All things Radio

[unapologetic pedant]

1 minute ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

As I recall (so could be completely wrong!), they also recorded an introductory tune for Money Box, the BBC Radio 4 programme.  That programme is extant, but the signature tune, sadly, isn't.

Money Box is ruddy infuriating. The reply to almost every caller is "on the one hand this, on the other hand that". 

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

I'm talking ASMR style close-miked, which really aggravates me.

BTW, highly contentious whether aggravate is a synonym of exasperate.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 01/07/2022 at 19:58, gingerjon said:

It has massively improved a few dud areas in the past few years even though it remains really unsure what it is trying to do in the 9am-12noon slot despite having some good presenters in it.

It's sad to see how diminished Drama on 3 now is - capable of some superb productions but the number now so massively reduced from previous years and decades - but that's part of the whole BBC walk away from that kind of content.

I go in phases but I find Night Waves (or whatever it's called now) mostly unlistenable at the minute. That's probably just me though.

I had a R3 spell in the late 90s when I was trying, with limited success, to acquire a taste for Jazz. Included the request programme with the (for an American) disappointingly-named Geoffrey Smith.

The reference to the place of drama on a station ostensibly devoted to music brings to mind the carping, usually aired on Feedback, whenever Radio 4 broadcast music documentaries. Complainants were essentially highlighting duplication across the network. The schedules of R1 and R2 were replete with comparable features. 

In contrast to the plainly infantile but hard-to-suppress sense of deflation when a respected obscurity went mainstream, I felt mildly triumphant when music I'm a fan of got the R4 treatment. John Peel often remarked that records first played on his show always sounded better when he heard them on Daytime R1. The satisfaction is possibly akin to that derived from seeing an unsung hero receive an honour from the State.

My favourite R4 music doc was about Judee Sill. In it, Andy Partridge said something along the lines of "Everybody else liked Joni Mitchell and Carole King, but I preferred Judee Sill". Same here.

[Futtocks]

The Judee Sill documentary by Ruth Barnes was very good. I assume that's the same one you heard.

Brad Pitt did a decent programme on Nick Drake called "Lost Boy", but that was Radio 2.

[Futtocks]

Rejoice! Garry "Mogadon" Richardson is stepping down from his sports reporter job at Radio 4.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/68740030

[unapologetic pedant]

47 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Rejoice! Garry "Mogadon" Richardson is stepping down from his sports reporter job at Radio 4.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/68740030

Trying to think of an Alan Partridge bon mot that isn't too hackneyed and perfunctory.

"More Partridge than Partridge" - Best I can manage at short notice.

[Futtocks]

On 10/06/2023 at 15:26, Futtocks said:

History buffs should enjoy History's Secret Heroes, in which Helena Bonham Carter presents extraordinary stories  from World War II: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mcbp 

A new series of this excellent programme has started, with episode 3 on this afternoon at 3pm.

[Futtocks]

Two things today on Radio 4.

1. A programme about Dr Feelgood at 4pm.

2. A new series of Thanks a lot, Milton Jones! starts at 6:30pm.

[Futtocks]

 

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

 

Didn't know it was still going.

Says on Wiki that The Now Show was regarded as a successor to The Mary Whitehouse Experience. I saw it as the replacement for Week Ending. Augmented with traditional Home Service comedy-show elements.

Had plenty of good moments. Never the unchecked belch of Leftist propaganda that The News Quiz became. Although any young comedians given a slot were careful to pay their conformist dues. Lest they go on the blacklist and lose work on the circuit.

[Futtocks]

Part of Radio 4 Extra's Tony Hancock binge on Sunday evening is a recently rediscovered Hancock's Half Hour.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z692 

[Futtocks]

I know we have several history buffs on here - a new series of Natalie Haynes stands up for the Classics has just begun on Radio 4.

[Futtocks]

Huge News! (for fans of a very specific era of radio comedy)

https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/news/7981/struck-off-and-die-back-on-radio-4/

Edited July 18, 2024 by Futtocks

[unapologetic pedant]

On 18/07/2024 at 19:44, Futtocks said:

Huge News! (for fans of a very specific era of radio comedy)

https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/news/7981/struck-off-and-die-back-on-radio-4/

Dr Phil Hammond is a disturbing man.

Peels back the curtain for patients. Demonstrates medical students never lose their sick sense of humour. 

[gingerjon]

43 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Dr Phil Hammond is a ...

... massive RU fan.

I've met him and he's lovely. But he also voluntarily spends money and time following England and the RU Lions on their tours to foreign places.

You can't overlook that kind of deviancy.

[Futtocks]

26 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

... massive RU fan.

I've met him and he's lovely. But he also voluntarily spends money and time following England and the RU Lions on their tours to foreign places.

You can't overlook that kind of deviancy.

He's also a writer for Private Eye, which balances things out.

A bit.

[JohnM]

Infinite Monkey Cage is back, as is You're Dead to Me. Natalie Haynes Stands Up For is still knocking around, too.  

I'd really like to listen to In our Time, but mogadon man Bragg kills that desire.

[Futtocks]

Currently on Radio 4 is a documentary called Policing Protest, which is fascinating stuff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021b15

[Futtocks]

Today was Garry Richardson's last stint on the Today programme, and he was as unlistenable and plodding as ever.

Unfortunately, he's been in position so long, he's pretty much set the template of the sports reports for his successors.

[Futtocks]

Legendary broadcaster Johnnie Walker announced that he has decided to step down from presenting his two Radio 2 and BBC Sounds shows – Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/radio-2-johnnie-walker

Bob Harris will be taking over Sounds of the Seventies.

[Padge]

5 hours ago, Futtocks said:

Legendary broadcaster Johnnie Walker announced that he has decided to step down from presenting his two Radio 2 and BBC Sounds shows – Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/radio-2-johnnie-walker

Bob Harris will be taking over Sounds of the Seventies.

Was JW giving Sally Traffic one, that is what everyone wants to know.

[Futtocks]

New on Radio 4, Strong Message here, a new series in which Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis discuss political language. Also available as a podcast, naturally.

[graveyard johnny]

boom radio - celebrating record listener figures new out this week - well done for kicking the trend and the 3 greedy companies that own most digital stations 

Edited October 25, 2024 by graveyard johnny

[Futtocks]

 

[unapologetic pedant]

4 hours ago, Futtocks said:

 

Hope this doc doesn't stray into sanctimonious territory. I knew of Roy Francis and his reputation as a British equivalent of Jack Gibson some time before I realized he was either Welsh or black. That order of awareness is more telling than any number of clumsy self-conscious portrayals of League as morally superior to Union.

Would like to hear about the spell at North Sydney.