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From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6276001/BBC-Radio-4s-Today-programme-named-the-most-admired-show.html

BBC Radio 4's Today programme named the 'most admired' show

BBC Radio 4's Today has been named as the ''most admired'' programme in British broadcasting by an influential viewers' group.

Published: 7:00AM BST 09 Oct 2009


The agenda-setting news programme topped a list of the 25 most respected shows of the past quarter century to mark the 25th anniversary of the Voice Of The Listener And Viewer.

Leading programme makers and broadcasters were among those who cast their votes.

The accolade comes shortly after the programme provoked the ire of broadcasting minister Ben Bradshaw who complained it was ''biased'' towards the Tories.

Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer said: "We will celebrate soberly and parsimoniously – but we are much cheered. And more than 25 years after the arrival of breakfast television Today goes from strength to strength.

"There remains a huge appetite for the programme – the occasional wart and all. Because it delivers impartial, vigorous, broad and – yes – witty journalism that is unmatched at that time of the day. By a crack team."

Presenter John Humphrys and editor Ceri Thomas collected the award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London on Wednesday night.

Second in the largely highbrow list was the BBC Proms, the world's largest music festival.

Jewel In The Crown and Inspector Morse were the top-ranked dramas, while Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue – whose long-time presenter Humphrey Lyttelton died last year – was the highest placed comedy.

Richard Lindley, chairman of voice of the Listener and Viewer, said: "These are tough times for broadcasting, with nobody yet sure how we are going to pay for high quality programmes in the future.

"VLV has always campaigned to keep British broadcasting the best in the world. We want this celebration of our 25th anniversary to encourage everyone to make sure we don't let this great British success story end."

Six million listeners tune in every week to catch the Today programme, which has been running since 1957.

The list of the 25 most admired programmes is:

1. Today (BBC Radio 4)

2. The BBC Proms (BBC Radio 3 and BBC TV)

3= The Jewel in the Crown (ITV, 1984)

3= Inspector Morse (ITV)

5= I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (BBC Radio 4)

5= Planet Earth (BBC TV, 2006)

7. Blackadder II (BBC TV, 1986)

8. Death of Yugoslavia – Wars Of Independence (BBC TV, 1995)

9. Bleak House (BBC TV, 2005)

10. Our Friends in the North (BBC TV, 1996)

11. The Singing Detective (BBC TV, 1986)

12. Death On The Rock (This Week) (ITV, 1988)

13= From our own Correspondent (BBC Radio 4)

13= Edge of Darkness (BBC TV, 1985)

15. The Spy Who Never Was (World in Action) (ITV, 1984)

16= In Our Time (BBC Radio 4)

16= 28 Up (ITV, 1984)

16= The Two Ronnies (BBC TV)

19= Dispatches (Channel 4)

19= South Bank Show (ITV)

19= State of Play (BBC TV, 2003)

19= Channel 4 News (Channel 4)

19= The Thick of It (BBC TV)

19= Newsnight (BBC TV)

25. Test Match Special (BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra)