BBC Radio 3 - Controllers

Controllers

  • 1967–71 Howard Newby
An author, he published four novels during his time at the Third Programme/Radio 3, winning the first Booker Prize for fiction in 1969. Oversaw the implementation of Broadcasting in the Seventies and an increase in the amount of classical music on Radio 3.
  • 1972–78 Stephen Hearst
Previously head of BBC's television music and arts department, Hearst attempted to make Radio 3 more accessible to a wider audience by introducing drivetime and request programmes as well as themed weekends. Some of these ventures were poorly viewed by critics.
  • 1979–87 Ian McIntyre
Previously controller of Radio 4, McIntyre faced budgetary cuts that closed several orchestras and uncomfortable relations with the Music Division. The possibility of future competition to Radio 3 also resulted in more programmes viewed as populist by critics in an attempt to retain listeners.
  • 1987–92 John Drummond
Previously an administrator for events including the Edinburgh Festival, Drummond introduced repeats of classic drama performances and celebrations of artists anniversaries. His work also included programmes targeting fringe genres and ambitious outside broadcasts.
  • 1992–98 Nicholas Kenyon
Kenyon, previously chief music critic of The Observer, made many controversial decisions relating to accessibility to the service in light of the launch of Classic FM including new drive time programmes. However several celebrated programmes and series of programmes were launched and Radio 3 began 24 hour broadcasting.
  • 1998–present Roger Wright
Wright has been notable in trying to ensure all of the stations musical genres are represented equally and for "smartening up" programmes. While some of these measures are being recognised by the BBC and Government, the audience numbers for the station began falling and attempts by Wright to make programmes more accessible and predictable was met with complaints from loyal listeners.

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