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Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
UK News

BBC pledges to have more of God in programming

by Tola Mbakwe

After conducting a review of its faith based programming, the network said it wants to raise its game across all religious output, reach as many people as possible and portray the diversity of beliefs and society.

BBC presenter Roger Bolton who was consulted as part of this review told Premier it's a step in the right direction.

"If you have everyone paying for the license fee, then you have the responsibility to everybody no matter what their faith background is," he said.

"On the other hand, the majority of people of faith in this country are Christian so I would always expect Christianity to have a predominant position."

The review found that audiences of all faiths and none want to learn more about religion and ethics.

"They recognise that, if we truly want to make sense of the world, we need to understand the systems of belief that underpin it," Director general Tony Hall said.

The BBC pledged to not let Christian programming suffer under the move to give other faiths greater coverage.

However, Bolton questioned whether the network would be able to get the job done.

"It's a good policy but the question is how is it going to implemented, is the BBC fit for purpose?

"I think you're dealing with fundamentally secular journalists who need continued education, they need experts within the organisation that they can turn to.

"If there was particular controversy in a branch of Islam or Christianity who wold they turn to? There's no head of religion."

Listen to Roger Bolton speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones here:

 
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