Free Thinking

Free Thinking
Other names	Night Waves (1992–2014)
Running time	60 minutes (9:00 pm – 10:00 pm)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
Home station	BBC Radio 4
Hosted by	Various
Original release	15 September 1992 –; present
Audio format	Stereophonic sound
Website	Official website

Excerpt from an episode

Voice of Martin Amis, recorded April 2010

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Free Thinking is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 weekly from Friday 5 April 2024.

It was previously broadcast on Radio 3 as part of its "After Dark" late night programming. The programme is a rebranded version of Night Waves, "Radio 3's flagship arts and ideas programme".^[2] Night Waves was broadcast every Monday to Thursday evening, except during the Proms season. Radio 3 rebranded Night Waves as Free Thinking from 7 January 2014, and reduced the number of first-time broadcasts per week from four to three (plus one repeat). It had a 45 minute running time on Radio 3. In April 2024 the show was moved to Radio 4 where it is transmitted just once a week, but with a 60 minute running time.

Format

Programmes usually included a mix of interviews, reviews, previews, discussions, commissioned writing and reports. Some episodes included a single interview with a prominent figure in the worlds of arts or ideas. The programme's presenters include Matthew Sweet, Philip Dodd, Rana Mitter, Shahidha Bari and Anne McElvoy.

Reception

The Guardian said in May 2010: "...the king of radio arts programmes is undoubtedly Night Waves, a programme so clever that it regularly makes me stand still and listen, usually halfway to the dishwasher with a plate in my hand...It's the desire to untangle arguments, to lift up their corners and see what lurks there. There's a gleeful range of references too...and a relish for intelligent debate."^[3]