Inquiry

Inquiry was a series of five short radio programmes for schools, "investigating self-interest and responsibility", according to the BBC Genome listings. They were introduced by Peel in Radio 4's morning schools sequence, during September and October 1969. Apparently, the programmes were aimed at non-GCE pupils - a different audience from his Top Gear listeners, who included many students and sixth-formers, but evidence of Peel's concern for the welfare of less privileged young people.

According to an article in International Times (IT 106, 1971-06-16, p.4) the programme was a victim of a "wave of censorship of schools programmes at [the] BBC: One of the first victims was amiable John Peel who in autumn 1969 introduced "Inquiry", a series of programmes for non-GCE schoolkids about "individual freedom and responsibility"." It continued: ''"Peel, who not long before that had trouble with his programme "Nightride", is now under a special contract which forbids him making comment on the radio, and also forbids him commenting elsewhere about the BBC or even his special contract." ''