Post by Teddy Bear on May 10, 2008 20:07:23 GMT
While we all have varied views as to what we see most wrong about the BBC, it's interesting to hear a perspective that's completely different.
Lord Robert Winston: BBC leadership hasn't shown spine
Last Updated: 2:24AM BST 10/05/2008
The BBC's expert on the human body tells Mary Riddell how he fears "cowardice" is ripping out its heart.
Enter God. Or rather, God's imitator, as Lord Winston once described himself.
His face peeks round a wisteria-framed front door. He looks nervous.
Robert Winston and I have a bit of history to discuss, of which more later.
Since we last met, he has been buffing up his earthly impression of the Almighty.
Britain's leading fertility expert and polymath has a newly created chair of science and society at Imperial College, London and his Child Of Our Time series – the eighth – has returned to BBC1.
His work in the House of Lords –for which he has just been nominated "Peer of the Year" – has focused recently on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which goes back to the Commons on Monday.
Lord Winston, who accused the Scottish Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien of "lying" in his claims about the "grotesque procedures" involved in embryo research, does not resile from his attack.
"Of course not. I'm afraid [he] was untruthful."
As for the Bill itself, he has an unexpectedly maverick approach. On human-animal hybrids, one of the most controversial issues, he says: "I'm really worried about saying this to you, because I know I shall get stick from my colleagues.
"But if the hybrid embryo thing doesn't go through, it in no way shakes the body of science. It's not [about] embryos that can survive, or viable monsters. Nothing like that.
"It's a nice adjunct; a useful extra. But if we don't have that resource, it won't fundamentally alter the science of stem cell biology."
Lord Winston has grave reservations about another disputed clause. "I'm very unhappy about 'saviour siblings'."
His concern is that children selected to provide treatment for a sick brother or sister may be put under undue pressure to give bone marrow or organs.
So it wouldn't break his heart if the measure was voted down? "Absolutely not," he says.
On abortion, he is resolute. The 24-week limit should stay, on the grounds that women do not undertake terminations lightly.
A rationalist and a practising Jew, Lord Winston believes the aggression of godless colleagues is entrenching the stand-off between religion and science.
He abhors "the arrogant scientist saying: 'If you don't believe what I believe, you're a bit stupid.'".
As a prime example of "a hugely inappropriate response to religious views", Lord Winston cites Richard Dawkins's book, The God Delusion.
"I like Richard, but I think that book is an error of judgment."
Today his chief target is the BBC and, in particular, its director general, Mark Thompson, whom he accuses of "cowardice".
In the view of Lord Winston, whose own shows draw big ratings, the licence fee and the whole future of the corporation as a public service broadcaster is now in grave doubt.
"What's happening to news and factual broadcasting is hugely alarming. I know the director general is under huge pressure, but there's an element of cowardice in how the BBC has been led. It hasn't shown spine."
One example he gives of spinelessness is the departure of the BBC1 controller, Peter Fincham, over a trailer showing misleading footage of the Queen.
"Of course Peter made an error. But if he was going to resign, it should have been because there isn't enough factual programming on BBC1.
"I don't think Mark Thompson has led well from the top. It's not just my perception. Many of the scientific community feel very, very uneasy, and the news people clearly do."
The shift towards entertainment is, he says "a massive error of judgment that will come back to haunt the BBC".
Though Lord Winston singles out Radio Three and Radio Four for praise, he thinks the future of the BBC is "massively at risk".
Thompson, he says, "has got to respond to the criticisms he knows we've been making".
Should he go? "I don't know. It's been very difficult for people like me. We don't want to cause [the BBC's] demise."
In part, Lord Winston blames the corporation's parlous state on events surrounding the Hutton Inquiry.
"Ever since Greg Dyke resigned [as director general], the BBC has been on the back foot.
"The BBC was made to grovel in a way it shouldn't have had to. Consequently, BBC1 has become much more populist, content has suffered, and having a licence fee is becoming more and more difficult to justify."
Lord Winston partly blames Tony Blair's old spin doctor for the craven BBC. "I think Alastair Campbell did massive damage to public service broadcasting."
This takes us back to when we first met. Seven years ago, Lord Winston did an interview with me in which he demolished the NHS.
After a painful media and political furore, believed to have included a roasting from Mr Campbell, it all ended well for Lord Winston.
Mr Blair, he says now, rang him to say he was going on television "to announce a massive investment of cash", and asked him: "Would that satisfy what you're trying to say about funding?"
The resulting pledge of billions and funding parity with Europe earned Lord Winston the accolade of the man who saved the NHS.
"I think Tony did that really," he says modestly. Is he happy with the new-look health service? It is better, he says, but still far from perfect.
His job at Imperial College is to make science accessible.
Schoolchildren will be taught in university laboratories by teachers on Lord Winston's payroll, and the results monitored in long-term studies.
Though some call him prickly, Lord Winston has a genuine rapport with the young.
In Child Of Our Time, he laments the rise of celebrity culture.
But isn't he part of it, with a profile higher than Beyonce's and his advert for Omega-rich "clever milk"?
"I'm not sure the milk thing was a wholly wise thing to do," he says.
Besides, he hates being recognised.
Still, needs must. Lord Winston, unlikely to abandon controversy or the public arena any time soon, will remain a reluctant celebrity. Just like God.
Last Updated: 2:24AM BST 10/05/2008
The BBC's expert on the human body tells Mary Riddell how he fears "cowardice" is ripping out its heart.
Enter God. Or rather, God's imitator, as Lord Winston once described himself.
His face peeks round a wisteria-framed front door. He looks nervous.
Robert Winston and I have a bit of history to discuss, of which more later.
Since we last met, he has been buffing up his earthly impression of the Almighty.
Britain's leading fertility expert and polymath has a newly created chair of science and society at Imperial College, London and his Child Of Our Time series – the eighth – has returned to BBC1.
His work in the House of Lords –for which he has just been nominated "Peer of the Year" – has focused recently on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which goes back to the Commons on Monday.
Lord Winston, who accused the Scottish Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien of "lying" in his claims about the "grotesque procedures" involved in embryo research, does not resile from his attack.
"Of course not. I'm afraid [he] was untruthful."
As for the Bill itself, he has an unexpectedly maverick approach. On human-animal hybrids, one of the most controversial issues, he says: "I'm really worried about saying this to you, because I know I shall get stick from my colleagues.
"But if the hybrid embryo thing doesn't go through, it in no way shakes the body of science. It's not [about] embryos that can survive, or viable monsters. Nothing like that.
"It's a nice adjunct; a useful extra. But if we don't have that resource, it won't fundamentally alter the science of stem cell biology."
Lord Winston has grave reservations about another disputed clause. "I'm very unhappy about 'saviour siblings'."
His concern is that children selected to provide treatment for a sick brother or sister may be put under undue pressure to give bone marrow or organs.
So it wouldn't break his heart if the measure was voted down? "Absolutely not," he says.
On abortion, he is resolute. The 24-week limit should stay, on the grounds that women do not undertake terminations lightly.
A rationalist and a practising Jew, Lord Winston believes the aggression of godless colleagues is entrenching the stand-off between religion and science.
He abhors "the arrogant scientist saying: 'If you don't believe what I believe, you're a bit stupid.'".
As a prime example of "a hugely inappropriate response to religious views", Lord Winston cites Richard Dawkins's book, The God Delusion.
"I like Richard, but I think that book is an error of judgment."
Today his chief target is the BBC and, in particular, its director general, Mark Thompson, whom he accuses of "cowardice".
In the view of Lord Winston, whose own shows draw big ratings, the licence fee and the whole future of the corporation as a public service broadcaster is now in grave doubt.
"What's happening to news and factual broadcasting is hugely alarming. I know the director general is under huge pressure, but there's an element of cowardice in how the BBC has been led. It hasn't shown spine."
One example he gives of spinelessness is the departure of the BBC1 controller, Peter Fincham, over a trailer showing misleading footage of the Queen.
"Of course Peter made an error. But if he was going to resign, it should have been because there isn't enough factual programming on BBC1.
"I don't think Mark Thompson has led well from the top. It's not just my perception. Many of the scientific community feel very, very uneasy, and the news people clearly do."
The shift towards entertainment is, he says "a massive error of judgment that will come back to haunt the BBC".
Though Lord Winston singles out Radio Three and Radio Four for praise, he thinks the future of the BBC is "massively at risk".
Thompson, he says, "has got to respond to the criticisms he knows we've been making".
Should he go? "I don't know. It's been very difficult for people like me. We don't want to cause [the BBC's] demise."
In part, Lord Winston blames the corporation's parlous state on events surrounding the Hutton Inquiry.
"Ever since Greg Dyke resigned [as director general], the BBC has been on the back foot.
"The BBC was made to grovel in a way it shouldn't have had to. Consequently, BBC1 has become much more populist, content has suffered, and having a licence fee is becoming more and more difficult to justify."
Lord Winston partly blames Tony Blair's old spin doctor for the craven BBC. "I think Alastair Campbell did massive damage to public service broadcasting."
This takes us back to when we first met. Seven years ago, Lord Winston did an interview with me in which he demolished the NHS.
After a painful media and political furore, believed to have included a roasting from Mr Campbell, it all ended well for Lord Winston.
Mr Blair, he says now, rang him to say he was going on television "to announce a massive investment of cash", and asked him: "Would that satisfy what you're trying to say about funding?"
The resulting pledge of billions and funding parity with Europe earned Lord Winston the accolade of the man who saved the NHS.
"I think Tony did that really," he says modestly. Is he happy with the new-look health service? It is better, he says, but still far from perfect.
His job at Imperial College is to make science accessible.
Schoolchildren will be taught in university laboratories by teachers on Lord Winston's payroll, and the results monitored in long-term studies.
Though some call him prickly, Lord Winston has a genuine rapport with the young.
In Child Of Our Time, he laments the rise of celebrity culture.
But isn't he part of it, with a profile higher than Beyonce's and his advert for Omega-rich "clever milk"?
"I'm not sure the milk thing was a wholly wise thing to do," he says.
Besides, he hates being recognised.
Still, needs must. Lord Winston, unlikely to abandon controversy or the public arena any time soon, will remain a reluctant celebrity. Just like God.