Jeremy Vine is one of the best-known broadcasters in the UK. Millions of people tune in to hear him – and talk to him – on Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 every day. He opens up about some of the many decisions he’s made during a nearly 40-year broadcasting career. What should he have done when John Prescott gave him an off-camera scoop at the 1995 Labour Conference (and what did he do?) How do he and his team decide what goes into his shows? Why did he decide that the next thing for him was writing a crime novel (Murder on Line One is out 24 April)? And WHY did he really decide to do Strictly? Listen in as one of our most versatile and best-loved broadcasters lets us in on some of his innermost thought processes.
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Jeremy on decisions
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Role of Relevance
Jeremy believes staying relevant is fundamental to purpose and mental health. Being behind a microphone affirms one’s connection to the world.
The Ethics of Impartiality
Impartiality at the BBC isn’t simple. Jeremy differentiates between values, which are moral principles, and views, which are political stances—he insists on upholding the former while avoiding the latter.
Decision-Making Behind the Mic
Jeremy describes the balance between importance and interest when curating show content. Some stories, while frivolous on the surface, open vital conversations.
Accidents Make Careers
Vine describes his BBC career as a “series of accidents,” from being shipped off to Africa to stumbling into the coveted Radio 2 slot after a BBC legend was unceremoniously retired.
Taking Listeners Seriously
From a 73-year-old rape survivor’s call to a grassroots campaign for children in care, the audience shapes the show—a reminder of the emotional trust listeners place in radio.
Storytelling as Catharsis
Jeremy’s novel Murder on Line One merges fiction, personal grief, and professional experience, exploring a fallen presenter investigating crimes linked to his radio show.
QUOTES:
“TV is an occasion. Radio is a conversation. Television is squash. Radio is snooker.”
“You can have values. You just can’t have views.”
“If both the presenter and the producer are sane, the show is boring. If both are crazy, we get taken off the air.”
“Radio proves to yourself that you’re still slightly relevant.”
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction: “TV is squash. Radio is snooker.”
02:00 – Jeremy’s manic morning routine and show preparation
04:20 – The power of radio and its fiercely loyal audience
07:10 – Relevance as a life force and decision-making in show content
10:35 – Values vs. views: Navigating BBC impartiality
13:00 – From Africa correspondent to Radio 2 host: Career pivots
16:15 – The Prescott tape dilemma: Should it air or not?
19:40 – What makes a good producer and working with unpredictable teams
22:15 – Real stories that resonate: The hold-all campaign for children in care
24:00 – Writing Murder on Air One: A novel rooted in personal experience
26:40 – Strictly Come Dancing, punk bands, and letting your real self show
28:30 – No retirement, only beginnings: Jeremy’s outlook on the future
REFERENCES
- BBC Radio 2 – Jeremy’s flagship show with 7M+ listeners
- Channel 5 – Current affairs show taking live calls
- Newsnight / Panorama / The Today Programme – Previous roles
- John Prescott – A story of journalistic discretion
- Murder on Line One – Jeremy Vine’s novel (Out April 24)
- Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman’s whodunnit series
- Strictly Come Dancing (2015) – Vine’s dance floor debut
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The Art of Deciding has been featured in The Guardian Podcast Newsletter, Podnews, The List, and the Podbible newsletter, amongst others.
The Art of Deciding is produced by Podcart – https://www.podcart.co.uk/
Series Producer: Jayne Morgan
Bruce Whitfield is an award winning journalist, best-selling author and speaker
