R2OK!

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

She seems quite comfortable with musicians, so maybe she's out of her depth with any other profession.

'so to come back with the exact same features seems odd'

Hmmm.....sounds like Theresa May.
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Nickbucks · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 100

I assume she will be sitting in for Ken during the forthcoming half term- unless of course he cancels his hols to ensue he has some listeners left when he returns.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Well well well! I'll have some of that!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46947959
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

He's joining Scala Radio a new 'modern classic' station..........

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

Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1090

Quite a few comments from Simon this weekend. Only advised of the changes via his agent and says that they (BBC) had tried to make an improvement but they made a big mistake. He comes across as being very disillusioned with the management at BBC
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This fool made it round.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

And something in the RT. What an absolute mess these suits have made.

They've even got a head of Music! They can have as many 'Heads' as they like, but they'll always be Take That FM. The shows all smack of desperation. Endless plugging of each other's shows. It was never that way. Pure W1A.

They have no direction whatsoever. Actually, they do. Downwards.

Simon says...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47120959
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

The BBC can't admit it when they have got it wrong can they? I hardly listen to the station these days, more because once you switch off you forget to switch back 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

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

I remember when Ball and Cox (or should that be Ballcocks) started they were trumpeting as though these two new shows were their bright idea instead of having them foisted upon them.
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Ian Robinson · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:55 pm Post subject:

Fun little interview with Simon Mayo in The Guardian. He sounds regretful about having to leave Radio 2 and it's good to see so many comments from listeners saying he was treated poorly.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/aug/08/simon-mayo-interview-bbc-insider-said-too-ugly-for-television

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

Interesting article Ian thanks. He is still much missed in our house, we don't listen to R2 at that time of day 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

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

I think Simon is a big loss for Radio 2. He could easily have gone on to be a Brian Matthews of the station.

I remember the,very unkind, 'too ugly for TV' comment. It was around the time he did Winning Lines.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

R2 has been badly mismanaged for well over a decade now. We know that. On the other hand, it's quite an achievement to keep making it worse, year after year. Sunday afternoons and evenings seem to be the only time where a little sanity and old R2 is allowed to be broadcast. I expect it's only a matter of time until even that is no more. FNIMN will go soon, I expect, to make way for Ms Winkleman or Cotton. That will leave them with a choice, whther to return it to Friday nights or not. I suspect the latter, if nowhere is allowed to stage it. Lucky for me, that I enjoy Guy Garvey and Tom Robinson on 6 on a Sunday as well. Good music played by people who know and love it, as opposed to celebs who couldn't care less.

Simon was one of the exceptions. Intelligent, grown up radio. Although I don't listen to Drivetime these days, the little snippets that I have heard, tells me that Sara Cox does a fine job. She has personality in spades and seems to have made it her own. But it's not aimed for the likes of me. Besides, I like The Chase!

I find Ken Bruce almost unbearable these days, save for the occasional Popmaster, because of the turgid, vacuous nonsense he has to play. Hate it with a passion. I think it's so wrong that great music is shunned on R2. In doing so, they are denying the younger listeners - or those who would have a little taste - the opportunity to hear this music for themselves, as well as the rest of us decrepit old souls. We are treated appallingly, even though it's us who pay for this station. SOTS a classic example. 6 in the morning? Come on!

I appear to have heatstroke. Apologies.
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Don't apologise Raver and I don't think it's the heat!

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

Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1090

You're dead right Raver, we're becoming the forgotten generation. I only ever catch the odd popmaster on the daytime schedule. Tony B and Johnny W at the weekend and possibly the earlier Sunday shows if I'm out driving are about all I listen to live nowadays.
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The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

The forgotten generation with the best music, Foggy. That's the truth.
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Red Baron · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 119

The only R2 show I listen to these days is Johnnie Walkers SOT70's.

Like you, Raver, I find Sundays with Guy and Tom a good listen. Radcliffe and Maconie are a good start to weekends.

I really dislike the music on R2 these days, I tolerate 6 because I like to listen to new music, not mass produced rubbish - that link you shared, H, about Don Black was interesting when he was saying how music was written these days - but there's still too much rap/grime on 6 which has me turning it off. There's another discussion there - is it music or poetry?

As for the younger listener - my 'kids' don't listen to R2, they go to 6 as well, though they find a lot of music online.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Hello Redders. I did mean to thank you for the Tom Robinson/Peter Green heads up, which was brilliant. Spent a joyous 3 hours in the sun, listening to it on the tablet.

The rap etc puts me off, I must admit. I like and appreciate it when it's done well, like Eminem, Stormzy and Dizzee Rascal and a few others, but the rest are much like the old rhymes kids do, when picking a team or game...like eeny meeny miney mo. There's no skill involved - just the ability to rhyme a word. So when I'm listening to 6 and one comes on, then I tend to switch off. I do manage to catch some Rad/Mac at weekends - love the crisp flavour tests!

Marc Riley is a great listen too, when I remember to put him on instead of Channel Four news or whatever.
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Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2022 5:17 pm Post subject:

It was the final "Wittertainment" on 5Live today, with Simon Mayo leaving the BBC altogether after exactly 40 years. He thanked the many bosses he'd worked with at the BBC but pointedly only Bob Shennan on Radio 2, and not his successor.

Mayo's BBC pass was cancelled even before he left the building, which means he had to be escorted out after his last show. A pretty shoddy way to treat one of their finest broadcasters.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

How shoddy and petty is that?

Hell hath no fury like an Auntie scorned.
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Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1090

Not at all surprised to hear that though, BBC is becoming a shadow of what it once was
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The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round.

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

I agree.

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

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:27 am Post subject:

https://twitter.com/alexthedarklord/status/1510167196500123652?s=20&t=jdxgo6-xVeZZjsYY4Fq3rA

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

I don't want to come across all over dramatic, but after reading Alex Lester's post - and Charles Nove's underneath it, I honestly don't give a flying fudge what happens to the BBC anymore. And that's saying something, seeing that Nadine Dorres makes Cruella De Ville seem like Sister Teresa.
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

I agree Raver, I hardly listen to the Beeb at all 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

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:35 pm Post subject:

Yes, I've had a few similar messages from local radio presenter friends and this is the sort of attitude that you expect at commercial stations, not the BBC. There's so many other opportunities for radio people nowadays there really is no excuse for treating someone so badly.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Going off topic slightly, but still a variation on a theme, I notice that R2 seem to have a 90's day today. There's a kick in the Zoe's for the oldies! Even Tony Blackburn's show is dedicated to it.

Not that I don't like 90's music. There's a lot to like. Partial to a bit of Radiohead, Eels, and others that don't usually get airplay, as well as Blur, Oasis and Kurt, but they get plenty of airplay on other stations as it is.

So expect plenty of Take That and Boyzone.
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