Inside R&D: Innovation Explained - series 2

Inside R&D: Innovation Explained is your front-row seat to the future of technology in media, brought to you by the BBC’s pioneering Research & Development team. This podcast unpacks the cutting-edge innovations shaping how we create, consume, and interact with media, offering listeners a rare glimpse behind the scenes of one of the world’s most respected public broadcasters. Hosted by Joseph Turner, each episode is driven by his passion for amplifying the voices of the engineers and visionaries pushing boundaries in the industry.

In this second series, Joseph reconnects with former colleagues to reflect on their careers and celebrate BBC R&D’s 93-year legacy of innovation, which in October 2025 was recognised with the prestigious Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award. Links to follow the series on other platforms are at the end of the page.

Episode 1: Will sound transport us somewhere new? The journey of immersive audio

Will immersive content be our future?

Join us as we celebrate BBC R&D’s recent Emmy win with Chris Pike, research scientist at Sonos and former R&D engineer. Chris shares his journey through groundbreaking audio research, the magic behind immersive soundscapes, and what the future holds for BBC R&D.

Episode 2: Can media and technology be green? Inside the BBC’s path to a sustainable future

What is the BBC's strategy to reach Net Zero?

In this episode of Inside R&D, we sit down with Jigna Chandaria, former BBC R&D engineer and now head of sustainability at the BBC. Jigna shares her journey from pioneering sustainability research within R&D to shaping the BBC’s broader sustainability strategy today. Discover how innovation and responsibility intersect, and what it takes to make media more sustainable for the future.

Episode 3: Can lab experiments change broadcast? How curiosity creates real world impact

This is where it gets interesting.

Experimental ideas are often the ones that cause the biggest changes in the media industry. Former head of applied research, Production, Graham Thomas, pioneered many of those innovations during his 40 years in BBC R&D. From athletics and sports graphics and virtual studios to object based audio and AI driven production, Graham reflects on the 93 years of BBC R&D's impact, the culture that enables longterm innovation, and why asking the right questions matters as much as answering them.

Episode 4: Is risk the price of innovation? Why bold ideas drive audience engagement

What does it take to think beyond what's possible?

From pioneering VR experiences to shaping the future of interactive content, Rebecca Gregory-Clarke reflects on her journey through BBC R&D and beyond. We discuss how bold ideas like immersive storytelling and audience participation redefined innovation, and why risk is essential for reward. Rebecca shares her insights on collaboration, creative technology, and the principles that still guide her work today, from experimental projects to industry game-changers.

Episode 5: Can public service drive change in tech? How the BBC is shaping an industry for the public good

Did the Internet change everything?

Jon Page, former Head of Technology Strategy at BBC R&D, reflects on the pioneering internet based production workflows and audience shaping innovations he helped steer during his 13 year tenure. He shares how long term thinking, a deep commitment to public service values, and close collaboration with entrepreneurial partners enabled R&D to influence industry standards and anticipate technological shifts. Together, we explore how BBC R&D continues to shape the future of media for the public good.

Episode 6: How do you take innovation beyond the lab? Bridging the gap between research and audiences

How do we build technology that serves people?

In this episode of Inside R&D, Joseph sits down with Chris Northwood, former Senior Research Technologist, whose work helped shape some of the organisation’s most forward thinking tools, workflows, and production technologies. Together, they explore the full journey from early concepts to industry defining products, and what it really takes to move innovation beyond the lab. If you’ve ever wondered why public service values still matter in a world driven by rapid commercial tech cycles, Chris offers compelling answers.