R2OK!

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:48 am Post subject:

Just called in to the house and heard Zoe Ball on Popmaster.... God almighty, this is car crash radio! how on earth does she keep getting the job??? terrible.
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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

She needs to learn how to work the equipment, and use the pause buttons between the selected question disc. The producers can't keep running the desks. Apart from that she's not to bad on the show

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:56 am Post subject:

She needs to slow down... it's a pity we don't have a "Yap" section in the Olympics... she'd win Gold!
Honestly, she makes me out of breath just listening to her stumble along..
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Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Agree SF have internet on in one room, but had to hear her in the other room Smile

She's just dreadful. Have switched off now.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Zoe isn't dreadful.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

maybe not in your opinion Mark but in mine she is!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

Zoe Ball is a million times better than the the pop muppet incumbent.

Just wish she was on permanetly in this slot.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

She knows bugger all about music Mark which explains why she can't run a simple music quiz - and that's quite apart from all her other faults

I should know as I run music quizzes myself and I'm damn sure I could do a better job than her - if I couldn't I'd probably just stick my head in the old gas oven Smile

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Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

In your opinion of course-not everyone shares that viewpoint.

This is a message board where diverse opinions should be respected/tolerated.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Of course Mark - I agree and do respect the opinions of others

But are you seriously trying to tell me that Zoe has the slightest clue about music tracks going back to the early 60's let alone being competent to operate the equipment in order to run the thing

I think the evidence speaks for itself Smile

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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I've nothing against Zoe as a person Rach but if you're looking for someone to cover a show which has a well established music quiz you need a person who:

a) Talks slowly,clearly and concisely
b) Has a proper decent knowledge of all music during the period of time relevant
c) Has a basic capability to operate the equipment required to run the whole thing

If these things are lacking it simply causes more irritation for listeners than giving them pleasure

There are so many other presenters who have proved their value in being able to deal with Popmaster properly ranging from Alex Lester to Richard Allinson so why does the BBC insist on foisting on us a person who does not possess a proper level of competence?

There are shows which Zoe could probably cover quite well such as Alan Carr or Paul O'Grady but it's horses for courses as they say and she is just not right for the morning show

To me it's like putting someone who's failed their driving test 10 times in charge of a driving school Sad

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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

A well established music quiz though it is, Rudds, it’s not really Mastermind or University Challenge is it? It’s just a bit of mid-morning fun with a cup of coffee. Ken makes mistakes too, now and again: and he also has a good laugh, it’s just Ken’s humour is deep, dry, sarcastic and much too clever for most people to understand. The substance of Popmaster with Zoe is no different to that of Popmaster with Ken, it’s just they have a different style, so in effect, you do have something against Zoe: you don’t like her style of delivery, and that’s no biggy, each to their own.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I agree Rach that yes it is only a music quiz but I think a very large number of listeners tune in to the show specifically because of Popmaster quite simply because it is a very long established institution on R2 which usually is both interesting and informative (dare I say even educational)

If you take away these aspects by employing an incompetent presenter then you destroy the whole essence of the thing and people will simply stop listening just as I have when Ms Ball is around

Perhaps that's all part of Mr Shennan's plan - force audience figures down so he than then get rid of the regular presenter and bring in on a permanent basis the very person who caused the problem in the first place

By the way I have nothing against having a female presenter running Popmaster and I'm sure Lynn Parsons or a fair number of the female presenters on Six Music would do an excellent job

Oh and by the way we music quiz people take such things very seriously and to us it is far more than a bit of fun - I'm reminded about Bill Shankly's famous comment about football when he said 'No it's not a matter of life and death, it's far more serious than that' Smile

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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Methinks you take it far too seriously, Ruddles.

Apart, perhaps, from the three evening hours of specialist programming, nothing on Radio 2 has ever meant to be taken seriously - even its predecessor, the Light Programme, wasn't called that for the brightness of its intellect.

Popmaster is mildly entertaining, sometimes frustrating, sometimes informative (although I can't remember learning anything from it which I have retained). It is an institution only in the way that features of other radio shows are (Confessions, DLT's Snooker quiz) and I don't even think, based upon the fact that a lot of contestants lately have been on before, that there is a long queue of people wanting to play each morning. A sure-fire way to kill it off, and lose the audience, would be to make it serious.

I've only just stopped laughing at the comparison of a "proper" Music Quiz with Bill Shankly's comment about football, although I will concede that, as far as I can tell, they do have quite a lot in common - the drink, the import of a lot of players from outside the area, and the arguments with the referee/questionmaster.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

As far as Popmaster goes one of the greatest problems as far as I am concerned over recent years has been the number of contestants who go on there who are totally lacking in even any basic knowledge about popular music and who frankly shouldn't be let loose on any music quiz programme

That suggests to me that the vetting questions put to them must be obviously far too easy and I think it would be better to have far fewer applicants but a higher proportion of competent ones - a classic case of quality rather than quantity

I have to admit there have been occasions recently when I have become so frustrated at the stupidity and lack of knowledge of some of the contestants I have had to turn off my radio and I think the quiz has become devalued in recent years which is evidenced by the vastly reduced number of contestants who obtain a maximum score to reach the 'Champions League' at the end of the year - bringing in an incompetent presenter is simply continuing this trend

I do realise that people can get very nervous especially because they are hanging on the end of a phone for several minutes before going on air but really nobody on Popmaster should be achieving a score of much less than 15 to 20 in my view and it's no excuse for them to say they weren't alive in the era from which some of the questions arise - if that's the case and they don't have the requisite knowledge they shouldn't bother applying

I realise that the feature has to be seen in this day and age as providing entertainment but to me that means having contestants who have a realistic chance of perhaps achieving a full house and not having people on there who end up winning with a score of less than 15 points - I suppose at the end of the day it depends whether people prefer to be entertained by idiots making fools of themselves on air or by the cut and thrust of two knowledgeable contestants slogging it out - I know which I prefer Smile

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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

So it's not taken seriously enough for many listeners to complain that it was quite obvious that one of the Champion's League contestants was cheating a few years back?

Zoe is quite useless at anything to do with Popmaster.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

It's quite apparent that even now (though not today) some contestants are deft with their fingers, or have other outside assistance, and that's another reason for not taking it too seriously.

I'm no fan, but Zoe handled it well yesterday and today. She hasn't inherited her dad's grasp of arithmetic though, has she? Laughing

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Well they took it seriously enough to take it off air for several months, something to do with phone monies. I can't quite remember exactly why now though?? It was at the same time as ITV and the phone calls business, resulting in those lengthy disclaimers. Rolling Eyes

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Sorry but I've given up listening for the rest of the week, Monday was enough.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

What is the point of anyone taking place in any quiz if they are simply going to 'google' the answers?

Not only does that kind of thing ruin the quiz for listeners it's unfair on their opponent and the person concerned is simply deluding themself that they have the necessary knowledge to win so what sense of achievement or satisfaction can it possibly give them?

Some time ago I took the step of banning mobile phones at my live quizzes because it came to my attention that a small minority of non regular members of the audience were cheating which was creating a lot of bad feeling amongst genuine music fans and support for this step was pretty much unanimous - as I pointed out if people wish to make or answer genuine phone calls they can do so outside the room Smile

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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

I think Pop Master was taken off air for a while after that Blue Peter phone-in scandal – all BBC prize phone-ins were suspended: they did fill-in with Celebrity Pop Master. Even that though was not without its unpublicised controversies but I’m not a kiss and tell kind of girl, keeping a secret is simple……. Just don’t tell anyone. Smile

The Google Cheats are obvious- especially on the three in ten…um um err ohhhhhh um um em … er… oh yes here they all are…..

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Thanks Rachel.

I remember celebs taking the place of listeners but couldn't think how Popmaster could have been involved, but as you say they took them all off.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Ian Robinson · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:13 pm Post subject:

It's a mark of Popmaster's popularity that it's the only quiz still going from the pre-BP days. Brought back swiftly by listener demand!

As for Zoe's ability to do it - well, she's hopeless, isn't she? I don't mind her generally but if I was on the quiz I'd be really annoyed by her pissing about (although at least I'd have more time to google the answers Wink

)

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

I haven't even tried to listen. Woman's a complete amateur. The fact that they only used to let her out at dawn on Saturday's speaks volumes (but not as many volumes as she speaks herself, obviously)

Has she been prattling on about her family much?
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Angus McCoatup · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject:

Another farcical performance today.....anyone who get can't get to work on time for 9:30 am should be carpeted and P45ed instantly.

This over excitable, breathless, errmming sort of radio presentation is just not appropriate as a filler for KB. If the BBC have some sort of loyalty of employment continuation with Zoe why can't they just foist her back on to Radio 1 where the average age of listener is circa 12 yrs old and hence their still forming brains are more than adequately equipped to deal with this drivel.

Zoe's biggest problem is that she gets so stressed about getting Popmaster right and not getting a tiebreak situation that she forgets there is another two and a half hours worth of show to get through.

Number Six.......she can't get through a single show without mentioning her family then name checking them. I can only imagine that if her hubby Norm is actually listening to his wife making a twat of herself everyday live on air he must be wringing his hands in despair and embarrassment.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:35 am Post subject:

I remember one time Stuart Maconie was late for the 9.30 slot and Johnnie Walker had to carry on (with a load of "sleeping" songs) - it was hilarious. But he got away with it because of his general approach to broadcasting. With Zoe it just comes across as another thing she can't be bothered to do properly.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:39 am Post subject:

First link! Going on about her family in the first link! Rolling Eyes

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

So why bother listening Rolling Eyes

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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:22 am Post subject:

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

Looking forward to the return of The Brucemeister!

On the bright side, my knowledge of classical music has improved this past week
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Stuart Maconie, Richard Allinson, Alex Lester. All have been fine deputisers for a holidaying Ken Bruce. Why have they stopped using them? On the subject of Johnnie Walker, Why don't they give him a go one week when Ken is away?
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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I remember JW saying, when his term as understudy for Terry Wogan came to an end, that he didn't want to do the same for anyone else.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I remember him saying that Ron but I have to take issue with you describing JW as Wogan's 'understudy' unless,of course, you were employing irony Confused

Wogan showed very little knowledge about the music he was playing for almost all of his time on the breakfast show whereas when we got some welcome relief when JW was covering he not only provided very competent cover but actually did try to educate the listeners in terms of many aspects of the stuff being played

The only time I have ever enjoyed the R2 Breakfast Show in the last 25 years was when JW was behind the mic Smile

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gazmando · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 560 Location: Huntingdon

Shame that Zoe couldn't have brought the producer from her Saturday show with her while she was standing in for Ken.
Sadly she was lumbered with the mostly awful and repetitive Gary Bones music.
Also I can't are why anyone would be exited that Ken is coming back.
He's not like a Johnny Walker or Desmond Carrington who love their music and regale you with tales relating to said music.
He's not like Chris Evans who us vibrant and talks about things that have been happening on TV, films, in the news etc etc, as well as having interesting guests, tracks picked by members of the public, as well as other interesting things.
I genuinely don't think that Ken Bruce offers anything, interesting or memorable in his show.
The only response his show send to generate from me our my fellow workers is "Can't he play anything different for a change"

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Zoe is back in April for Ken. I wonder if she will eventually another show on the station once she's able to committ?