THE PEOPLE AND RELIGION

TV.Last week I briefly re viewed the different types of religious programmes during the past year and suggested that the most interesting hopes of effective religious television were to be found in the informal Sunday 7 o'clock programmes of B.B.C. and 1.T.V.
Let me first make one rather delicate point. Most religious television is entrusted to the Roman Collar. No one doubts that from the clergy the most authoritative and competent religious message comes nor, I hope, am I prejudiced in saying that for some reason the Catholic Roman Collar makes a more natural, intimate and human impression than the non-Catholic. But the fact remains that normally it is a barrier to many viewers and mostly to those whom one wants to interest.
" Religion" itself is a barrier. But while " religion " is a barrier, religious problems. the relations between religion and life, whatso to speak -makes this or that interesting person (scientist, athlete, novelist, factory hand) tick as a person to whom religion is allimportant, these things are of the
utmost interest to viewers, SO many pf whom have a subconscious sense of miming something vital in their lives, TT is essential, however, that the a viewer should. as it were, be caught by the interest of what is being said or done before he can turn off Now we have in this country an infinity of intrinsically interesting social activities, the heart of which is the Christian faith and ideal, and we have millions of men. women and children in every walk of life who would be other than they are but fur the spiritual conviction which is at the back of their apparently secular lives. Every week books appear in which religious faith or views about religion and religious activi
ties is a factor. Plays and films often have religious dimes, corn• merits, problems. And, leaving this country, vital and controversial religious matters. political, aesthetic, social, are often even more in the picture.
Surely here is a rich quarry which could be imaginatively exploited in the visual TV medium, producing actual programmes of far greater value and interest than what is currently being offered.
In a word, TV has got to learn that religion is not just a special subject run by the parson, but a vital factor in the life of the world
and its people. M.B.
RADIO. Usually about this time ' of year we start thinking hack on the programmes we have enjoyed during the past 12 months. Just now my mind has become a complete blank and I can remember nothing really outstanding.
It has, however, been personally eventful because I paid my first formal visit to the B.B.C. and saw how " Woman's Hour " was prepared and put on the air. It was not unlike visiting a convent. Rev. Mother, in the person of the editor, Miss Scott-Moncrieff, came down to see me and I felt I ought to give her a curtsey. The second in command. Miss Hart, was just like many headmistresses I have known. There was that feeling of selflessness that one gets in convents. Pleasing the listeners to " Women's Hour" was what they want to do more than anything.
I must not forget, of course, that there seem to have been a great many radio celebrations one way or another. The Third Programme's tenth birthday, Women's Hour's tenth birthday, the thousandth or maybe millionth edition of " The Archers." They are all very popular and we like to hear them, but how nice it would he to have a really novel radio programme in 1957.
There is a new programme listed. Guess what kind'? A new panel game.
Joan Newton.