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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:59 am Post subject: Big L Documentary |
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Did anyone see it on Channel 4 last night at 9pm followed by a pretty explosive discussion on E4 at 10pm.
Obviously the station has problems but I was uncomfortable with the way the programme was edited. I thought they were gunning for a sensationalist show. We know that they selectively edit Big Brother to portray people as heros or villains. I felt they were doing the same with this.
The station has a good sound just woeful marketing abilities IMO.
BTW on a ligher note, STEVE LEVINE, the other half of the Record Producers series on Radio 2 with a certain Richard Allinson, is now doing a weekly show for the Big L on Saturdays at 5pm.
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mcl
Joined: 04 Feb 2007
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Location: Somewhere in the South
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Big L Documentary |
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| gfloyd wrote: | | The station has a good sound just woeful marketing abilities IMO. |
Agreeing to do this show is prime evidence they haven't got a clue - they'll never shift the stigma of being a 'failing radio station' now.
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe so but how many people are aware of the station now, because of the programme? The street poll they did showed nobody knew of it.
I wouldn't have known of Big L apart from reading Mark's post on here a while back.
The manager was hard to like, and I agree with Ernie, the show was leaning heavily to Harvey's side of things, but if it was on National FM, I'd probably listen to it! given the music style.
I had to smile at the portholes in the studio recreating the pirate ship feel to things...
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Ed Stewart was practically bursting at the seams trying to get his say on the follow up programme on e4 afterwards... |
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gfloyd
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Somebody today mentioned that Heart & Magic are the McDonalds of radio. I have a feeling that Smooth wont be far behind on that list. The Big L guys were getting huge stick last night for playing more than 300 songs in high rotation on an endless basis. 
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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He said most radio stations have a "core" of around 180 songs but Big L has 600 songs..
whatever that means.
I admired Ed Stewart jumping down the throat of Nick Ferrari for slamming BigL even though he hadn't actually listened to it.
( maybe I'd better keep quite on that front.... ) |
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| interesting to note that neither Mike Read or Diddy Dave Hamilton appeared on the follow up show.. |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | | interesting to note that neither Mike Read or Diddy Dave Hamilton appeared on the follow up show.. |
Well it wont have done Mike Read's campaign to be London mayor much good./ Ferrari is also rumoured to be in the running for mayor, so I suppose he was biased anyway & wanted to nobble one of his challengers.
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Mark Mayhew
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Ernie-I'm very interested in your heads up on Steve Levine re a show on the Big L on Saturdays at 5pm.
Any more info known on this please ie content, format etc.
I much enjoyed Steve's contribution alongside Richard Allinson on the recent Record Producers shows/series for BBC Radio 2.
Additional info if you are aware of it would be gratefully received.
Thanks in anticipation. |
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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See? it's working already...  |
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Lady Boil De Spudswell
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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Just watched this prog. Jesus! Really quite sad on so many levels, not least watching, in some cases, experienced pros who think they know it all coz they've been round the block, desperately flailing round to assert themselves through a haze of Blossom Hill!
I mean even the once great David Hamilton... "I've got a great strapline. More Music, More Fun."
Wow! Genius Dave! I'm sure no other commercial station has ever used such an audience grabbing tag line. Zzzzzzzzz. That's what years on antiseptic Primetime Radio does to you. I felt thoroughly depressed at the end of this doc, not least by this pipe dream mentality, that, hey, we all worked for the beeb, we can be as big as Radio 2!!
Washed up vacuous egos you wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with who need the nightly crutch of a case of red wine to make life look a little rosier. Just desperately sad.
And as for that breakfast show jock?!?! Made me nostalgic for Ellen Jameson!!
The only way this kind of station can be done properly is on the BBC and it's what we advocated many times on the R2 board. A digital sister station for R2's increasingly disenfranchised older listeners. Somewhere decent to go with big names, profile, some professional focus and some bloody money behind it!
'2Extra' would blow two-bob stations like Big L and Classic Gold out of the water if only the beeb would realise that's where some of us would like our licence money spent.
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| Mark Mayhew wrote: | Hi Ernie-I'm very interested in your heads up on Steve Levine re a show on the Big L on Saturdays at 5pm.
Any more info known on this please ie content, format etc.
I much enjoyed Steve's contribution alongside Richard Allinson on the recent Record Producers shows/series for BBC Radio 2.
Additional info if you are aware of it would be gratefully received.
Thanks in anticipation. |
Mark,
from their website:
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Legendary producer, Steve Levine has joined the Big L ranks. The man who helped shape the careers of The Clash, Culture Club, Gary Moore and Louise Redknapp will host 'Live At Levine's' every Saturday evening from 21 April. The hour-long show will feature in-studio conversations from some of the biggest names in pop history....straight from Steve's gaff in trendy Fulham. The programme debuts with a frank chat with Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp. Steve, who has been a major player in the music industry for over thirty years will draw on his vast knowledge and experience to bring Big L listeners a sizzling show.
Live At Levine's begins on Saturday 21 April from 5pm
========================
Enjoy it while it lasts. I dont think the Big L will be around too much longer.
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Last edited by gfloyd on Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| Lady Boil De Spudswell wrote: | | Just watched this prog. Jesus! Really quite sad on so many levels, not least watching, in some cases, experienced pros who think they know it all coz they've been round the block, desperately flailing round to assert themselves through a haze of Blossom Hill! |
Well I think the tv documentary makers bought the rope that allowed the guys to hang themselves. Why experienced pros fell for a bunch of tv producers oldest tricks in the book is beyond me.
First they flatter you endlessly telling you how great you are, then the buy you loads of booze (all the wine in the house was bought by the tv crew), then they film loads of positive stuff to get your trust (this of course will never see the light of day) and then they edit the final show to suit whatever narrative they think will generate the highest ratings.
Read & Hamilton should have know this. Maybe they are just getting arrogant or desperate.
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Gus Honeybun
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:49 am Post subject: |
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Me and the other bunnies here on Bodmin Moor are having trouble with the satellite reception of BigL here in our bunnymobile. Every time we go round a corner the dish falls off!
Gus
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:56 am Post subject: |
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Well, I just clicked on the Big L Listen now on their website and it works perfectly, in fact better than the Beeb facility on my pc .
Mike Read is on now playing Ventura Highway ( spookily, Radio 2 is playing another oldie - Smoke on the water..)
I think I'll give it a try.
Mike Read just read out an email saying they had only started listening after the tv show...
As LBS mentioned, there's a very big audience out there feeling cut out of the current Radio 2 set up. Wish it was on FM.. |
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: |
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| in fact I'm going to email them and wish them the best of luck.... |
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Gus Honeybun
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | | Well, I just clicked on the Big L Listen now on their website and it works perfectly, in fact better than the Beeb facility on my pc |
Agreed - down at the burrow here we all think Radio 2's Realplayer stream is appalling!
Mike Read's actually sounding OK, actually. He's obviously not straightjacketed like R2 presenters are these days in terms of what they can play.
Gus
PS: Carrot soup for lunch, methinks!
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Lady Boil De Spudswell
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| gfloyd wrote: | | Lady Boil De Spudswell wrote: | | Just watched this prog. Jesus! Really quite sad on so many levels, not least watching, in some cases, experienced pros who think they know it all coz they've been round the block, desperately flailing round to assert themselves through a haze of Blossom Hill! |
Well I think the tv documentary makers bought the rope that allowed the guys to hang themselves. Why experienced pros fell for a bunch of tv producers oldest tricks in the book is beyond me.
First they flatter you endlessly telling you how great you are, then the buy you loads of booze (all the wine in the house was bought by the tv crew), then they film loads of positive stuff to get your trust (this of course will never see the light of day) and then they edit the final show to suit whatever narrative they think will generate the highest ratings.
Read & Hamilton should have know this. Maybe they are just getting arrogant or desperate. |
I think Read and Hamilton are now of the age and desperation where any publicity is good publicity - no matter how bad it makes them look, and this did. Poor old Hamilton was strangely quiet in the way ageing people are when they're loosing it a bit. "More Music, More Fun" indeed! This is the man who once made afternoon listening on Radio 2 compulsive! The Music Game, Spot The Intro, Drive at Five - Jeez, how the mighty fall.
Read just came out looking like a washed-up 70's R1 twat! He's a little better than than..... not much, but a little. There's a brain and some talent there somewhere.
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mcl
Joined: 04 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| gfloyd wrote: | | Read & Hamilton should have know this. Maybe they are just getting arrogant or desperate. |
It was shockingly naive of them, wasn't it? As Wogan once said, never say yes to this kind of thing - no matter how flattering the producer or charming the researcher, if they have to leave your bloodied corpse lying on the floor to get the programme made, they will!
I've heard tales about one of the participants which leads me to think he deserves everything he gets, though!
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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I slightly disagree with the last two posts.
Just because they are getting on a bit doesn't mean to say they're washed up or losing it at all. Is Wogan or Bruce or Matthew washed up?
This has been mentioned so many times on the boards, that the former fab FM radio 1 listeners migrated to the then nearly Fab Radio 2 but over the last year or so found themselves increasingly frustrated by the Douglas regime.
I'm in that bracket for sure.
How about Ed Stewart? many posters sincerely mourned the loss of his programme. ( I'd love to see Ed on Big L...)
There's a massive audience of over 45's who may like to see a return to the old Radio 1 idea of "more music, more fun" after all, a lot of radio 2's output is hardly fun is it? come to think of it, neither is most of todays pop output either.
Plus, we don't all want "serious" muso dj's like Mr Allinson either.
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gfloyd
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | I slightly disagree with the last two posts.
Just because they are getting on a bit doesn't mean to say they're washed up or losing it at all. Is Wogan or Bruce or Matthew washed up? |
Washed up is tabloid speak for anyone over the age of 30.
| SantaFefan wrote: | How about Ed Stewart? many posters sincerely mourned the loss of his programme. ( I'd love to see Ed on Big L...)
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Well tune in tomorrow then because he's on then.
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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is he really? great!
is he on on a regular basis? |
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mcl
Joined: 04 Feb 2007
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Location: Somewhere in the South
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | | Just because they are getting on a bit doesn't mean to say they're washed up or losing it at all. |
I quite agree - I mean, I liked JY and he was knocking 80 before he got the boot, so age is no barrier as far as I'm concerned.
The real fools here are the ones who agreed to take part in a documentary without realising they'd be done up like a right kipper - whoever sanctioned this obviously had no idea how the media works. They might gain one or two extra listeners out of curiosity, but what advertiser's going to want to be associated with the station now? Airing one's dirty laundry in public isn't exactly going to bring the money in (unless you want to cater for the weirdos who pay money for dirty laundry!)
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know, I've listened to the station quite a bit today, including the american chap on after Dave Hamilton, Randy Lee Jones, and again, he's not bad at all!
The point is that they may just play the variety of music us older folks want?
I like to listen to Planet Rock and The Jazz ( thanks to Mr.Evans ) but although I love rock music, it's too much for any length of time.
So, if you accept that there is a big audience wanting to hear the likes of Mike Read and Ed Stewart, then why wouldn't it work?
In my opinion, some of the current Radio 2 shows wouldn't stand up to criticism if they were on a fledgling station either...
I've heard advertising on there this afternoon, including a Norwich estate agent!
If firms think they'll get a good deal, they'll go for it. |
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gfloyd
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | is he really? great!
is he on on a regular basis? |
He covers for people who are off mainly. I think he is covering for Read tomorrow.
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent! 
I'll be tuning in to hear what he has to say.
No wonder he was so angry on the tv show... |
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PJ in Kent
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| mcl wrote: | | gfloyd wrote: | | Read & Hamilton should have know this. Maybe they are just getting arrogant or desperate. |
It was shockingly naive of them, wasn't it? As Wogan once said, never say yes to this kind of thing - no matter how flattering the producer or charming the researcher, if they have to leave your bloodied corpse lying on the floor to get the programme made, they will!
I've heard tales about one of the participants which leads me to think he deserves everything he gets, though! |
Come on MCL, spill the beans- which one of them?  Your public demand more info! 
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mcl
Joined: 04 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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My lips are sealed, I'm afraid - I don't want to get sued, after all!
All I can tell you is he's not the one who also appeared in the programme, who with a colleague on a certain national radio station used to attempt to distract newsreaders by dropping their trousers and presenting their family jewels while they were on air. Sadly, posterity doesn't recall the name of the newsreader who put an end to this practice by slamming his hand down very hard on the offending parts while the mike was open, forcing the injured party to stifle his screams of agony while the news bulletin was on!
His fellow flasher is still very well-known and successful in the radio business...but that's as far as I'm going with that!
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PJ in Kent
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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Go on, MCL. PM me with the info- it'll go no further, scout's etc.
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Gus Honeybun
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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Location: A Burrow on Bodmin Moor
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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This series with Harvey Goldsmith was an adaptation of Channel 4's other programme which used the same format - Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. Anybody who thought that the new version would be all sweetness and light must be daft! It's obvious they were looking for another Ramsey-style hatchet job, expletives and all!
In fact, it was enough to make Mrs. Honeybun go bunny-hopping mad and she had to try and cover the innocent little ears of the many baby bunnies in our burrow. Disgraceful!
As for BigL, I don't think it's that bad actually. Better than much of Radio 2's bland and formulaic output anyway.
Gus
PS: Baby carrots. Mmmmmm. Munch munch.
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SantaFefan
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Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Ed Stewart is sounding good this morning! lots of people emailing the station with good wishes and support.
Good to hear one listener slamming Nick Ferrari with Ed's blessing too!
Listening on line is faultless so far.. |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | Ed Stewart is sounding good this morning! lots of people emailing the station with good wishes and support.
Good to hear one listener slamming Nick Ferrari with Ed's blessing too!
Listening on line is faultless so far.. |
Ed vs Ferrari. They could go on Celebrity Wrestling and sort this one out.
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gfloyd
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| mcl wrote: | My lips are sealed, I'm afraid - I don't want to get sued, after all!
All I can tell you is he's not the one who also appeared in the programme, who with a colleague on a certain national radio station used to attempt to distract newsreaders by dropping their trousers and presenting their family jewels while they were on air. Sadly, posterity doesn't recall the name of the newsreader who put an end to this practice by slamming his hand down very hard on the offending parts while the mike was open, forcing the injured party to stifle his screams of agony while the news bulletin was on!
His fellow flasher is still very well-known and successful in the radio business...but that's as far as I'm going with that! |
I think its an easy one to guess if you think of the Radio 1 schedules in the early 80's. Seem to recall a certain "golden hour" of radio around then..........
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gfloyd
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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Garry Williams has left Big L last week. I wonder if the TV programme sealed his fate? He was the breakfast DJ who got a lot of criticism.
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SantaFefan
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't tell me Richard Allinson is standing in! |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: Here, There, Everywhere.
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | | Don't tell me Richard Allinson is standing in! |
Well his mate already has a show on the station!
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Mark Mayhew
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Whose that Ernie. |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Mayhew wrote: | | Whose that Ernie. |
Steve Levine
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