Sunday, November 09, 2008

It Will be 5 Live, But Not as we Know It

Today's Mail on Sunday reports that Radio 5 Live is to lose its star broadcaster Simon Mayo to Radio 2. He will replace Ken Bruce. The move is at least in part due to 5 Live's planned relocation to Manchester in 2011. Mayo has a young family and understandably doesn't wish to uproot them. 5 Live's loss will be Radio 2's gain. Ken Bruce reached his sell by date years ago.

But this news concentrates the mind on what will happen to the rest of 5 Live. Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty, who present the Breakfast Show, are unlikely to want to move north. Victoria Derbyshire, who hails from Bolton, has reportedly told colleagues she's staying put in the capital. Peter Allen lives in Hertfordshire and is highly unlikely to go, and Anita Anand is carving out a TV career and so is also unlikely to move. Richard Bacon, too, is unlikely to go.

So what we are looking at is a completely new presenter lineup on the news and current affairs programmes. The question is, will their listeners stand for it?

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

They won't like it. But as usual wiht NULibor decisions their views don't matter. It's bags more money to support marginal seats in south Lanacashire. It also give an opportunity to bring on a new generation of more compliant presenters who don't ask govenrment ministers even slightly difficult questions.

Stuff the consumer...they only pay the bills.

It Will Come to Me said...

"Ken Bruce reached his sell by date years ago."

How very dare you!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the Conservatives will spare them the trouble by enacting Anthony Jay's reform suggestions [PDF], and reduce the BBC to one national TV station, and one national radio station.

:-)

I know, dream on.

Ken said...

Why on earth is the news and current affairs station relocating when a music station - which presumably has less need to be near London - is staying put?

Anonymous said...

Sorry Iain, but this just shows the problem with the BBC. Full of leftie Islingon liberals who work for the BBC. Several of those people you mentinoed are known as being big supporters of Nu Liebour and won't want to move to that vile place called the north.

This is the problem with the BBC. They should be told, go to Manchester or find another job outside of the BBC.

For example, Niki Campbell is always going on about being Scottish (he never shuts up about it) so why doesn't he go and work in Scotland and leave us free of his hopeless presenting in England?

Man in a Shed said...

R5L is about the only BBC station not to be in NuLabour's back pocket.

So clearly they needed fixing ...

Why will anyone want to listen to national Radio Manchester ?

Man in a Shed said...

I have R5L on my radio alarm clock and radio 4 in the kitchen downstairs.

I often hear the same politician interviewed on R5L then R4 shortly afterwards. I assume they've walked down stairs like I have - though presumably they aren't still in their pygamas !

A move to Manchester will kill politics on R5L as there will be no guests to interview - with only Labour MPs close by for interviews and most of the time they will be in London.

Clearly the government (with cynics like Hazel Blears !!) don't want the great unwashed thinking about politics.

Maybe someone could get David Cameron to commit to saving R5L from the socialists in the BBC and Labour ?

Anonymous said...

I was offered a chance to transfer my job to Five Live, on the condition that I move to Salford with the station in 2011 (no big BBC move has ever happened on time, mind, and I predict it will be after the Olympics)

I said no, for the reasons outlined by you. The only current presenter who'll stay on will be Stephen Nolan, and the whole station will turn into less of a BBC news outlet, and more of a giant TalkSport. All the decent producers and editors will probably leave, too.

Anonymous said...

It will come to me (12.59) put it exactly right: How very dare you! Ken Bruce is an institution. I may boycott the show in future if they're to replace him.

Anonymous said...

Some of them will probably give in. Overall, the standard of presenters on 5live doesn't have to be that high as the calibre of many listeners is not that high. I have always seen 5live as the simpler man's Radio4. I used to listen avidly to 5live, but got bored with it so switched to R4.

strapworld said...

The listeners do not come into the equation. They will move thestation and the presenters will have a choice - relocate or look for a job!

They removed one of the best interviewers and presenters from Radio 2 and although there was a big public backlash, it did not stop it.

Jimmy Young may have been old (and I note for future observations your ageist note about Ken Bruce!) but he was the ony interviewer that got 'at' politicians within the BBC.

I have no doubt that the BBC has got idea's whom will fill the void of those that leave Radio 5 Live.

Eammon Holmes will present the earl show. 6am - 6pm.
John Gaunt. the Late show 6pm - 6am.

Or we shall have an ethnically balanced station. With suitable pauses for calls to prayer for our muslim listeners.

I still ask the question what kind of democrac determines what music and what programmes we hear? The BBC was designed to control us all.

It has. It is and it will until a political party has the gumption to end the licence fee taxation and lets the people listen to what it wants.

Anonymous said...

These plans to relocate sections of the BBC to other areas of the UK are crazy.

A news and current affairs station should really be based in the capital or the seat of government.

I couldn't care less where Holby City or The One Show are based - unwatchable nonsense which the regions are welcome to.

Then again, Mark Thompson's reaction to the Ross/Brand saga shows him up to be an odd fellow.

Also, what's the cost of this plan? Does anyone know?

Null said...

I can't see what all the fuss is about Iain. John Peel used to record from his home studio in Suffolk. So, there is no reason why all of the support staff can move oooop north, but the talent can broadcast from anywhere.

Or am I missing something?

Anonymous said...

5 live needs sorting, it is a real mish-mash with some high calibre broadcasters - Mayo (who is top draw and will be wasted on a music station) Peter Allen and John Pienaar who sit alongside the most awful vox pop sh@!$ like Nolan and Derbyshire as well as the odious Nicky Campbell and I fear the move North will mean more of the dross and less of the quality. The sports coverage is excellent but sadly I can see myself being forced to endure the self-satisfied, old world pomposity of Radio 4. Its a pity that the "top-end" of 5 has not been merged into 4 and Five Live left to be a "Talk Radio" competitor with additional live sport. At least then they would not be making any claim to be a current affairs broadcaster.

Anonymous said...

surely Dave & Co. will have privatised the bbc by 2011?

Anonymous said...

As long as Victoria Derbyshire stays in London, I'll be happy.

Twig said...

It'll be good for the champaign socialists to be able to live cheek by jowl with the people they care so much about. It would also be nice if they would consider enrolling their offspring at state schools in Manchester so they will be able understand more the challenges faced by the local kids.

Anonymous said...

Close it down along with BBC3 and BBc4 News 24 and Radio1.

Invest in quality documentaries and drama.

Reduce licence fee to £99

Leave Ken Bruce alone. Wittiest man on radio and no obscenities.

Anonymous said...

5 Dead might as well be closed down.

How the OK Peter Allen and the truly dreadful Shelagh (sp) 'Fuggerty' could celebrate a decade together truly amazes me.

And when it comes to Victoria Derbyshire - words fail me :-(

Anonymous said...

It is about time to 'bite the bullet' - one can always fall back on the excuse that people don't want to move, it will be disruptive, it will cost money.

I am totally fed of the metropolitan bias in the media, using terms like 'south of the river' without having the courtesy to explain that they are talking about the Thames.

Or talking about districts in London like Camden or Hoxton or Islington as though they were English counties and we would all automatically know something about what they were like.

This is a long, long overdue move and if it means bring Radio 5 Live into the 21st century by moving outside the M25 'beltway' mentality which infects this country then that can only be a good thing.

Casualty is being relocated and so is Question Time - about bloody time in my view - 88% of people live outside London and it is about time their views and opinions were heard more clearly.

Not a sheep said...

No more VD on 5Live; I'll get over it.

Another Day said...

Simon Mayo will be missed - He shows genuine interest in the people he interviews. I never thought I would be interested in listening to book reviews, but again his programme does so with wit, enthusiasm and genuine love of the subject. His whole approach and intelligence is genuinely refreshing.

However, I can't understand your enthusiasm for Peter Allen (if ever you needed a definition for cumugeon - he's your man). All he does is interrupt and correct his fellow presenters, whinge and moan.

I gave up listening to Anita Anand's evening programme. I couldn't stand the approach of doing 2 minutes on a serious subject, followed by 10 minutes on a frivolity. A typical programme would be something like 'Tonight we'll be looking the racial significance of a black President, but don't forget to phone in and tell us your funny stories about cardigans'.

It seems to me that at times Radio 5 would lose it's interest on making genuinely interesting shows in favour of just getting people to phone in.

weggis said...

Radio 5 Live has stuff other than Football? Jeez, I didn't know that!

Roger Thornhill said...

Champagne Socialist hypocrisy. I bet Dimbles & Co nodded as other Civil Service departments were scattered. Now it is the luvvies turn, it is quite different.


p.s. Ken Bruce was the worlds first audio xerox. They shoved Terry Wogan in at one end and out he popped.

p.p.s. Tom, haven't you got a book to read?

word ver: mental (I kid you not)

Anonymous said...

"A move to Manchester will kill politics on R5L as there will be no guests to interview"

'Man in a shed' is just showing how naive he is.

The BBC send a radio car round to some convenient location and interview the bloke (blokette) there for each station in turn.

The point surely is - why does the same man need to be interviewed twice for the same company - to be broadcast on two different channels within minutes of each other?

Any reorganisation which takes Victoria Derbyshire off air must be applauded. If Campbell goes west as well its an added bonus.

Anonymous said...

I no longer listen to Radio 5 because of the second rate presenters: Campbell, Fogarty, Derbyshire, Allen and Anita ??.
I hope Asma Mir stays.

Anonymous said...

All of these fabulous "presenters" will no doubt refuse to move and then what? Be re hired by the BBC on the same terms? Or go back to the real world and find out what they are really worth? The BBC's financial muscle has long distorted the market anyway, and a massive reduction in it's output and budget would be most welcome.

cje said...

I share the high opinion of Simon Mayo held by others here. Do you think he'd want/ be capable of moving to R4?

I could see him doing a good job on PM, Book Club, Saturday Live, and others...

Anonymous said...

Boring Mayo replacing 'The Bruce'?!?! As Father Jack Hackett would say- FECK. Save 'The Bruce' campaign starts- NOW!

King Athelstan said...

Ken Bruce has not passed His sell by date, check His ratings. Never really liked Mayo, if Ken wants to go replace Him with Alex Lester or Richard Allinson.

Anonymous said...

SUrely you've heard of Radio cars and possibly a remote BBC office in Westminster.

Since the current DG took over, the morning news on both these channels has tended towards the identical. The same guest first visits the 5 Live studio and then goes onto the Today studio or vice versa. One centralised line coming out of the Corporation news dept. Maybe in Manchester these might be decoupled and a different emphasis could appear. Forlorn hope I think unfortunately.

I couldn't give two hoots about Simon Mayo (too much of an arse licker and that film reviewer hanger on is annoyingly opinionated) but losing Mickey Clarke from "Wake up to Money" would be a huge loss and he's definitely not moving to Manchester.

FOgarty and Campbell will not be a loss. Fogarty used to be a serious presenter but under Campbell's influence has become too frivolous. Derbyshire always seems rather lightweight but she did the best interview I've heard with the ditherer when he was Chancellor. She left her prepared script and actually listened to the propaganda he was spouting and asked relevant follow up questions thus flumoxing him. I don't think she's been given another chance to go at him since then.

Anita Anand was fun on the late night programme but on the afternoon programme she's much too frivolous. She's not really enhanced the Daily Politics either.

Anonymous said...

re: "Casualty is being relocated and so is Question Time - about bloody time in my view - 88% of people live outside London and it is about time their views and opinions were heard more clearly."

Not questioning about Question Time, but Casualty is - or rather was - made in Bristol. A lot of the programme making capacity (wildlife particularly) has been gradually stripped away from the city sadly.

Anonymous said...

I spend a lot of time in the North; The restaurants are ok and Upper Street has some nice shops.
I head West to White City almost daily because my office is there.I love the East - its so multi cultural in Brick Lane. I love to head South to Brixton as its great for live music.

If the sports boys want to be closer to their football friends in the provinces that must be a good thing. Lots of football fans live out there and they will appreciate how close we are to them.

My intern did media studies in Manchester and she loved every minute of it. Manchester people are so down to earth

David Keen said...

I hear Russell Brand is free...

Anonymous said...

"that film reviewer hanger on is annoyingly opinionated"

I think you'll find that's his job... He wouldn't be doing very well if he just went "ooo I don't have any opinions on this film. Just go see for yourself".

As it happens, Mark Kermode - for 'tis he - is one of the best reviewers around.

Anonymous said...

"that film reviewer hanger on is annoyingly opinionated" - or the good "doctor" as Mayo calls him.

I don't listen much to him a) because I'm at work and b) even if I could I would avoid him because his reviews are so "black and white". Anything remotely popular is beneath him. He tries to dazzle us with his knowledege of film which could be interesting if he took himself less seriously.

He also makes up strange names for people (like IKEA Knightley) which he then insits on using with every reference to that person. This may be funny or meaningful (even) on first mention but becomes tiresome when over used.

JD, it may be your opinion that he is one of the best reviewers around (and I don't dispute his knowledgability) but anyone who manages to put off his audience through his manner of presentation is just talking to himself.