Listening to Andy Kershaw talking about what he’d do with Radio 4, following the announcement that Home Truths was being cancelled, has been entertaining.
Warming to his theme, he contributed this in Friday’s Guardian. And he’s followed up with an interview in today’s Indpendent (read it now before it’s subscription only), in which he lets rip once more into his Radio 4 bugbears.
So Kershaw’s list includes:
Veg Talk
Shop Talk
You And Yours
Excess Baggage
PM
Money Box
Woman’s Hour
The “UK Theme” at the start of the day
and all the attendent spin-off’s of these programmes.
I can’t say that I disagree with any of these, with perhaps the exception of PM. Although, I should in fairness admit that I never listen to any of them either. But maybe that’s the problem. Of course not every programme on Radio 4 is going to be for all listeners, in the same way that some find a particular comedy funny and others don’t.
What would I add to the list? Well, overall I think the 6.30pm comedy slot is pretty strong, but I’d call time on Quote, Unquote which seems to be on far too much of the year. I think The Message is off-message, but it’s sort-of going anyway.
But overall there’s plenty there that I do like. It’s a pick and choose network.
And while we’re talking about radio, Friday was a sad day when a radio era ended… Yes Howard Stern finished his show for Clear Channel.
Just kidding. (Well, Stern did finish his show, but frankly, I couldn’t care less. His brand of humour isn’t exactly my cup of tea).
No, of course, it was Pete & Geoff’s last show on Virgin Radio together.
I wish I could tell you about the members of the public who were thronging around. Or the many and varied special guests who contributed. Or the ticker-tape style parade they were given as they left the building.
But I can’t.
Unfortuntely, due some Christmas Party related festivities, I arrived in work fractionally late and missed the end of the show. Attempts to shut down my train line contributed to this of course. In the week that the train times reverted back from their special “leaf-fall” timetable, the late falling of leaves meant that it was now seemingly too dangerous to operate the trains.
Anyway, I’m digressing, and I really must try not to wander off-piste quite so much. There are lots of photos and videos to be found here. The Geoff Show continues in the new year, so finally there’ll be something to listen to late at night aside from Book At Bedtime and Late Junction.