Listening Diary 05/01/11

This week, I listened to The Infinite Monkey Cage (Radio 4 06/12/10). The programme is presented by scientist Professor Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince. In this particular episode, the presenters, along with guests Alexi Sayle, Julian Baggini and Professor Raymond, discuss the topic "Is Philosophy Dead?" The format of the programme is fairly loose, as the presenters and guests discuss the topic freely, with Ince acting as the chair interjecting only when necessary to move the topic along. The guests for the programme are chosen because of their political, scientific or philosophical background but all of them are excellent speakers and the overall theme of the programme is entertainment. I would suggest that this programme, as with many of the programmes in a similar slot on Radio 4, are aimed at a younger audience than most of the rest of the schedule and act as a way of attracting that younger audience to the station. I would also suggest that because it stands out in such a manner, it may well have a large podcast audience who do not normally listen to Radio 4.