R2OK!

thewelshboycott · Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 19

Date: 03.09.2010
Category: Radio 2
Sarah Kennedy is leaving BBC Radio 2 after nearly 20 years on the network.

Sarah comments: "After 17 years of early starts, the temptation of destroying my alarm clock has proved too much to resist and as I have been spared for this long, it's time for a change. I shall miss my Dawn Patrollers – their wit, wisdom and warmth, more than I can put into words. After I've taken a long-earned rest, I'm looking forward to new opportunities, hopefully inside and outside broadcasting."

Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: "Sarah has entertained Radio 2 listeners for over 20 years with energy and enthusiasm, gaining an army of fans with her inimitable style of broadcasting. Everyone at Radio 2 would like to thank Sarah for her many years of sterling service, and wish her the very best of luck for the future. We shall miss her."

Sarah kicked off her radio career in Singapore, before joining Radio 2 in 1976 to present Family Favourites, a hugely popular record request show that linked families at home with their loved ones in the British forces stationed abroad, as well as other programmes.

Sarah launched the Dawn Patrol from 5-7am in January 1993, and released her first book in the following year entitled The Terrible Twos, followed by a second edition and then a third volume entitled, Terrible Pets. She published her first novel, a best selling thriller called Charlotte's Friends in 1997.

A schedule change in 1994 saw her show run from 6-7.30am, with a weekly listener reach peaking at 4.76m. She reverted back to 5-7am in January 2010, following Chris Evans' move to Breakfast.

In 1995, Sarah won a prestigious Sony Gold Radio Award for her early breakfast programme and a decade later, Sarah was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting.

Lynn Parsons will present the show for the next four weeks, and future plans for the early morning schedule will be announced in due course.

SH

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

Oh Dear

I do hope she is not ill, whatever it is it's very sad she didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her loyal listeners.
I'm not her biggest fan but I wish her well.

ColinB · Guest

So something was up after all. I do find it peculiar that she left under a cloud, so to speak. I wonder if she and the controller had a bust-up which resulted in her being "escorted off the premises". Stranger things have happened in the world of broadcasting.

Whatever the reason, there's something fishy about all this!

NickSheffield · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 508

It's interesting to note that it describes her "reverting back" to the 5 to 7 slot. I presume this is to dispel arguments that the move prompted her retirement from the slot, however I hardly think its fair to call it a 'revert' when she only presented from 5 to 7 for one year, and presented from 6 to 7.30 for 17 years.

Also - I had no idea she'd written a novel. Is it any good?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

Not read her book but recall it coming out.

I seem to remember her doing an afternoon show on R2, I'm wondering if she was sitting in for Gloria Hunniford or did she do the show after Gloria left. Having a senior moment and can't think of the name of who ended up doing it before Ed Stewart got the slot.

H

PS found one of Sarah's show I'd recorded so listening just now. March 2006, and I'm not yet sure why I recorded it! Already a few typical Sarah comments Smile

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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

ColinB · Guest

It seems like you have as many old off-air recordings as I do, Helen. I've been digitising them whenever I can and still have loads to do!

C

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

It's embarassing isn't it! This one is on the PC already. Still not sure why I recorded this particular one, but lots of bits have made me chuckle! I've one other, but that's for another day!

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

ColinB · Guest

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

From letters in today's Daily Telegraph, which echo some of our thoughts

SIR – I was saddened and surprised to read of Sarah Kennedy’s sudden departure from her morning BBC Radio 2 slot (report, September 4).

I had listened to her Dawn Patrol ever since she started, and always found it to have just the content that I needed when stumbling out of bed.

However, after Terry Wogan left last year, Sarah Kennedy was moved to an earlier time. This meant that I – and presumably many other listeners – missed the main part of her programme.

It seemed as if everything was moved around to accommodate the mania that is Chris Evans’s show. I do not wish to have to listen to the incessant shouting, jingles and so on that he broadcasts and so have abandoned Radio 2 until Ken Bruce at 9.30.

It is a shame that Sarah Kennedy left without her listeners knowing about her departure – unlike Terry Wogan’s, when we were told months ahead.

---000---

SIR – Surely the only word to describe the departure of Sarah Kennedy from her early-morning show on Radio 2 is – bummocks! [/i]
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Ron

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

Indeed, when Johnnie Walker relinquished the Drivetime show a few years ago, while it wasn't trumpeted as much as when Sir Terry stood down from his weekday show (JW announced he was standing down while on air) Johnnie's last show had a sort of party atmosphere about it, leaving his listeners on a kind of high, despite what was lined up to replace his show. I think there should be a proper goodbye to Sarah and presented by the lady herself.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

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

Just trying to determine when Sarah presented her last show.

I think it was Friday August 13, and Lynn Parsons sat in from 16th August for that week, and then Lynn carried on into Sarah's actual holiday period, and then, with the announcement 3 Sept, Lynn has carryied on, and the show was re-named Early Breakfast Show on Thursday 9 Sept?

John
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John W

ColinB · Guest

It's very odd, given that SK's last words on air were something like "See you on Monday, if we're spared... " etc etc.

Something happened that weekend, but I don't suppose we'll know until her memoirs are published!

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

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

I believe so unless she was about to go on holiday.

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

ColinB · Guest

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

Ah right, so were 'those last words' uttered on Friday 13 August?
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John W

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

According to someone posting on the R2 board, which I read at the time, they were John.

I only hear the first hour on a recording (cassette only goes one way but at least you can program it to record!) most 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

ColinB · Guest

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

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19333 Location: Cheshire

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

I was looking for a photo of Sarah actually IN the R2 studios and Googling indicated that the Daily Telegraph website had a couple, with a photographer's name Eleanor Bentall.

I contacted Eleanor for permission to use and she sent me much better jpegs (Telegraph had significantly reduced quality and size/shape of photos).

So our R2 Timeline page now has a lovely photo of Sarah, scroll down to 2010 at

http://www.r2ok.co.uk/R2_timeline.htm

John
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John W

ColinB · Guest

Bliney - even that one's old. Look at the Cart rack on the right hand side - and there are actual record turntables (which the BBC was affectionately calling "grams" until recently) in the studio!!!

Nice to see Scott Nelson gets a mention on that page, John! Wink

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

Yeah Scott WAS useful in the old days with his old schedules etc Smile

And yes, well spotted Colin, Eleanor said the photos of Sarah were taken in 1996!
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John W