Radio: 4 Loses, 3 Gains

 I was not surprised to read that yet more listeners are deserting Radio 4, especially its unlistenable Today Programme. Why anyone should inflict Today on themselves when they could be listening to good music on Radio 3 has been a mystery to me for some while – probably since I defected from 4 to 3 myself. Radio 3 has its tiresome aspects – self-conscious popularisation, endless repetitive trails, odd traces of wokery – but by and large it is surely good for the soul, whereas 4 offers only vexation of spirit, and a dreary North London semi-woke mindset that now embraces almost all its output. Back in the day, when I was a radio critic, Radio 4 was studded with well made, imaginative programmes that were worth listening to, and at worst it was a pleasant, painless backdrop to the day.  No longer. 
What the Guardian piece (linked above) doesn't mention is that, while Radio 4 haemorrhages listeners, Radio 3 has had a surge in listening, much of it no doubt at 4's expense. It would be good to think that the BBC might learn something from this, but on past form that seems highly unlikely.