Jeremy Bowen's superbly produced programmes were examplary journalism, mixing the drama of protest and reflective interviews seamlessly

Some reflections on the year's major events can feel like fillers in the end-of-year schedules. Tales from the Arab Spring (Radio 4), however, was the opposite: a look back that illuminated, updated and brought its stories to life brilliantly. Jeremy Bowen's three programmes (final one on Syria on Wednesday) are exemplary journalism and, even if you followed events quite closely in Egypt and Libya, the first two programmes were a gripping listen