R2OK!

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Yes you read it correctly!

This afternoon I've been going through a box of miscellaneous Minidiscs (many with no names on) and the prize has been a recording of Johnnie Walker's return to Radio 2 on March 1st 2004 (I had labelled that one!).

I'm still listening right now and I'm seriously thinking of sending a copy to the so called R2 controller with a note saying that 'this is what is missing from Radio 2' these days'. Lots of names from the past (John Marsh, Martin Shankleman and Fenella Fudge so far) and of course great music.

I wish I could share my find with you all, let me know how and you can have a copy with pleasure! I'm certainly going to transfer it to the computer even though it's in Mono, minidiscs are only 74/80 mins in stereo and I'm guessing I didn't want to miss a single second of the great man's return! You know I sometimes think mono sounds more authentic.......

H

PS I should add that it's almost like old times as I started listening just after 5 o'clock.
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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: Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:26 am Post subject:

I remember this from the time as I was actually a bit annoyed - I preferred Stuart Maconie in the slot! Although it was never "his" show I felt Maconie was treated pretty shabbily at the time.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I enjoyed Stuart doing the show as well Ian.

Johnnie thanked the standins but 'especially Stuart Maconie'...... I'd added on bits of the rest of his first week back to fill in the 161 mins on the disc and Johnnie dedicated a Belle and Sebastian track to Stuart on the 2nd day back, one of Stuart's fave's at the time. I'd including the 'Cruisin' bits as well which I'd actually forgotten about! From memory I used to record them on a disc and edit them out.

Funny listening to Sally doing the travel reports, and (you'll apreciate this!) unsurprisingly the M60 featured regularly. O/H was listening and had a chuckle saying that could easily have been today's travel 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

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 11:48 am Post subject:

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

That seemed to be the point at which the regular stand-in no longer took over the gig on a permanent basis when the regular incumbant stood down. To my knowledge the last time the regular stand-in permanantly took over a show was in 2003 when Jeremy Vine took over from Jimmy Young. Before then you had Johnnie Walker taking over from John Dunn on the Drivetime show in the late 1990s. Previously Johnnie was John's regular stand-in.
It would certainly be interesting, not to mention nostalgic to hear that 1st March show again. Even more than that, for me personally, would be that week's Friday show (5/3/04) The one where Johnnie held a chatroom before the show started. I remember getting my late parents a mention on that day's show for their golden wedding anniversary which was the next day.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.