Simon Clancy's Posting

[Billy Sondheim]

Can’t get on the BBC R4 message boards at the moment to post a link(no surprises there), but Mr. Simon Clancy – one of the producers of Loose Ends - has posted defending the programme. The posting is on the CIY board and I’d be interested to read contributors’ thoughts.

[Crusoe]

Thank you for alerting us to this, Billy. Since you pointed it out to us, I felt compelled to respond to it on the board.

[Billy Sondheim]

webb said:

Thank you for alerting us to this, Billy. Since you pointed it out to us, I felt compelled to respond to it on the board.

Thank you for responding Mr Crusoe and also for including the link. I’m rather new to MB posting, so unable to identify you’re posting style on the BBC boards, although I found Mr Gareth Reid’s contribution to this topic most illuminating. Have you read it?

I was always aware of the thoroughness with which Mr Sherrin studies the work – books, plays and acting careers – of his guests, but this should be compulsory for any presenter. The programme always has a southern feel to it (1) and it’s a very rare event to spot a guest who clearly hasn’t spent most of their life in the South of England. Nigel Havers was complaining on PM recently about the use of the term ‘luvies’ for actors which I understand. However, I’d like to know how the radio listener is supposed to describe actors whose voices and radio characters (most speak with affected upper-middle-class accents) all appear the same? The only guest that’s struck me as remotely interesting over the last couple of years was Nigel Pivaro.

Mr Sherrin is smug and I’d cite two examples: he conjectured many months ago about how his life would have panned out if he’d become a successful barrister. Well what an arrogant comment. He could have been a useless barrister and that in my opinion was a classic example of Oxbridge arrogance. Second, The Magic Numbers gave a stunning performance on the show recently and he struggled to show any enthusiasm when they finished. Contrast that with his enthusiasm for anything with a Sondheim connection – even when the singer is out of tune! This actually happened once and someone from The Royal College of music wrote to Feedback asking why this was regarded as acceptable. It was only acceptable because it was Mr Sherrin presenting the show.

One of my relatives attended a recording of the show when it came to Liverpool and she described Mr Sherrin as looking ‘bored out of his mind’ and barely reacted with the audience. He certainly didn’t rave about Ian McCullough’s performance. Do you recall his interaction with the audience when they all went of to New York, playing ‘his’ kind of music? Totally different.

I don’t think a change of presenter would make any difference, since The Saturday Review which follows LE is another inherently southern programme. R4 is very weak on decent conversational programmes which is why I believe Stop The Week was so popular and the late Milton Schulman was certainly no snob!

Incidentally, I was surprised that Mr Clancy didn’t mention the other producers, Cathie Mahoney or Marie Russell, in his BBC posting.

Notes

(1) Emma Freud (surprise, surprise), Professor Arthur Smith……..

[Crusoe]

Billy said:

I’m rather new to MB posting, so unable to identify you’re posting style on the BBC boards, although I found Mr Gareth Reid’s contribution to this topic most illuminating. Have you read it?

I have, indeed Billy. I thought he was a terrible bore but you’re a lot more forgiving than me

Anyway, the upshot of all that still appears to be that there is still a large body of opinion that says that “Loose Ends” is out of touch, cliquey, metro-centric and in need of re-vamping or replacing but the BBC is unlikely to make any changes. It is a shame, in a way, that Mr Clancy is one of the few BBC staff to actually make a contribution to a Messageboard but without taking notice of any of the other contributors.

[rosalie]

Why is every single musical guest playing that weekend at the Pizza in the Park? Do they have some sort of sponsorship deal with the BBC.

[Porky Pigs Trousers]

rosalie said:

Why is every single musical guest playing that weekend at the Pizza in the Park? Do they have some sort of sponsorship deal with the BBC.

I've often wondered about this R, but some of these guests seem to do the rounds across all the BBC networks. I've heard guests on LE and Jonathan Ross on the same day. Kate Bush has also been doing the rounds with her new LP. I keep wondering why these 'Nevermind, Nevermind, Nevermind' singers keep getting invited back on LE (Crusoe likes them)

I was wondering if Ned Sherrin was told off for not raving about The Magic Numbers performance because he sounded quite affable when Martha Wainwright finished last night and I thought she gave a fine performance. I wish they'd pack in laughing when a comic is on. Did you hear that last night?

I made the mistake of switching on R4 as QUQ was finishing to-day and assumed they'd finally decided to bin it.........then the continuity announced that it would be back next spring. This is such a serious issue now that I believe Tessa Jowell and the Culture department should investigate why it keeps coming back!!!!!

[Billy Sondheim]

Billy said:

I found Mr Gareth Reid’s contribution to this topic most illuminating. Have you read it?

I have, indeed Billy. I thought he was a terrible bore but you’re a lot more forgiving than me

Professor Reid's postings are quite interesting Crusoe and he's clearly got very catholic reading interests. I do wish, though, that he'd get rid of that Tim Price overcoat.

Yes, it's true Rob, I am very forgiving.......if my favourite BBC messagboard was ever removed or if a nasty GP binned me on a blind date, then I'd simply smile, shrug my shoulders and return to the safety of radio listening

Anyway, the upshot of all that still appears to be that there is still a large body of opinion that says that “Loose Ends” is out of touch, cliquey, metro-centric and in need of re-vamping or replacing but the BBC is unlikely to make any changes. It is a shame, in a way, that Mr Clancy is one of the few BBC staff to actually make a contribution to a Messageboard but without taking notice of any of the other contributors.

Robo, there are a lot of very conservative squares within R4 who feel very uncomfortable in respect of change. I think the R4 controllers are terrified of undergoing the James Boyle experience.....they might end up reading out the letters on Feedback or presenting PM......or even Woman's Hour

[rosalie]

That was a very enjoyable thread on the BBC I thought. Lucid and interesting, an intelligent rubbishing of LE . Nice one

[Lux Interior]

Wasn't Mr Clancy helpful with his hints about how to find out in advance who and what would be on Loose Ends?

I made a point of listening to the trail before the six o'clock news, as he suggested. It said, "And after the news, Loose Ends".

[Uncle Polar]

Lux said:

Wasn't Mr Clancy helpful with his hints about how to find out in advance who and what would be on Loose Ends?

Yes this is correct. Did you notice that Mr. Clancy produced Sunday's edition of POTW again? Did you also notice the constant references to the 'comedy' content? So much for Emily Buchanan's POTW.

I wonder if Torquil Macleod has received the same letter as poor Greg and Charlie? Now there's an idea - Greg and Charlie's Pick Of The Year (1). I'm sure Francine Stock wouldn't mind sharing iut with them. I hope she wears an attractive spotty frock and a gorgeous Mrs Bear hat for the broadcast.



Notes

(1) They could keep saying: 'Now when we both went up to Veg. College'.