Michael Freedland. Credit: Biteback Publishing
Fondly remembered as “the founder of Sunday morning”, Freedland – who died in 2018 aged 83 – scored a number of scoops, including being the first programme in Britain to break news of the Entebbe rescue, as well as the first to uncover the oppression endured by Russian refuseniks.
On Sunday, JW3 will host a virtual event to celebrate the show’s milestone anniversary with Michael’s son Jonathan Freedland, author and columnist for The Guardian, alongside historian Simon Schama, former Israeli Labour party leader Isaac Herzog and the Holocaust Education Trust’s Karen Pollock.
BBC Sounds will also republish 50 episodes online, which have been “lovingly digitised” from their original tape format by Freedland’s grandson, Jacob.