The news that Radio 5 Live presenter Peter Allen has been stymied in a proposed move to the Today programme will come as a great relief to those of us who consider him to be the finest interviewer on British radio, and admire his Drive programme.Apparently he didn't get the job (to replace a soon to retire John Humphrys) because his Essex roots were considered 'a bit common' by Today editors. Even I find that a bit difficult to believe, and if I run into Jim Naughtie tonight in Blackpool I will be tackling him about it (we Essex boys must stick together...)*.
In the wake of Jane Garvey's move to Womans' Hour, 5 Live would have been severely diminished by Peter Allen's loss. Julian Worricker broadcast his last show on Sunday before a six month sabbatical in Australia. Other changes starting next Monday include Anita Anand replacing Jane Garvey on Drive and Richard Bacon replacing Anita Anand on the late night phone in. Gaby Logan replaces Julian Worricker on Sunday mornings, which inevitably means a move to more sport features. The Breakfast, morning and afternoon presenters remain the same.
* I nearly wrote 'us Essex boys', because that's what us Essex boys would say...
The news that Radio 5 Live presenter Peter Allen has been stymied in a proposed move to the Today programme will come as a great relief to those of us who consider him to be the worst interviewer on British radio, and loath his Drive programme.
ReplyDeleteBBC News 'discussing' the Inheritance Tax proposals:For those with £1 million.' Kaplinsky and Alligator didn't mention 'estates' or 'family homes'.They mentioned removal of stamp duty on houses worth less than £250000 so the word 'houses' is not unknown.the word 'estates' wasn't mentioned until Nick Robinson was interviewed late on in the report.Talking about 'those with £1million' and those with 'estates worth £1million' gives a very different impression.Also,the interviewee from the 'Institute For Fiscal Studies' who had expressed that the Conservatives' assumptions on the number of foreign domiciles and the amount to be levied from them was 'reasonable' on the 1 o'clock news wasn't asked to repeat this on the latest broadcast.This kind of 'clever editing' was rampant at the last election and is clearly to be so again.WHY do noit the Conservatives get this sort of thing sorted out ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! Any commercial organisation defends its brand TO THE DEATH.We're not playing for cash here but the entire future of this once great country.It makes me sick to my stomach that a few Lefties in the right places can play such games and get away with it.
ReplyDeleteThe story now is George Osbone did the calculations on Non Doms but did not look at how much the Non Doms actually earn.
ReplyDeleteIs that believable Ian?
Apperently its true.
ReplyDeleteHe includes Junior Doctors and Nurses in his calculations.
Oh Lord almighty.
If you talk with MacNaughtie ask him why he refers to David Cameron as Cameron and the PM as Mr Brown?##JH
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth to people listen to the drivel on 5 live ? What is wrong with Radio 4 ? I agree with the BBC on this - I wouldn't want to walk up to an Essex boy..
ReplyDeleteIain, the worst part of this is that we have to continue with that supercilious idiot Nicky Campbell. What a start to the day, if you can get through the first three hours you are then faced with the BBC's own Rosa Kleb - Victoria Derbyshire. Heaven help us license payers!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps Peter Allen wasn't reliably left-wing enough for them.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with Radio 4, 'Anonymous'? How long have you got?
ReplyDeleteI dissected the end of political comment on Radio 5 Live a few days back: http://www.mediastoat.com/2007/09/22/politics-dies-on-five-live/
I disagree. He is disagreeable, pretends or feigns ignorance on issues thinking it funny to play dumb. If I hear him refer to "In your Facebook , or whatever it is" again, I might switch to Talk Sport !
ReplyDeleteHere's some exclusive gossip. Peter Allen was asked by the editor of Today, Ceri Thomas, (who used to edit Five Live Breakfast when Allen was a presenter), if he fancied a job on Today. As you might expect, Allen was bang up for it.
ReplyDeleteThe head of all things radio at the BBC, Jenny Abramsky, over-ruled Ceri Thomas. Which is a great, great shame.
Everything else has been dumbed down - why not dumb down Today even more than it is?
ReplyDeleteI think Terry Wogan should host everything on BBC TV and radio before they get the idea that Jonathan Woss and Graham Norton should do it.
At least he's got a sense of humour.
Radio 5 is excellent. However much as Allen is a jolly sorta cove he is not the greatest interviewer in the world - though he thinks he is.
ReplyDeleteNick Griffin of the BNP did him up like a complete cove whereas Allen thought he was about to destroy the ultra right in Europe.
I enjoy listening to him in the car because he is such a complete and utter cove. And the others are OK.
All the moves described suggest to me that the BBC in geenral andf R5L in particular are brillient at developing and positioning talent.
Allen, he ain't no Humpreys. Which he should be pleased about. He is about as much the "greatest interviewer" as Dale is the "greatest blogger".
Dale's stats being admittedly better than Allen's.
This can only change if mistakes start to be acknowledged every now and then and knees are jerked only after counting to ten.
Chris (12.10am) - I'm fascinated to know what a "cove" is. Is it some kind of shorthand? What does it mean - "a complete and utter cove"?
ReplyDeleteI don't read your blog anymore because I have found another more interesting pastime - watching paint dry. It's very stimulating, Chris. You should try it - you might find it more intellectually challenging than trying to become number 2000 in Iain Dales (real) blog lists.
"Dale's stats being admittedly better than Allen's."
ReplyDeleteOooo-er, missus.
But more importantly, no more shall I have the dulcet tones of Anita Anand to lull me to sleep.. They could at least have got in Mariella Frostrup as a replacement.. but Richard Bacon?? Oh dear....
It wouldn't be because Allen recently referred to having to walk over the scattered (empty)champagne bottles in BBC TV centre the morning after the 1997 election, would it?
ReplyDeleteI've always found him OK, but takes the easy Tory-mocking line too often to be independent (aws described in the dead tree press).
Long live Eddie Mair - Humphrys Out !
Nope, it's definitely 'us essex boys'.
ReplyDelete'We' is more correctly spelled 'wee' - as in small or urinary.
Allen may be from Essex, but at least his speech is reasonably grammatical (no stopped glottals), unlike Logan, with her smarmy cod-Estuarine slop. Where did she get it? Not from her Welsh father, or at Sloaney Durham University.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to read that she'll be taking over from Julian Worricker, when her Alan Partridge-like stint on Saturday mornings managed to make the usual habitue, Eamon Holmes (now returned), sound like the epitome of Olympian gravitas.
She can boast about her A-Level grades all she likes - she's one of the hollowest vessels in broadcasting.
I'm afraid there is no simpler way to depress me than to publish a list of 5Live* presenters. God alone knows how the earnest but dull Peter Allen and the dreadful Jane Garvey could survive ten years as a double act.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's the usual BBC 'Iron Rice Bowl' approach to things. It's there to employ its staff not to entertain the listener.
*(or whatever it's called this week)
You're a typical Essex Boy like Boris Johnson is a typical Cockney barrow boy...
ReplyDeleteleave it aahhht Iain.