Radio that rises above the sound and the fury

SIR – Like many others (Letters, December 17), I have been dismayed by the recent aggressive and biased reporting on both radio and television news. However, the BBC’S Radio 3 has kept me sane. Lovely music and calm, knowledgeable presenters.

Lizzie Cary

Corsley, Wiltshire

SIR – An interesting statistic in the aftermath of the general election is that only one member of the studio audience on the BBC’S Question Time admitted to voting for Boris Johnson.

Guy Mainwaring-burton

Saint John, Jersey

SIR – As a subscriber to Amazon Prime and Netflix, I note that the combined subscriptions are slightly less than the BBC licence fee, which I shall have to start paying again next year.

I have a choice in whether or not to subscribe to the streaming services, but should I default on the tax for the BBC I would have a criminal record. What is fair about that?

Nicholas Wightwick

Rossett, Denbighshire

SIR – Regarding discussion of future financing of the BBC, I urge British residents to press for public funding (the licence fee or other means). Otherwise, there is likely to be a deterioration in content and possibly the introduction of advertising.

Here in Australia, there is no licence fee and the ABC (equivalent to the BBC) – the only broadcaster that does not rely on advertisements – has faced increasing cutbacks over recent years, which have affected both television and radio.

We get many programmes from the BBC – often the only ones worth watching – and BBC radio on my tablet is one of life’s pleasures.

An ad-free BBC is worth preserving.

Jill Neville

Woy Woy, New South Wales, Australia