Dear Auntie Beeb

For the past two decades, Sam Hare has kept up a constant stream of correspondence with the BBC World Service. Writing from his home in Singapore, he has been on a mission to keep the Corporation on its toes over matters of content, bias, factual accuracy, respect for British tradition, correct pronunciation, and even the timing and technical quality of its broadcasts. His criticisms are robust and provocative - with no quarter given to political correctness - but he gives praise where he thinks it is due, and is always ready to back up his opinions with his knowledge of history and current affairs. This collection of his letters and emails, together with a selection of replies from the BBC, amounts to a challenging personal commentary on changing attitudes on what it means to be British, and on how Britishness is perceived throughout the world.