R2OK!

Ally Gory · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 72

I wish they'd make the change permanent. No stupid questions, no witless "jokes" and a discussion taking place without the host missing the point and butting-in. Phone-in contributors even get to make the point they phoned-in to make. I also don't miss the patronising caring voice Vine adopts.

ColinB · Guest

Seconded. I now avoid the show when Vine is in the chair - I just don't his cat-on-hot-bricks style or the way he pushes phone callers off whilst they're in mid-flow - usually to play some boring piece of music we've heard a million times on the station!

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

Paddy cut at least one short that I heard today though.

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

undiscovered · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 650 Location: Peterborough

I quite like him when he does the quarter finals of the Eurovision song contest Embarassed

I'll get my thick warm outer garment
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Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:25 pm Post subject:

I must admit I've totally gone off the JV show - the numbers of inane questions and pointless sidebars, plus the amount of lazy journalism started to grate on me. Now I listen to "You and Yours" and the 1pm news on R4, then "Brain of Britain" or "The Media Show" depending on what day it is.

It's a great pity, but I find myself listening to less and less R2 nowadays.
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Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Ally Gory · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 72

Listening again today, Paddy's just in a different league altogether.

I used to have my radio alarm tuned-in to Radio 2 and woke up to Sarah Kennedy. I would listen to Wogan and still do listen to Ken Bruce, then I would retune to 5 Live, for Simon Mayo's excellent afternoon programme. Now, it's usually just Ken and I'm only listening until 2pm because Vine's away.

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

He is in a different league Ally, at the bottom of the Conference in my book!

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

Ally Gory · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 72

We'll never agree Helen, as you know I don't have any time for Jeremy Vine at all.

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 3:19 pm Post subject:

Is JV ill? Seems to have been missing a while.
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MiS

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

Just 2 weeks MiS but of course the show was off air between Christmas and New Year.

Not sure if he's doing Egghead recordings or if he is on holiday. Haven't had News 24 on lately, so don't know if his wife has been on which would indicate that he's doing Eggheads!

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

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks Helen. I'd forgotten about Eggheads!
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

How could anyone forget about Eggheads?

It's a brilliant show Very Happy

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BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

I like Jeremy but I no longer like the show if that makes sense?!

I blame it on the producer, the material or lack of that they use to source the show it is all so very predictable. He hasn't changed to my knowledge and I think he heavily censors what and what does not get on the show, he rules the roost not Jeremy.

I will give you an example when we visited the show way back they asked us for negatives about the show and I said the lack of disability issues. They immediately said "oh well we talked about blue badges yesterday"well big deal, but the reality is that they do not cross the real boundaries of what is really happening in the real world....just the tabloid version of it.

I've emailed the show on many occasion and never had my email read out and I know that I'm out of favor because I do not fit in the box of what they want the show to appeal to and that is and no offence intended the Daily Mail readers of middle England (PP would be proud of me for coming out like this)!! I've said it now and that is how I feel. Although I did get a phone call when I said I was disgusted at the treatment and bias reporting on a particular issue that affected my Local Authority and threatened a complaint because of it and copied in the Director of Social Services.

I will give you an example of a major issue that may not be important to anyone here but I flagged up an issue and actually a friend had an appointment with the current Work & Pensions Minister of the time, that day he resigned and she really wanted to go on the show to highlight the issue (we have since been successful in getting the law changed in this area) but they didn't even reply to her. I felt a sense of satisfaction because they actually missed a very good journalistic opportunity because of it.

JV is a nice man and a caring one but the show lacks something new and challenging, not his fault but there you go.

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

I like Jeremy as a presenter but I'm inclined to agree about programme content

The show tends to be based on the agenda dictated by the tabloids which is rarely a good one and it seems that gone are the days when the BBC seemed able to rise above the tabloid newspaper garbage

It's now all down to audience figures just like circulation figures for newspapers but I still feel Jeremy is better than any alternate presenter I have heard in the slot apart from Jane Hill

The whole of the media now seem to follow each other like sheep( sorry sheep are usually more intelligent) instead of now and again standing back and thinking why on earth are we peddling all this crap

It's a very sad state of affairs
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BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

It is a very sad state of affairs you are right....because the BBC should be there to be distinct from the tabloid, ratings wars etc etc. and whilst people might moan about this when it comes to celebrity appointments on shows....that really is nothing compared to the serious matter of they are now just as commercial as an independent station.

When it comes to current affairs this raises far more serious issues than who shouts at us over breakfast.

If we have no independent serious body to challenge the status quo on behalf of the tax payers, that isn't driven by money or ratings; then the BBC ceases to have a reason for being funded by the tax payer and that as you say is a very sad state of affairs.

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

I'm going to have to disagree over the tabloid effect on the show. It's not their fault that news in general has been 'tabloidised' over the last few years. I don't like the fact that it has either, but it has and there isn't a lot we can do about it. We've heard the same arguments about this over and over again.

I do feel that the subjects up for discussion when Jeremy isn't there seem to be somewhat dumbed down. This week for instance I feel they have been, but when you look around there doesn't seem to be that much happening that would make for a better topic, so unless you want them to make up the news you're stuck with what we have had.

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

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

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

I've seen her since Christmas Becky, but can't recall what time of day. I think she does different times each week.

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

That's the whole point Helen

The BBC is so large and respected worldwide that it could do something to fight against the tide of tabloid rubbish if it chose to do so but instead it chooses to try to compete with the tabloids and it will never win that particular battle

There are some very good things on the show not least the regular Martyn Lewis slots and Jeremy is a first rate presenter but the BBC needs to rise above the ordinary level of gutter journalism peddled by the likes of the Sun and its rivals

I'm not saying don't cover current issues but do so in a way which doesn't necessarily mirror whatever happens to be in published the tabloids on any given day
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BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

Exactly Riddler

They can do exactly that Helen that is our point they can look for better and more interesting topics/news, they do not have to follow the line of the tabloids what a poor excuse for the BBC's lack of performance. There are numerous interesting issues and topics they could persue but they choose not to do so. They don't have to follow the tabloids that is a ridiculous argument there are numerous other news stories around that do not get much coverage everyday. Or as Riddler says cover it from a different perspective.

The fact that the show is dumbed down when Jeremy isn't there. probably does actually point to the fact that he probably does put up some resistance to the powers that be in the programming whereas a stand in is much less likely to do this.

BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

And the tabloids don't make the news up?! Shocked

I don't mean the headlines like wars, acts of god etc. I mean all the other rubbish that they generate half of which is grossly inaccurate and full of political bias. Or some celebrity gossip?!

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

God only knows what the show will be like when we get the dreaded Feltz woman covering

I think Jeremy has great integrity but the BBC or some other powerful organisation needs to start standing up to the tabloid press for the sake of democracy in this country

Even the Government seems to be scared of them and that has been true of all Governments over the last thirty years
This country is run by the press not by our elected representatives as it should be and the BBC should be making a stand for ordinary people not pandering to the lowest common denominator
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BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

Hear hear

I'm not sure democracy actually exists to be honest or ever has done. There will always be some controlling force that is primarily driven by power and money.

Having said that it doesn't excuse the BBC not fulfilling it's duty to challenge the status quo.

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

You've missed the point I'm making, that basically life in general is more 'tabloid' than it was 5-10 years ago. Even the broadsheet papers aren't what they used to be. Life moves on, like it or not. If you want heavy news listen to Radio 4 or maybe 5 live.

I don't think the tabloids make up the news, they hype it up a lot but there is always some truth in whatever it is.

Don't forget the programme has to appeal to a broad range of listeners and they have to balance whether a story or topic is more than just a personal issue for one or two people.

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

I agree Helen that life is more tabloid than it was and that being the case there are two choices for the BBC

Either they try to compete with the tabloids or they make a stand by taking the view that wish to adopt a different approach

I guess it's like comparing Classic FM with Radio 3 the former being much more popularist in its approach than the latter but both survive alongside each other quite happily

The main difference of course is that we as licence fee payers fund the BBC but not its commercial rivals so it should be we the listeners who have far more input into what is broadcast rather than the likes of Mr Murdoch who actually has substantial interests in organisations which,given the chance,would probably like to see the BBC broken up or even disbanded

I take the point that Radio 2 is essentially a music station and other networks are available but if the network chooses to devote a daily two hour show to news based items the coverage needs to be equally as competent as Radio 4 or 5 Live or of course the other option would be to have a Radio 2 equivalent of Newsbeat on Radio 1 restricted to 15 minutes

As I said I like Jeremy butI'm not sure the show generally is heading in the right direction with recent personnel changes
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

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

I think you are probably right Helen when you say most people are happy with the show at present

I do think that Jeremy really makes the show work as did Jimmy Young before him but I can well imagine that there may be quite a few disagreements behind the scenes between Jeremy and the production team and as was pointed out he was clearly unhappy with Ms Feltz being brought in as regular cover which I can fully understand

You're right about the lack of listeners comments this week and that contrasts with Jeremy who always has room for lots of comments

Perhaps as you say it's just that few listeners have bothered to send e mails but as I said earlier the listeners fund the BBC with their licence fees so their comments must be regarded as an important and integral part of the show and I wouldn't like to see a situation where such comments were ignored
I'll be glad when Jeremy is back Smile

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BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

I agree Helen the news is far more tabloid in general. The aspects I like about the show are the non news bits, like Terry, Martin etc. maybe they should concentrate more on that side of it because it is fair to say they are not R4.

You are spot on there Riddlers and it is fairly obvious when you visit the show there is no love lost between Jeremy and the producer.

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

Ah well that's where we differ! I like the news bits and always have done with a bit of non news.

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

BDG · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

I like news but not the way it is presented on the show an hour is ok but we all have different likes and dislikes Smile