In Our Time

In Our Time is a live BBC radio discussion series exploring the history of ideas, presented by Melvyn Bragg since 15 October 1998. It is one of BBC Radio 4's most successful discussion programmes, acknowledged to have “transformed the landscape for serious ideas at peak listening time”. As of 9 February 2016, 750 episodes have been aired and the series attracts a weekly audience exceeding two million listeners.

The series runs weekly throughout the year on BBC Radio 4, except for a summer break of approximately eight to ten weeks between July and September. Each programme covers a specific historical, philosophical, religious, cultural or scientific topic. Melvyn Bragg hosts discussion of the week's subject featuring what Bragg has characterised as “three absolutely top-class academics” on the subject.

Bragg begins each episode with a short summary of the week's topic, then introduces the three guests. He guides the discussion along a generally chronological route. Bragg then either concludes the programme himself or invites summation remarks from one of the specialists.

The programme is normally broadcast live and unedited on Thursday mornings at 9am, lasting around 42 minutes, and is then available online.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl