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Titchmarsh replaces Radio 2's Your Hundred Best Tunes

John Plunkett
Wednesday January 10, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk

Radio 2 has axed Your Hundred Best Tunes after 48 years to make way for a new-look schedule featuring TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh.
The Sunday night show was first presented by Alan Keith in 1959, playing popular classics such as Pachelbel's Canon and Albinoni's Adagio. It had been presented by former TV newsreader Richard Baker following Keith's death in 2003.

The long-running show was axed by Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas as part of a revamped Sunday evening schedule featuring Titchmarsh.

The gardener and natural history presenter will host Alan Titchmarsh With Melodies For You, taking over the Melodies For You slot from Sheridan Morley. The author and theatre critic will continue to be heard elsewhere in the Radio 2 schedule.

Ms Douglas said Titchmarsh was "passionate about music and I know that his broad taste will be the perfect mix for Sunday evenings.

"Sheridan Morley has done a great job on Melodies For You over the last couple of years, and I look forward to hearing his new ventures on the network in the coming months."

Titchmarsh said: "I'm aware of the special nature of Sunday nights on Radio 2, and hope I can add to that."

Your Hundred Best Tunes, which was devised and presented by Keith, was originally commissioned for a 13-week run with the intention of finding the "best 100 tunes in the world".

In a statement, the BBC said the programme, which aired in the 9pm slot on Sundays, would be "forever linked with the name of Alan Keith".

"Alan created and presented the show for over 40 years until his death in March 2003 at the age of 94, and was integral to its success. Radio 2 wishes to thank Richard Baker for presenting the programme after Alan's death and wishes him well for the future."

Titchmarsh will present his first show as part of the new Radio 2 Sunday night schedule between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Veteran Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker's show moves 30 minutes earlier to 4.30pm while Russell Davies moves from the afternoon to present a new 9pm show.

New Radio 2 Sunday schedule from January 28

4.30pm - 6.30pm The Johnnie Walker Sunday Show (previously 5.00-7.00pm)
6.30pm - 8.30pm Alan Titchmarsh with Melodies for You (previously hosted by Sheridan Morley between 7pm and 8.30pm)
8.30pm -9pm Sunday Half Hour (no change)
9pm - 10pm Russell Davies (previously 2.30-3.30pm)
10pm - 11pm Malcolm Laycock (no change)
11pm - midnight The David Jacobs Collection (no change)
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:23 pm Post subject:

That puts 3 similar programmes (RD, ML, DJ) back to back and doesn't make sense to me.
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Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Ian Robinson · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

Inevitable, really. Russell Davies was starting to seem really out of place in the afternoon, squeezed between livelier, less demanding shows.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Don't have a huge problem with this per se (though it doesn't address the lack of Brian Kay-style light music) but it should have been announced far sooner.

Ian.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Meant to ask--what's replacing Russell Davies in the early afternoon?

Ian.

gfloyd · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

Pick of the Pops will run 2.30 to 4.30pm
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Lady Boil De Spudswell · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 429 Location: Location, Location

What did I tell you? Iain Smith eat your heart out!

Hopefully there'll now be an outcry among my fellow 100 Best Tunes fans.
And, incidentally, if the show is as synonymous with Sunday evenings as that piece and R2 suggested, why axe it?!!
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Who Can Take A Sunrise, Sprinkle It With Dew...

gfloyd · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject:

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

gfloyd · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject:

John W,
do you have the results of the polls to find the 100 top tunes? When did they last do a poll? I presume it was back in the Alan Keith days?
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Hi ern,

Yes, the last poll was made during 2003, the year Alan Keith died.

You can see it at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/100best/100bestpoll.shtml

Thanks for thinking about that ernie. As I expect all the web pages to do with 100BT will disappear soon I've copied the html source of the poll list and will place it onto the R2Ok site Smile

There is a BBC press release at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/01_january/10/titchmarsh.shtml

John W

Lady Boil De Spudswell · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 429 Location: Location, Location

I suppose it's some consolation that the 'Melodies For You' title at least remains with this new look. I only hope the belting signature tune is left untouched. It'd be nice to hear a little more of it at the end incidentally, R2.

The addition of the bloody travel at 7pm has rather truncated it in recent months. Banging straight into Sunday Half Hour without it always sounds a little jolty to me.
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Who Can Take A Sunrise, Sprinkle It With Dew...

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Well RD and ML certain are very similar in my opinion. DJ less so, but I think the problem was that Sunday Half Hour had to stay at 8.30 leaving it awkward to arrange the running order around it.
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I suppose Sunday Half Hour has to be scheduled to avoid times when people might be at Evening Service at their local church.

But any time from 8 to 9:30 would surely have been OK.

Ian.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I still wonder if R2 and R3 discussed schedules and that the return of core classical to more of R3's midweek evening hours was seen as an opportunity for Lesley to end 100BT. But like Ian I think they have overlooked the popularity of the lighter classical music, mainly on Naxos, Guild and EMI, which was popularised by Brian Kay's ten year run of the Light Programme. I would have liked Brian's show to have moved into the 100BT slot.
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Interest in lighter music, especially British, must be very great, judging by the flood of CD releases. Yet R2 plays almost none and R3 is about to axe its only dedicated contribution.

The relative lack of response on R3 messageboards to Brian Kay's imminent disappearance suggests that R2 is the natural home of this type of repertoire--so why is it so uninterested?

Ian.

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject:

So Radio 2 sinks further into the mire. Will there be any presenters that aren't "tv celebs" soon?

I despair. I hope Richard Baker is being given a proper send-off. And why the prediliection for shows starting on the half-hour? It's just untidy.
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MiS

gfloyd · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:30 pm Post subject:

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject:

I have to say not having the news every hour wouldn't bother me. You can sometimes hear the despair in the newsreader's voice at the mind-numbing tedium of it all!
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MiS

gfloyd · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject:

If the show starts at 6.30, it will only be getting into its stride at 7.00. Still that would mean no news from 6pm to 9pm. Not that anybody listens to the station for news on a Sunday evening. Maybe they can stop that stupid travel report on weekend nights as well.
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Phil Urapitus · Guest

John, of course.

I hear that Brian Kay has been dropped from Radio 3 - Baker, Kay and Morley. What does the future hold? I think Alan Titchmarsh will be a welcomed addition to Sunday evenings whereas the other three will probably just disappear. Seems odd that Sheridan Morley made no mention on 17th December that this was his final show. Weird.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Phil Urapitus · Guest

John, I listen to Melodies for You quite a bit and I can promise you Sheridan Morley never mentioned anything on 17/12/06 that this was his last ever Melodies for You. A bit rude don't you think? I have heard (and read) negative reports of Sheridan Morley, so maybe he not revealing on 17/12/06 that this was his final show was pure ignorance on his part?

Perhaps, though, the introduction of Alan Titchmarsh (who I admire) was another one of those "last minute decisions" made by Lesley Douglas (just like the introduction of the brilliant Russell Brand was)? If so, then I wish the Radio 2 management would inform the listeners of any changes promptly.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

As I said, he may not have had the chance if Lesley made quick moves for Titch.

I expect we might never know, Sheridan probably wouldn't say anything if asked tomorrow anyway

Ask any other presenter about him and I expect they won't have a clue, they rarely make contact except when Lesley wants a group photo/video and how many of those do we see.....

John W

Phil Urapitus · Guest

So, they're not very clicky at Radio 2 then? Judging by the reports from the Radio 2 Christmas Party, they all get along like a house on fire...

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

gfloyd · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I'll miss it though Ernie, not that I listen everyweek. When I do it's a bit of relaxed listening while I prepare our late Sunday lunch/dinner or do the ironing!
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

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

It might be worth listening to , as long as he has a better knowledge of music than he had of natural history which he did on BBC1, which like a lot of shows these days seemed to be aimed at the under 5's. Confused

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I've never listened to Your Hundred Best Tunes so can't comment. I don't listen to radio that late on Sunday evening so that will be another show lost. Listen Again is fine to catch up on the odd thing but I get fed up of having to use it more than live radio these days.

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

Phil Urapitus · Guest

I've never been a fan of Your Hundred Best Tunes, either. I occasionally listen to Melodies for You although I'm pleased Alan Titchmarsh is taking over.

Listening to him on a relaxing warm summer Sunday evening will be awesome with a few glasses of red wine on the patio! Cool

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

What a nice thought on a winter's evening!

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

Phil Urapitus · Guest

Well, only another 3 months to go until the weather starts to get warm! Might as well look ahead!

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

At this rate it will be warm enough for the patio in February Shocked

Maybe not light enough though.

I enjoy listening to Alan, I like him, he's, erm, cuddly Embarassed

Phil Urapitus · Guest

I've always been a fan of old Titchy, and I think he's a great addition to Radio 2. I like his style, humour and company - perfect for Sunday evenings when there's bugger all on the box! Laughing

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Phil,

Your comment about contrasting shows on Sunday is odd. Would you listen to 8hrs of pop music if that was the schedule? It's because people won't listen all day is why there is a varied schedule. Listeners pick their time. Have you noticed there is a different but also varied schedule on Saturday? I'm sure very few folk would listen to R2 all day Saturday if it was all current chart stuff, so they do a varied schedule.

It was the longstanding Sunday evening schedule that was beloved of R2 fans of swing/light/classical, it was part of their life to switch on R2 at 7pm or 9pm.

And Phil, how can removing a genre of music from R2's repertoire be a good move considering the music is more popular now than it was in 1980. Light/popular classical has gone full circle and is cool again, it's only the more serious heavy classical, much predominant on R3, that is losing listeners.

John W

Phil Urapitus · Guest

I was under the impression that Your Hundred Best Tunes was being 'merged' with a new revamped Melodies for You?

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

John

I'll miss the Song Show from it's afternoon slot as I find it relaxing to listen to when I do listen in the afternoon. I rarely listen to Radio 2 before then on a Sunday but don't listen every week. I won't listen in the evenings as I do other things.

Re your comment about Saturdays I hardly listen at then either. It goes off after SOTS and sometimes goes back on for Stuart Maconie but not always.

During the week it's on most of the day until Drivetime when if it's not already off, it is then.

There has been a Song Show in the afternoons since Alan Dell that I can remember, not that I listened but it was there. Benny Green was in the afternoon and catered for the Swing fans as well.

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

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I'm sorry that HBT is coming to an end but latterly there's been little sense of any production in the selection of items, unlike in Alan Keith's day. However good individual items are, and there are many excellent ones, if they are thrown together without any sense of setting up a mood or creating contrasts, then the programme will suffer.

That said, I agree that there must be an outlet for this type of music on R2. The station should also be picking up the lighter stuff which Brian Kay has been playing on his R3 programme, which is being so thoughtlessly axed in a few weeks time.

But I'm willing to give the new arrangements a chance before passing any judgement.

Ian.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

An enjoyable final show, including several real vintage tracks that Alan Keith was likely playing 47 years ago.

I don't recall hearing Nimrod, but Richard did play the other 3 from the poll top 4. He didn't give the impression of any bitterness about it being the last show.

John W