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1930s music ignored by Radio 2
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very interesting developments. Is there any petition or similar that we could sign?

Ian.
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iwarburton



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Posts: 2133
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Michael Law, mentioned above, has a letter in today's Sunday Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/3741849/Nannys-tobacco-smokescreen.html

Ian.
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RockitRon



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interestingly, confusingly (and wrongly) the little description which comes up on the Radio 2 page on Freeview for The David Jacobs Collection, when it is on, says that "the basis for this programme is the heritage of popular music from the 1930s".
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John W



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: Warwickshire, UK

PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iwarburton wrote:
Very interesting developments. Is there any petition or similar that we could sign?


I'm not aware of a campaign as such, but myself and other members of the British Dance Bands yahoo group have been exchanging mail/letters with the Executive Producer (Bob McDowall) who made the axing decision and who appeared on Feedback. It's a good sign that he is actually responding personally to e-mails and not just sending out the corporate statement that was sent out originally.


RockitRon wrote:
Interestingly, confusingly (and wrongly) the little description which comes up on the Radio 2 page on Freeview for The David Jacobs Collection, when it is on, says that "the basis for this programme is the heritage of popular music from the 1930s".


I'm not a frequent listener to David Jacobs but I can't remember him ever playing anything older than Perry Como on his show.

John
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Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19372
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd say he has played a few older than that John, but it depends how far back you go with Perry Como.

H

PS good to hear you on Feedback the other week, I managed to catch it on Listen Again!
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I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
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John W



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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes you're quite right Helen, Como was doing stuff like Chi-Baba Chi Baba in the 1940's and even recorded with Ted Weems' band in the 1930's

John
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
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Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A letter from Judy Broadley of Verwood, Dorset, published in today's Sunday Telegraph, commends forestfm.uk (92.3FM if you're in East Dorset), which plays dance band music on Tuesday evenings.

Ian.
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Happy Christmas and New Year folks.

It is a shame that the letter writing etc has coincided with the festive season and with Feedback being off the air till 30th Jan... hope the impetus can be kept up.

I wrote to BBC Complaints on 27th Nov but they said they did not receive my letter - hmm. So I emailed them in response to Bob McDowall's standard reply, (try losing the email, guys), on 15th Dec: no reply yet. They claim to try and respond within 10 working days, so I'll be phoning on 5th Jan if I have had no answer by then.
In the meantime I've been reading the 9th December response from Bob McDowall on one of your webpages; [ http://www.r2ok.co.uk/R2_dancebands.htm]
and his comments avoid giving any real hope. He says "I think that dance bands should be featured in their own right and hope to explore what may be possible in future by way of offers for short series etc" So, occasional features if we're lucky, but the impression is that the BBC would like to keep dance bands well away from the regular programmes.

Hope to explore what may be possible in future? I hope to explore what may be possible in terms of offers for winning the lottery, at some point in the future, myself. Really.

In particular, his statement that "audience reaction such as '...I always switched off after the first half' has strengthened my feelings that something had to be done" beggars belief.
By what sort of logic does he conclude that you deal with that by getting rid of the first half?!

Iwarburton, I don't think petitions are taken seriously, particularly online ones - individual communications are better, in your own words.
Ray Pallett on the Memory Lane website urges the same... his words are quoted in my post of 27th November.

After finding that Tony Staveacre had not heard about the programme change, it spurred me on to write to others, and not to assume that people in the media world would already know about this. By the way, I wonder if Kenith Trodd has had a reply from the BBC yet. It's been a while.
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have had a nice letter from Malcolm Laycock but nothing from the BBC since 15 Dec. I've phoned twice and been told that my complaint has been "assigned"... has anybody else had a reply from BBC Complaints, other than the standard one?

If the Beeb don't reply at all, maybe I can contact the Trust (again).
I tried once but they bounced the enquiry back, saying I had to follow the BBC Complaints procedure.

Can we take this up with Feedback again on the 30th January? What else can be done??


Sad
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John W



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I suppose we can try taking it up with Feedback again, listeners had two shots at Chris Evans when he first came on the scene.

At the British Dance Bands forum they are trying to get guidance from the BBC Trust.

Worth joining that forum, Jazzmin, if you aren't already a member:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/british-dance-bands/

Have you listened to my 'radio show' ? (much like Malcolm's)

http://www.r2ok.co.uk/dancebandshow.htm


John W
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

John

I've made 3 or 4 attempts to join the forum, but have not managed it due to stupid problems with Yahoo - it demanded I enter a non-Yahoo email address (inconvenient), then after that it refused to add the Yahoo address I wanted to use. Then it would not delete the wrong address I added - this was due to having misspelt the non-Yahoo address because I use it so rarely.
I found myself looping between Yahoo error messages until I gave up.

What with that and the ridiculously involved definitions of identities, aliases, avatars, profiles and so on... I lost my patience with it all.

Have listened to some of your show and loved the tracks, but the sound quality on my tinny built-in speakers is really hissy and makes uncomfortable listening. I will unfortunately have to listen in small sections!
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Jazzmin



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just to add... recommend that you read this discussion on the "Radiocafe" website with many comments by Malcolm Laycock fans... seems we are unanimous.

There's a recommendation for Angel Radio's Dance Band programmes (broadcast from Havant) which sounds good

http://www.radiocafe.co.uk/talk/?p=73

http://www.angelradio.moonfruit.com/#/listenspeechplus/453085829

Barry McCanna's comments about the complaints process show that you must pursue your letter to Trust level if you wish it to have any effect.

And further down is an alarming, but not totally surprising, rumour that the show faces the axe altogether.

Sad
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John W



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jazzmin wrote:
John

I've made 3 or 4 attempts to join the forum, but have not managed it due to stupid problems with Yahoo


Yes, Yahoo are a bit non-friendly with their profiles etc. We had (still have) a yahoo group for R2ok but it has fallen into dis-use and I don't accept new members (I divert them to here)

Jazzmin wrote:

Have listened to some of your show and loved the tracks, but the sound quality on my tinny built-in speakers is really hissy and makes uncomfortable listening. I will unfortunately have to listen in small sections!


The later shows have benefited from audio-restoration to remove most of the noise/hiss very well, but I expect little speakers won't do the sound justice.

John
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BBC Complaints - the never-ending story.

I emailed the BBC on 15 December in response to Bob McDowall's proforma letter.

After numerous phone calls throughout January, I have just been told that my complaint is now with the "Divisional Advisers" and that I am still at "level 1" of the complaint process - despite the fact that they know I wrote because I was not satisfied with McDowall's letter...

What does it take to get to level 2 (let alone level 3)?
All this delay conveniently works in the BBC's favour of course.
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John W



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PostPosted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dance Band Show # 7 is now uploaded, at:

http://www.r2ok.co.uk/dancebandshow.htm

For light music fans, listen out for mention of Billy Mayerl and Frederic Curzon!

In show # 7 you'll hear another random selection of British Dance Bands,
including

Fred Elizalde, Piccadilly Dance Band, Hal Swain, Ray Noble,
Jack Payne, Henry Hall, Lew Stone, Harry Roy, Billy Thorburn



John
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Newsflash. The BBC finally seem to be moving complaints on to Stage 2: the stage when you can complain to the BBC Trust if still dissatisfied. As before, the reply seems to be standard rather than personalised, and reads:

"Dear (name)

Thank you very much for your further e-mail about the Malcolm Laycock Show.

As you remain unhappy with the responses you've received to date I've now
escalated your concerns to the second stage of our complaints process. I
discussed the issue with the Controller of BBC Radio 2's office on your
behalf and they have asked me to pass on the following:

"We would like to reassure you that British dance bands will continue to
feature on Malcolm Laycock's show. The music will not however be scheduled
within a designated half hour slot because the producer is aiming
to showcase a wider mix of music from the 1920s to the present day.

"Radio 2 is targeted at a broad audience and aims to appeal to all age
groups over 35. This means that the station will adapt to include more
music as the genres evolve alongside our audience.

"We do appreciate your attachment to the previous format but hope you also
understand why changes, which will not please every listener, do sometimes
get made. We have also received positive feedback about the change to
Malcolm's show."

Whilst we hope we've been able to reassure you and explain the decisions
taken if you are still not satisfied, you can now appeal to the BBC Trust.
You should do so within 20 working days. Please see the following link for
full details of how to go about this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/appeals/general_complaints.html

Either way we did appreciate your feedback and hope you continue to listen
to BBC Radio 2.

Yours sincerely

Stewart McCullough
Complaints Coordinator
BBC Complaints

www.bbc.co.uk/complaints"


Anybody know who has been giving this "positive feedback"?
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John W



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jazzmin,

I think the reponse you've had indicates that is worth pursuing this matter as much as possible, and I urge you to proceed with the matter to the next stage, the BBC trust.

I shall revive my own complaints trail and hopefully get to the same stage soon.

Fingers crossed.

I really feel we need some celebs involved on this issue though, but most celebs that are into old music are getting on a bit Confused


John
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, Kenith Trodd is definitely still on the case: this came on 23 February:

"Hi.

I'm asking whether any of you have something new to report on the Dance Bands row over Malcolm's programme?

It would be good to have a quick repsonse from you because in a very few days I may have a rare opportunity to speak privately to a very exalted BBC figure who might allow his ear to be bent briefly on the matter.

All I have myself to report is that the wretched McDowall fails to respond to compelling letters (this tactic being the last refuge of most petty, over-promoted bureaucrats) and that he has given instructions that no mail critical of the new programme format or complaining about the absence of the Dance Bands should be forwarded onto Malcolm himself.

Anything else please try to get to me asap.

Best wishes
Ken "


According to Malcolm Laycock, there are several people actively pursuing this - they include Barry McCanna (see forum entries here:)
http://www.radiocafe.co.uk/talk/?p=73
and also Michael Law of the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra.

One or two people I have contacted are disillusioned after having fruitless struggles with the BBC bureacracy, which one person compared to a Kafka plot - hmm, "plot" - how appropriate.

But at least it does seem that word of this has reached Bob Shennan (new Controller of Radio 2) so maybe they now feel they have to be seen to follow their published complaints procedure. I'd love to know how long is the average time taken for dealing with complaints; the claim to try and respond in 10 days, which is on their website, is patently complete rubbish.

It would be good for anybody who's pursuing this to give updates of their progress so that it can be shared with Malcolm, Kenith et al. I'm going to write my Stage 2 letter carefully, this week.

(thinks) has anyone written down a few playlists with dates?
Part of the programme change, I feel, seems to have been to deliberately avoid mentioning the dates of the records. They are not shown on the playlist, which surely they used to be? and also don't seem to feature in Malcolm's script as much as before, am I imagining this?
I always thought that fans of this era of music, be it dance or jazz, were usually very interested in the date of the recording. The omission of dates, and the lack of any feeling of chronological order to the tracks, seems to increase the sense of dislocation. This surely can't be accident or coincidence.
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John W



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PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting post Jazzmin. I remember Kenith Trodd publishing an informative memorabilia book on Lew Stone, and he wrote the script for Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' too I think.

I'd say he's more of an authority on the subject, not a celeb. Somebody like Denis Nordern or Dot from Eastenders would be good, though someone younger would be even better! Smile

I think you are right about the dates of records played by Malcolm. He always mentioned at least the year of the recording, and played the dance band tunes chronologically, usually starting with one around 1928 then through the 30s and ending with one or two from WWII which is the format I use in my shows.

Barry McCanna has studied the playlists closely since Malcolm's show changed and he is certain that no pre-1940 British Dance Band recording has been broadcast.

Jazzmin, have you tried joining the Yahoo group or are you already a member with a dffernt ID/alias there? Cool

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/british-dance-bands/

John
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

John

I have that Lew Stone book! I'd forgotten he was the author.
Kenith Trodd produced Dennis Potter's programmes, and he seems to genuinely care about the music and be prepared to stand up and defend it... he seems an ideal choice to me, since everyone has heard of "Pennies from Heaven" and Potter's work seems to retain enduring respect across all categories of people.
But maybe (shrug) my idea of "celebrity" is not in tune with public taste.

Reminds me of a question on "If I ruled the World" quiz show;
Graeme Garden (?) "What is Tara Palmer-Tomkinson famous for?"
Jeremy Hardy "Exactly."

Dennis Norden is on the list of this agency, if you want to try contacting him;
http://www.jopeters.biz/Speaker%20&%20Celebrity.htm

I'm not in the Group yet by the way. I have tried repeatedly to join it (as posted Feb 4th) but Yahoo refuses to let me add a (Yahoo) email address to my account. If you want the boring details I can PM them to you rather than post them here.
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John W



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PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jazzmin wrote:
I'm not in the Group yet by the way. I have tried repeatedly to join it (as posted Feb 4th) but Yahoo refuses to let me add a (Yahoo) email address to my account. If you want the boring details I can PM them to you rather than post them here.


Ah, I remember you telling me something about that.

I know some of the members have yahoo.com and yahoo.co.uk addresses, maybe the group rules changed after they registered. But if you want to discuss the issue with the Moderator there he's Peter Wallace and his address is a hotmail!!

Peter Wallace <british_dance_bands@hotmail.com>

John
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The Stig
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have e-mailed Malcolm Laycock about the rumour that he is moving to Monday nights at 10.30pm from next month (as posted over on BBC PoV). I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

It's bad enough that the Radio 2 bosses have tampered with Malcolm's programme. If they change this show into what's known as a recurring series then our complaints about British dance band music being dropped have clearly fallen on deaf ears.

Why does nobody at the BBC never listen?
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mark occomore



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PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Stig wrote:
I have e-mailed Malcolm Laycock about the rumour that he is moving to Monday nights at 10.30pm from next month (as posted over on BBC PoV). I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.



We want hold our breath for a reply!! Laughing
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colby



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PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mark occomore wrote:
The Stig wrote:
I have e-mailed Malcolm Laycock about the rumour that he is moving to Monday nights at 10.30pm from next month (as posted over on BBC PoV). I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.



We want hold our breath for a reply!! Laughing


We definitely want.
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The Stig
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The new weekend schedule has already been announced. Malcolm Laycock remains on Sunday nights at 22.00.

Very Happy
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Jazzmin



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well - sigh - I finally got a letter from the BBC Trust today.

Guess what? They are not looking into my appeal because programme content/editorial control is not in their remit. They say this is the BBC Executive's domain.

How exactly *are* licence payers supposed to hold Radio 2 to account?
Who oversees them?

Perhaps I need a 27B/6?
[Brazil]
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John W



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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes Jazzmin, I've received the exact same letter this week from the BBC Trust, they've obviously prepared a std response to anyone complaining about the changes to Laycock's show.

The BDB group members are receiving the same letter, and they are mad as hell Rolling Eyes


John
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colby



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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jazzmin wrote:
Well - sigh - I finally got a letter from the BBC Trust today.

Guess what? They are not looking into my appeal because programme content/editorial control is not in their remit. They say this is the BBC Executive's domain.


That's true. The BBC Trust is one step removed from even the old BBC Board of Governors. The Trust is a regular much like the former IBA was over independent radio & TV and it isn't its job to help to determine content as you have been told. Ultimately, that responsibility lies with the BBC Chairman (Michael Grade) and the Director of Radio (whosoever that might be).

The thing is that changes to a particular show only become an issue for the Trust if it breaches a broadcaster's licence terms or - in the case of the Beeb - its Charter.
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John W



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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I will be writing back to the Trust and try to explain how I think the changes to Malcolm's show are just one of several recent decisions which have eroded away the broad spectrum of music that BBC Radio 2 should be broadcasting.

Their published remit says they should be offering an alternative to commercial radio, and should be doing so by maintaining a light-music content be it light opera, ballet music, dance band music, comedy/variety, which rarely get a look in these days either at Radio 2 or Radio 3 (the 'culture' station).

John W
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Jazzmin



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PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Posted on Dance Bands Group; request repeated here. We could I hope be in with a chance to help sway things, if we write now.

I would urge you, even if you have already complained, to write this time directly to Bob Shennan (Controller of Radio 2) at
Western House
99 Great Portland Street
London
W1A 1AA

The impression I get is that Mr Shennan will be the decision maker in this.
He is new in the post, and now is a key time.

I have tried the BBC Complaints procedure - proceeding to rejection at Trust level - and though I'll be protesting to the Trust, I don't think they will help.
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Jazzmin



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PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Switched the car radio on about 10 minutes ago - Jeremy Vine was talking in his usual "chatting while being strangled" way

Did I hear right, I think he said he's having someone on from the BBC Trust and inviting comments about Radio 2 ?

Anyone care to chip in ? John Wright, are you there ??
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colby



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PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The person in question is David Liddiment, so there's not much point. It's a case of "shark having removed its own teeth" to be honest.
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John W



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh dear.

I am appalled to hear Malcolm Laycock say that this Sunday night’s show (26/07/09) was his last.

The poor guy is in a straight-jacket. Since Dec 2008 he had no say in the content of his show. He and his listeners love the pre-WWII British dance bands but Malcolm was told to drop that from his playlist in Dec 2008 and since then we've really just had a Glenn-Miller-big-band-type playlist.

So, I suspect Malcolm has just had enough of his new producer or what his producer has been told to do.

Roy Oakshott was the BBC producer in the hey-day of the British dance bands music revival on R2. OK, Roy continues to provide us with excellent playlists on Russell Davies’ show but in 2009 we have no dedicated British music programme for pre -1940 music, the era when British dance music was regarded as the best.

John W
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colby



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Radio 2 is an absolute mess and is being run by idiots. It's quite reasonable to conclude that the station is not actually operating in a manner consistent with its remit - but perhaps senior R2 managers can't actually read? Or perhaps the current generation of MBA graduates are having to spend so many hours of each working day in "meetings" that they don't have time to do anything else.
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Mark Mayhew



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like Clare Teal is ML's replacement.
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MadeinSurrey



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is bad news. I didn't hear last night's show, did ML actually say why he is going? I have nothing against Claire but what direction will the show go in now?
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Jazzmin



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

These were Malcolm's words (between the diary announcement and the last track, at just under the 55 minutes mark)

"...and from me Malcolm Laycock, with great regret, I have to say that this is my last Sunday Night at Ten programme. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to sit in this chair every week for the last fourteen years. I made many friends through the programme, and many of you have been kind enough to write to me and send me messages of encouragement. Thank you. I'm going to miss our weekly get-togethers. And I must thank too my original producer Roy Oakshott, and my current producer Caroline Snook. So - finally - I leave you with the band who'll be playing at the Concord Club on Wednesday, the Back to Basie Orchestra with another classic, Neil Hefty's Flight of the Foo Birds. So - for the last time - take care."

A sad and rather muted end to his years on the show. I wish him well and hope that he finds new opportunities very soon. I will always miss the unique dance band sounds, which lifted my spirits so much on Sunday nights. Shame on you, Radio 2.
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MadeinSurrey



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Jazzmin. This is all very sad, I suspect he was put in an impossible position.
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Mark Mayhew



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So according to the Radio 2 messageboard it was Malcolm's decision to leave-not a lot you can do about that.

Clare Teal in for 5 weeks and then an announcement regarding a permanent replacement.

I wonder who it will be.
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John W



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The message from Peta at R2MB says:

Quote:

Malcolm Laycock is indeed leaving Radio 2 and the Sunday night big band weekly show (2200pm – 2300pm)

The decision to leave was Malcolm's - Malcolm decided to leave BBC Radio 2 for personal reasons and everyone at Radio 2 respects his wishes, he’ll be greatly missed.

His words as said on air on Sunday night:

"And from me Malcolm Laycock, with great regret, I have to say that this is my last ‘Sunday Night at 10’ programme. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to sit in this chair every week for the last 14 years. I’ve made many friends through the programme, and many of you have been kind enough to write to me and send me messages of encouragement. Thank you – I’m going to miss our weekly get-togethers. And I must thank, too, my original producer Roy Oakshott, and my current producer Caroline Snook. So, finally, I leave you with the band who’ll be playing at the Concorde Club on Wednesday, the ‘Back to Basie’ Orchestra, and another classic – Neal Hefti’s "Flight of the Foo Birds". So for the last time – take care!"

Bob Shennan, Controller Radio 2 and 6 Music says:

'We are sad that Malcolm has chosen to leave Radio 2 after 14 years of outstanding service as a well respected and much loved presenter and producer. We wish him all the very best of luck in the future.'


Will this mean the end of big band music on Radio 2?

Big band music will continue to have a place in the Radio 2 schedule. 'Sunday Night at 10' continues as does Big Band Special on Monday nights. In addition to our regular output, there will also be a three part series on the golden age of dance bands in the 1930s later in the year.

Who will replace Malcolm Laycock?

Clare Teal was due to present the show from Sunday 2 August for 5 weeks as Malcolm was due to take some leave; Clare will continue to present these shows as previously planned. We will announce a replacement presenter in due course.

I hope this information is helpful.

To Malcolm, we wish him all the best in the future!


So Malcolm left the week before a 5 week break. Could be health reasons or controller/producer issues.

I've sent a private e-mail to Malcolm's non-BBC address.


John W
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