Guest editor: Robert Wyatt

Each year, the Today programme hands over the editorial reins to six public figures, giving them a chance to decide what goes on the programme between Christmas and New Year.

The programme on New Year's Day was edited by the musician Robert Wyatt. You can hear highlights from his programme using the links below

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As he discusses in his end of programme interview , Robert Wyatt loves the sound of amateur choirs, which he says have a sense of commitment and meaning that is difficult to find. He asked Today listeners to send in the sound of the amateur choirs in which they sing.

Explore the UK's amateur choirs on an interactive map

His own musical exploits have included numerous collaborations with artists including Bjork and Paul Weller. He discussed what made for the best pairings with Specials founder member Jerry Dammers.

Concerned that many of Britain's town centres are in decline Wyatt asked Paddy O'Connell to investigate the situation in Croydon and debated the issue with columnist Candida Lycett Green.

An avid watcher of the BBC Parliament channel, Wyatt wanted to draw attention to everyday hard work of MPs. Political correspondent Norman Smith discussed the issue with the former MP Tony Benn and Chris Moncrieff, who has worked in the Westminster lobby for the Press Association for more than 40 years.

Wyatt wanted to find out more about the 2009 coup in the Honduras. Correspondent Stephen Gibbs investigated whether claims of US involvement were accurate.

He keen to explore what everyday life was life for those living in Gaza, one year on from the war with Israel. Middle East Correspondent Tim Franks reported from the region.

He also asked for an alternative thought for the day from John Berger and asked his neice Sonti Ramirez , a musician and aspiring journalist, to investigate how difficult the music industry was for aspiring young musicians.

ABOUT THE GUEST EDITOR

Robert Wyatt was a founding member of the Soft Machine, one of the biggest bands to come out of the late sixties psychedelic movement, in which he played the drums and sang.

After Soft Machine split in 1970, Wyatt played with various jazz-fusion bands before founding Matching Mole.

In 1973, as the band were about to record their third album, Wyatt fell from a third-floor window during a party, leaving him paralysed from the waist down.

Wyatt then embarked on a solo career which, during the 1980's became increasingly influenced by his left-wing political beliefs.

He has collaborated with artists including Bjork and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and in 2001 curated the Meltdown music festival.