BBC Radio Four's The Moral Maze is possibly the best programme ever

[mcgillianaire]

Here's how Wikipedia describes it:

"Four regular panellists discuss moral and ethical issues relating to a recent news story. The debate is often combative and guest witnesses may be cross-examined aggressively. The programme is hosted by Michael Buerk. The format is loosely based on the Select Committee procedure at the House of Westminster, in which invited guests on a particular topic of discussion are mercilessly grilled (often to the point of humiliation) by a regular (and carefully chosen) panel (such as the MPs on the Select Committee).

Michael Buerk delivers a no-holds-barred (often irreverent) preamble launching the topic, then introduces the first witness. In the ensuing interrogation, the witnesses are teasingly goaded into philosophically tripping themselves up (contradicting their own beliefs). Platitudes are quickly exposed for their fragility. Witnesses taken unawares by the incisive, unceremonious questioning, may then replace civility for discourteousness - usually when their arguments have been hit for six. When being briefed for their appearances, witnesses were encouraged to be as aggressive as you like."

With a passion for politics and as a budding lawyer, The Moral Maze should've been essential listening every week. But for some reason I hadn't appreciated its value until recently. Better late than never. Each forty-five minute episode examines the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories, and in the past month we've had discussions about the morality of income tax, the point of having prisons, science & morality, public figures & public morality, and slut walks.