R2OK!

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

Wednesday 1 February
10.00-11.00pm
BBC RADIO 2

A special programme paying tribute to Radio 2’s Sounds of the Sixties presenter, legendary broadcaster Brian Matthew, a true icon of the airwaves.

Overview of Brians career:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/05/The-Brian-Matthew-Story.html

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

That sounds well worth a listen and probably long overdue but I just wonder why it's being broadcast now

I sincerely hope it isn't the prelude to major changes with the show - well except for replacing the producer of course Smile

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

I wouldn't worry--David Jacobs was done almost a year ago (currently being repeated) and he's still in his slot.

This is in my diary!

Ian.

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

At least the BBC are keeping these Alive peoples obituary going. I would say it's a biography of the broadcaster. Hopefully we will hear more of the Radio 2 broadcasters Stories aired?

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

Minor problem with that Mark - it can't be an obituary unless they are dead Rolling Eyes

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

Just a reminder that this airs tonight at 10pm!

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

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7201 Location: North Yorkshire

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

An excellent show as far as it went but really there should have been two parts. Towards the end they were rushing to get everything in. But do catch it on the iplayer if you missed it.

Ian.

graham b · Joined: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 211 Location: Wakefield

What an amazing career he has had. I knew about Saturday Club onwards but not about RADA, the Old Vic and his work in the Netherlands & Germany. It's not many programmes that would keep me up until 11 on a work night.

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

SOTS Facebook have raved about the show so iplayer later!
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John W

Andy W · Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 140 Location: France

I thoroughly enjoyed it too. A niggle about the iPlayer though, it cuts about a minute off the end of the programme

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

I've just listened and also missed the end as it was cut short. It didn't actually start until 5 minutes into the 57 that they put on iPlayer!

Excellent programme 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

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

PS to my last message. I've written to Feedback today about the cut off at the end but I doubt if anything will come of it.

They have changed the 57 minutes on the iPlayer window to 1.00 but it makes no difference to where it ends and it doesn't start until 5.14 minutes into the iPlayer session.

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

Andy W · Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 140 Location: France

The cutting off of programmes on iPlayer is not uncommon for Radio 2 programmes, it happened on at least one of the Old Grey Whistle Test editions for example. It seems to stem from the fact that the "recording" comes in before the preceding news bulletin so even if the whole thing lasts an hour (more than enough to cover a normal 57 minute show) it gets cut off.

By the way if you want to hear more of Brian on shows like Round Midnight plus some of the BBC Transcription Service shows he recorded in the 60s I put some audio up on my blog.

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

You would think they could sort it out though Andy, as it's not exactly rocket science is it? As you say it's all because they start the recording early. On the other hand I've noticed several 2 hour shows get 2.03 so the following show probably loses out.

Thanks for the reminder of you blog I'm listening to your SOTS from Sep 02 right 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

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

I've just been on this week's Feedback!

A bit garbled as we did several takes on the various points in my email which others had also picked up on.

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

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7201 Location: North Yorkshire

Yes we heard you Helen, I think you did much better than I would have done. It was very annoying to have the end of Brian's story chopped off by the i-player, we listened to it on there too!
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

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

Thanks Angela. They didn't really take up all the points I thought. This is my email.

===============================================
The Brian Matthew Story was an excellent programme on Radio 2 this week, but why does it have to be spoilt by the iPlayer not recording the whole of it?

The iPlayer shows it as being 57 minutes long which you would think sufficient to allow for the news at the top of the hour. However on this occasion we got the dying moments of the previous programme followed by the news and it was a full 5.14 minutes before the actual show began. Obviously the end was going to be missed and spoil the excellent documentary. To make matters worse the following programme started on the hour so I couldn't catch the end that way!

I've so often seen a 2 hour programme given 2.03 on the iPlayer so why couldn't we have a full hour? It's an excellent invention but please put the finer points right BBC. I can't see this happening to a television programme so why is it just radio who has to suffer.

I've just checked back and the timing has been altered to 1.00.00 but still the end is missing. Not good enough BBC.

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It's now on iPlayer should anyone want to listen. Wink

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006slnx

Start from about 2 mins in unless you want the whole lot of course!

H

PS Try this link if the above doesn't work http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bmq31#synopsis Then the Listen Now button
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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

Andy W · Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 140 Location: France

Just caught you on Feedback Helen. Well done.
From the BBC response then it seems likely that Radio 2 was running behind schedule that evening.

I've only realised that there is a "Report Issue" button on the iPlayer but that it only appears if you listen via the full-screen iPlayer rather, than what I usually do, which is to go to the schedule and click on "Listen Now" which brings up the pop-out Radio Player.

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

Thanks Andy. I've never seen that button either!

I'm not so sure about the behind schedule excuse because, as I said in the email, I tried listening to the following programme which was on time and there was no sign of the missing bit of Brian's Story. Also if I remember correctly there was a trail between the news and the start of BM Story.

I must admit I was suprised when they contacted me after sending the email as I thought nothing would come of it.

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

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7201 Location: North Yorkshire

I have never seen that button either, but I am the same as Andy and always listen on the pop out player.
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

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

I have seen the button before now and I've used it to report the fact that on some occasions the system has not been working properly

I assume the procedure must work but I'm not sure how many people have to report a problem before anything is done about it Smile

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6812

Yes,well done Helen!... ...it sounds from the response you got that this is one problem they are trying and hoping to right

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

Thanks Becky, I hope they can put things right.

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