Theresa May and Cate Blanchett to guest edit BBC Today programme

The former prime minister Theresa May is to guest edit Radio 4’s Today programme and use it to explore the issue of dwindling trust in politics. May, who resigned in 2019 with a tearful statement about the honour she felt in holding the office, will edit Today on New Year’s Eve. The BBC said May would investigate the themes of domestic violence, modern slavery and trust in politics. In her memoirs May argued that the abuse of power had eroded trust in democratic institutions. They cited disasters including Hillsborough and Grenfell Tower. The book was praised for its analysis, but May was criticised for not being more open about her own failings. May is also expected to talk about her love of cricket. In her resignation honours she was criticised for knighting her hero Geoffrey Boycott, a convicted domestic abuser. The double Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett is among the other guest editors. Her programme on 27 December will discuss the impact of AI on women in the film industry. Last year Blanchett said she was “deeply concerned” about the new technology. “I’m looking at these robots and driverless cars and I don’t really know what that’s bringing anybody,” she told the BBC. Blanchett’s programme will also explore sustainability in the world of fashion, how nation states are responding to the refugee crisis, and why gardening is good for the soul. Blanchett’s scepticism about AI will be countered by the AI entrepreneur Mustafa Suleyman, who will guest edit on 29 December. His programme will look at whether we can cope with superintelligence and what needs to be done to ensure the technology works in the interests of humankind. The other guest editors are: the veteran broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, who stood down this year from presenting In Our Time after 27 years; the historian and podcaster Tom Holland, and the businessman and inventor Sir James Dyson. Owenna Griffiths, the editor of Today, said: “Every Christmas on Today, a new set of guest editors take up residence and bring with them a wonderful range of new stories, fresh ideas and, hopefully, a sprinkling of joy. This year is no exception. “In a rapidly changing world, this year’s guest editors will help bring illumination and understanding, and I’m enormously grateful to all of them for giving up the time to take part.”