PJ Harvey has come under fire for her choice of contributors after guest editing BBC Radio 4's iconic Today Show.

The singer took over the topical show today (January 2), but her schedule has been criticised for being full of "left-wing tosh".

Her choice of having Wikileaks founder Julian Assange - who is currently evading arrest amid sexual assault charges - as the Thought for the Day feature has been criticised.

She also featured the likes of campaigning journalist John Pilger and Shaker Aamer, the last British resident held by the US in Guantanamo Bay.

However, Harvey revealed pre-show in a statement that she agreed to guest edit the Today Show only if her pieces were to remain unedited.

The musician said: "I began by thinking of people I consider to be highly articulate, stimulating and extremely interesting to listen to - people who challenge us and move us to examine our deepest beliefs and feelings. I wanted to fill my programme with their voices. Most importantly, I wanted to let them be heard in a manner of their choosing, whether that be a monologue, a poem, or interviewing others. What I didn't want was for them to be restricted from saying what they wanted to say. 

"Before I accepted the invitation to be guest editor, I asked Today to agree to this, as well as agreeing not to edit my contributors pieces without their full consent. I hope that the programme you hear, is the programme I wanted you to hear - I have come to realise that a great deal of its content is about censorship in one way or another."