided a safe platform for people to air their views and appreciate the perspectives of others. He did this with tenacity, encyclopaedic knowledge and patience; putting the audience at the heart of his programme and winning loyalty and respect from all sides of the community."[4]

Until March 2009, just after Saturday's midday news headlines, he also presented the Best of Talkback which took a look back at the top stories covered by the Talkback team that previous week. The Saturday edition lasted one hour.

Talkback has been described by The Guardian as "an alternative peace process", and by Stephen Coleman, Director of Studies at The Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government, as "a public sounding board which reaches a larger listening audience than any other European phone-in."

Later Presenters

Wendy Austin succeeded David Dunseith as presenter of the programme in 2009. She, in turn, was succeeded by William Crawley in November 2014.[5]

References
  1. "BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback show is 30 today".
  2. "BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback show is 30 today".
  3. "David Dunseith".
  4. "David Dunseith".
  5. "William Crawley excited to take over Talkback on Radio Ulster". 27 October 2014.

Later Presenters

Wendy Austin succeeded David Dunseith as presenter of the programme in 2009. She, in turn, was succeeded by William Crawley in November 2014.[1]

  1. "William Crawley excited to take over Talkback on Radio Ulster". 27 October 2014.
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