I’m deeply honoured to receive the Royal Television Society 2026 Special Award. Thank you RTS and many thanks to the great BBC team in Moscow.
On Russian state TV tonight, a headline (until recently) you wouldn't have expected to see. "USA-EU: Cold War." Moscow clearly enjoying tensions between Washington & Brussels, as well as the new US national security strategy that's more critical of the EU than of Russia.
45 years ago I made a pitch for the Director-General job. Didn’t get it – mind you, I was only 13. But I did get a reply from Ian Trethowan, who was DG at the time. All these years later I’m proud to work for the BBC.
This morning I played the Brahms Lullaby on ‘Broadcasting House’ on BBC Radio 4. Wishing everyone, everywhere calmer, more peaceful times.
My musical tribute to Pauline Collins who has died aged 85. She was brilliant and award-winning in the film Shirley Valentine. But I will always remember her as parlourmaid Sarah Moffit in the 1970s ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs.
Prunella Scales, who has died aged 93, was superb as Sybil in Fawlty Towers and in so many other roles. Here’s my musical tribute to a wonderful actress.
In Vladivostok Vladimir Putin warned that foreign troops in Ukraine would be viewed by Russia as “legitimate targets.” (But what, I asked his spokesman, about North Korean troops in Russia?) Our report from Vladivostok. Thanks to the Moscow team.
Russian state TV reacts positively to President Trump showing off a photo of him & Putin in Alaska. “Donald Trump’s impressions of the Alaska summit haven’t lost their shine…” the reporter says.
My dad loved the music of John Denver. His songs were always playing on long family car journeys. So, to accompany images from my recent trip to Alaska, I play John Denver’s Alaska and Me.
A legend of children's television has passed. Biddy Baxter was editor of BBC TV's Blue Peter for 23 years. She made it her own and millions of kids (me included) used to tune in. Here's my musical tribute to a pioneering TV producer.
Sad to hear that actor Ray Brooks has died. I will always remember him as the narrator of my favourite TV show as a kid, Mr Benn. Here’s my musical tribute to one of the voices of my childhood.
He was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Dmitry Shostakovich died fifty years ago today. I play an extract from his Piano Concerto No.2
We’ve gone from talking about American ultimatums & deadlines to ‘Let’s have a summit.’ Our latest report from Moscow for @BBCNews on the day the Kremlin announced that Vladimir Putin & Donald Trump would meet “in the coming days.”
President Trump claimed “great progress was made” at Steve Witkoff's talks in the Kremlin. But he still went ahead with secondary sanctions and hiked tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Our report from Moscow.
My musical tribute to Dame Cleo Laine who has died at the age of 97. Such a great jazz singer. But not only jazz. Pop, classical, she did it all. I remember her performing He Was Beautiful (Cavatina) with classical guitarist John Williams. Beautiful.
“I’m just a dreamer. I dream my life away.” My tribute to the one and only Ozzy Osbourne.
To mark the start of BBC Proms 2025, here’s my version of the Postman Pat theme tune in the style of a tango.
Not one, not two, but three different editions of George Orwell’s 1984 on sale now in my local Moscow supermarket.
Flash floods, geo-political storm clouds and continuing war. Our latest report from Moscow for BBC News. Producer @bbcbentavener.bsky.social
I play out Wimbledon 2025 with the classic BBC Wimbledon theme ‘Sporting Occasion’ by Arnold Steck.
Popped out of the office, spotted this. A Moscow digital billboard displaying "The favourite expressions of Xi Jinping."
This week one Russian paper suggested Donald Trump “looks like a loser.” By contrast Russians are being told they’re a nation of winners. I visit a ‘patriotic festival’ near Moscow. Think village fete – with firearms. Our latest report from Russia. Thanks to the BBC News Moscow team.
My musical tribute to Sandy Gall: the legendary British TV reporter and anchorman who died last month aged 97.
Meanwhile, these have gone on sale in my local supermarket: “Set of A4-size Patriotic Posters” (containing 4 posters: Putin, the Russian flag, the double-headed eagle & the words to the national anthem).
Russian TV quotes from the Russia-Iran agreement "to prevent inflated expectations.” ‘In the event either party is subject to aggression, the other party shall not provide military or other assistance to the aggressor…& shall help ensure differences are settled on the basis of the UN Charter…'
Caught up with Elon Musk’s father, Errol, in Moscow and asked him: “What have you advised your son to do in terms of his relationship with President Trump?” Errol Musk is attending a pro-government conservative conference.
Russian state TV's weekly news review leads with Putin meeting China’s foreign minister (“Most important meeting of the week”). Hidden message: US can't split Russia from China. Trump’s tariffs very low down the bulletin (1hr 50min). But then again, no tariffs put on Russia.