The Word (radio) The Word (radio) The Word was a weekly half-hour radio programme on the BBC World Service about books and writers. Its final edition was in October 2008. Once a month its slot was taken over by "World Book Club", in which listeners submitted questions to a famous writer. Both programmes were presented by Harriett Gilbert. "World Book Club" continues to be broadcast once a month on Saturdays. "The Word" emerged from an earlier World Service book programme "Meridian Books" (which had several presenters, including Michael Rosen, Verity Sharp, and Rosemary Hartill,) as well as a poetry request programme, "Poems by
The Day the World Gets 'Round to which he donated the publishing royalties from "The Day the World Gets 'Round" and eight other songs on "Living in the Material World". Part of the foundation's mission was to "encourage the exploration of alternative life views and philosophies" and "[support] established charitable organizations with consideration to those with special needs" – so allowing Harrison to donate money without encountering the problems that had hampered the Bangladesh aid project.<ref name="Gross/CircusRaves">Michael Gross, "George Harrison: How "Dark Horse" Whipped Up a Winning Tour", "Circus Raves", March 1975; available at Rock's Backpages ("subscription required"; retrieved 5 June 2013).</ref> In his 2009 book