In a recent interview with the London Daily News BBC jock Big George Webley spoke about his show and his callers. The duopoly that now exists on London's radio dial split between Gcap/Global and the BBC may be seen by some as a potential restriction of expression and choice but the night show on BBC London is bucking the trend with open and lively debate, daily on the Big George show.

On any one show during the 2am – 6am shift on BBC London 94.9FM Big George will normally open the debate with some of the days hottest issues, which can vary from the Russian attack on Georgia, racism in London, wheel clamping in the city, to one caller known as “Jamie” a heroin addict telling the listenorship his attempts to clean up at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

“If its legal and decent I will allow the call” Big George speaking to the London Daily News at George's fish bar on Essex Road.

One BBC insider who wanted to remain anonymous commenting on the Big George show “its the only time of the day you get under the skin of the capital and hear the real feelings of the people. Ok you get lots of the nutters on but hey thats part of the terrain at nights”.

Its this “nutter” element that Big George has skillfully commandeered the show around, not refusing to take the calls but exposing ignorance and prejudice on air. One example is a caller known to the callers as “Roshida” who regularly states that “all white men are gay”, Big George responds by saying that he never he knew he was gay.

Another one of the regular callers is “Cuba Tony” who is a well known black cabbie and passionate supporter of Fidel Castro's Cuba. “The debate on the show could be about bollards but Tony will always spin back to Cuba”. Moreover Tony provides a passion and knowledge of Cuba that adds to the shows dynamic.

Big George through his musical background acts more like the conductor of an orchestra on occasion trying to glean out of the various dissenting voices that “we are all Londoner's” and ultimately have the same problems day-to-day.

The black cab community at nights in London have particularly taken to Big George London accent and his background originally from Clapham. One of the shows regular contributors is John Kennedy who describes the show as “excitable its level of debate is like no other”.

In a city with a population of 10 million the tension between the various communities at some point reaches breaking point, the recent spate of stabbings in London affecting the capitals youth saw many callers expressing first hand recollections of violence and the causes of these crimes. “At night on air callers can vent their fears and anger either directed at society, the police or their own failings” Big George.

With Londoner's facing less choice on the radio one of the unique chances to them is to speak on air without restriction and express their true feelings. Abdul from Greenford who is another regular caller advocates Sharia law to be introduced in the UK and condemns the West for its actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Few shows would allow this kind of debate but I do and thats what keeps the following of the show growing, lively debate”.

According to sources at BBC London the Big George show is one of the few slots that are actually growing in listeners and is gaining more of the night audience of London. “Sailing close to the wind is how I like it” was how Big George describes his show but certain callers have expressed views of an overtly anti-semitic or racist nature which have resulted in complaints. On a show where the caller is given freedom to express their opinion the risk is always high that extremist views will emerge.

Moreover Big George takes the issues and goes to the guts of the problem and gives the callers the chance to genuinely express true opinions in a “PC-Free zone”. The callers are loyal to George with many saying “I totally disagree George but I respect the fact I am allowed to express my views on air openly”. Surely thats what radio is about?