AntiSocial

BBC Radio 4
  • 3.0 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
AntiSocial

Peace talks for the culture wars. In an era of polarisation, propaganda and pile-ons, AntiSocial offers an alternative: understanding, facts, and respect. Each week, Adam Fleming takes on a topic that's generating conflict on social media, blogs, talk shows and phone-ins and helps you work out what the arguments are really about.

  1. A potted history of the nudist movement

    FEB 24

    A potted history of the nudist movement

    This month Bianca Censori, rapper Kanye West’s wife, broke the internet after appearing on a red carpet in a transparent dress. Meanwhile, artists were upset about their life drawing class being moved in North London. This prompted a conversation about public nudity and by extension, nudism. Professor Annebella Pollen is from the University of Brighton and author of Nudism in a Cold Climate, she explains the history and significance of the nudism movement in the UK.

    7 min

  2. FEB 21

    Nudity - the great cover up?

    How comfortable are we with nudity and why does the naked body still have the power to shock? This month we’ve seen Bianca Censori break the internet after her red carpet appearance in a transparent dress and artists in north London upset about their life drawing class being moved. What actually happened and why were people so censorious about Bianca? Also, what is the history of nudism in the UK? To discuss the power of the naked body Adam is joined by Dr Victoria Bateman – an economist and author of Naked Feminism: Breaking the cult of female modesty and Stephanie Murray , a freelance journalist and contributing writer for The Atlantic. Presented by Adam Fleming Produced by Emma Close, Beth Ashmead and Clare Williamson Studio manager: Annie Gardiner Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

    53 min
  3. Signs in other languages

    FEB 18

    Signs in other languages

    How many people living in the UK do not speak English? This week a Member of Parliament for Reform UK posts a picture of Whitechapel train station in East London. On the entrance of the station, it has the name in English and then also Bengali. Rupert Lowe MP said: “The station name should be in English and English only” Dr Ben Brindle is a researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. He's been studying the data on foreign-born residents from the 2021 census. He explains how many people we're talking about when it comes to those who may not speak English well, or at all.

    7 min

  4. FEB 14

    Should signs be in English only?

    This week a Member of Parliament for Reform UK posted a picture of Whitechapel train station in East London. At the entrance of the station, it has the name in English and then also in Bengali. Rupert Lowe MP said: 'The station name should be in English and English only.' We'll find out how the station got its bilingual sign and examine the data on immigrants' language skills. How are non-English speakers accommodated in other walks of life? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Arlene Gregorius and Beth Ashmead Studio manager: Hal Haines. Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon.

    53 min
  5. Surrogacy: the law in the UK

    FEB 11

    Surrogacy: the law in the UK

    When Lily Collins - the star of the American TV show Emily in Paris - announced she’d had a baby by surrogacy, a debate played out in her comments about the pros and cons of starting a family this way. Some of the criticism alleged that surrogacy is the preserve of the rich. In many countries commercial surrogacy – where the intended parents have a contract and pay a fee to the surrogate – is legal, including the US, Mexico and Colombia. In the UK, however, only altruistic surrogacy is legal. Katarina Trimmings from the University of Aberdeen explains what this means and how the UK law on surrogacy works.

    5 min

  6. FEB 7

    Surrogacy

    An online debate about whether surrogacy should be allowed was energised this week after actress Lily Collins and her partner announced they had a baby by surrogate on Instagram. In this episode, we explore what surrogacy is like when you're not a celebrity including hearing from a woman who was a surrogate for her best friend. In the UK surrogacy is legal but it can't be done for money. We assess calls to change the law and find out where the movement in opposition to surrogacy comes from. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Beth Ashmead Latham and Emma Close Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

    53 min
  7. What is Nature?

    FEB 4

    What is Nature?

    As politicians weigh up what trade-offs with the natural world they’re willing to make in pursuit of growth, we look at how our understanding of our role within (or alongside) nature has shifted over time. Dr Andy Flack from the University of Bristol talks Adam Fleming through the various influences, changes and discoveries that have altered how we view our natural environment.

    6 min

  8. JAN 31

    Bats v trains

    Do we have to choose between conserving nature and growing the economy? The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been complaining about the £100m being spent on a tunnel to stop bats being squished by trains on the HS2 railway line. A debate about whether looking after the environment is getting in the way of developing Britain's infrastructure has ensued. Is nature conservation getting in the way of economic growth - and can there only be one winner? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett, Beth Ashmead-Latham Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Andy Mills

    54 min
See All (110)

Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Peace talks for the culture wars. In an era of polarisation, propaganda and pile-ons, AntiSocial offers an alternative: understanding, facts, and respect. Each week, Adam Fleming takes on a topic that's generating conflict on social media, blogs, talk shows and phone-ins and helps you work out what the arguments are really about.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    AntiSocial

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