BBC RADIO LEICESTER: NOT ASHAMED

An unexpected phone call this morning from Jonathan Lampon, who hosts the 1200-1400 slot on BBC Radio Leicester. He leaves a message saying that he’s going to be talking about the “Not Ashamed” campaign on his show today and he’d like me to provide on inter faith response on air. Thank goodness I missed the call and he left a message because I have no idea what the “Not Ashamed” campaign is!

I call back and leave a message saying that I’d gladly speak about this – though not before I look up “Not Ashamed” online and speak to Julie-Ann Heath and Barry Naylor (my friends and contacts at the Cathedral), who give me a bit of a steer on the topic.

In the message I leave for Jonathan, I say that if I don’t hear from him by 1100, I’ll call back. I do so several times, but never get past his voicemail. But I’m not going to let thqat get in my way, faithful reader! Since BBC Radio Leicester is so close, I walk down there, arriving about 1150. I present my card at reception, introduce myself, explain why I’m there. I am shortly introduced to a couple of production staff, then ushered into the waiting room for the studio. I’m in there for 1200 and am told I’ll be on air just after 1230. Listening to the show, I’m surprised at the prominence that this topic is being given. I get the impression that religion or belief is not Jonathan’s specialist subject (he has a bit of trouble pronouncing “Bahá'í” when he’s listing religions followed locally on air – it comes out something different both times he tries. When it comes to doing the same list again later in the programme, he leaves that one out). When he emerges from the studio to introduce himself, I ask if he knows that we’ve just had National Inter Faith Week, with our exhibition in Highcross. When he says he knew nothing about it, I show him a few photos on my phone.

Jonathan helps me settle in and has me put on the studio headphones ("cans" as we call thm in the profession) to check for level. He explains that I don't have to keep them on during the broadcast, which reduces the Allan Partridge vibe I'm getting into.

Shortly after 1230, Allan Hayes (of the Secular Society) arrives. We’ll be sharing this slot. That’s appropriate, since the “Not Ashamed” campaign seems to be a response to the perceived marginalisation of Christianity on two fronts: increasing secularisation of society and the plurality of faiths in modern Britain. Allan is asked to comment on the former; I, the latter. Jonathan’s questions are fair and don’t go for the lowest common denominator, as often happens in these situations. It’s a very convivial and civilised quarter of an hour (things usually are when Allan and I meet up). There’s certainly no sense of conflict between the two of us. Hopefully, Allan and I will meet up later this evening at Philosophy in the Pub in the Swan and Rushes, Infirmary Square. I make sure that gets mentioned on air too.