Ray Gosling

[Lawrence Jones]

A work colleague informed me yesterday that Andy Kershaw had been speaking on Today about the marginalising of Ray Gosling over the last 10 years. I start work before the programme begins, so missed it. Can anyone confirm this and tell me what else he said? If this is the case, then I couldn’t agree more. R4 is obsessed with linearity and conformity in terms of its presenters and programme content…..Oxbridge, southern, posh….continue page264. Mr Gosling is one of the most creative and endearing presenters that I’ve ever come across during 48 conscious years of listening to the radio. I certainly rank him in the same league as Mary Goldring, John Peel, Alan Freeman, Charlie Gillet, Jean Metcalfe, Bridget Kendall, Frances Cairncross, Derek Jewel, Roger Scott, Jimmy Savile, David Gell, Brian Redhead, Daffy Don Allen…….

I was never a fan of HT (but I can understand why listeners liked it) and my own affection for JP related to his love of music. However, I read an interesting comment on the HT message board and the poster was speaking about how all the temporary hosts had attempted to mimic Mr. Peel’s radio style and this was something that I'd noiced. Again, it illustrates the lack of broadcasting character amongst R4 presenters. Most of the standins for JP probably never listened to JP on Top Gear. If they put that on their CV, then there would be a hope in hell of being appointed as an R4 presenter!

The conformity of the R4 message board contributors is also most disturbing these days and seems to reflect some of the dull programmes broadcast on R4. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read a posting by ‘Pan Shoshana’, suggesting that Midweek is an interesting programme! Who’s she trying to kid? What other R4 programmes does everyone else here regard as ‘mature’ and passed their time?

Some of my choices:

Quote Unquote
Weekend Woman’s Hour
The Moral Maze
The Choice
Midweek
Loose Ends
The Food Programme
Desert Island Discs
Check Up
Money Box
Feedback
Word of Mouth (Mr. Rosen has started sounding arrogant these days and the WOM MB is now quite dull – it used to one of the most interesting boards on the R4 Web site.
Broadcasting House

The World This Weekend has crumbled since James Cox left the programme and this issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Analysis should be treated with the respect it deserves and have its 45 minute slot returned.

[rosalie]

Andy Kershaw was being interviewed about Mark Damazar's decision to take Home Truths off air. Also being interviewed was Tim Bendick (David in The Archers) who was there to give a different point of view but who actually ended up agreeing with AK. AK's remark about Ray Gosling was just a short sentence but very heaartfelt that RG needs rehabilitating back onto R4 after so long - and yes I agree with that too.

As for programmes that have passed their sell by date, I agree with you L about Weekend Woman's Hour - no need for that at all. I don't mind Midweek so much, but don't think they need to repeat it at night as well. Also agree (as you know) about Loose Ends and Quote Unquote and Check Up. I nominate You and Yours and Open Country

There are some painfully unfunny comedy programmes on R4 too - did anyone listen to the Mark Thomas presents at 6.30pm on Wednesday - embarrassingly awful.

I love to pieces In Our Time - it's one of the the best things on R4

.

[rosalie]

Oh and I forgot to say, I'm glad HT is going. Listening to mostly boring, self obsessed people isn't my idea of entertainment. I take the woman who came on to tell us about her huge collection of shoes, some of which she's never even worn but simply must have (apparently) as a symbol of the whole pointlessness, and smugness of most of the people on HT.

[Lawrence Jones]

Thanks for the response Rosalie – lots to comment on in your posting, so I hope you’ll forgive the delay in posting a reply? I was wondering, though, if you read the Editorial about HT, Gerry Anderson and R4 in last Friday’s Independent? Some of the comments in the article relate to this discussion.

[rosalie]

Funnily enough I did read that article, and had a giggle to meself cos it really did reflect exactly what I feel about Home Truths.
Our recycling guys haven't been this week yet, so I've just dug the paper out of the box just to get the words right...Home Truths "a suffocating mix of tragedy and whimsy". How true.

oh and this "You and Yours in which weird shouty people daily dredge up idiotic health scare stories " exactly! Their full hour on bird flu recently was unbelievable, and as for the phone-in when one mother rang up to ask if it was ok for her kid to pick up feathers...sigh.

The author, Matthew Norman's take on the 'Ultra' English middle class was hilarious !

[Upsetter]

Its a rather incongrous subject to talk about on a hungover Christmas Day but having passed Ray Gosling on his way to the Granada studios a few times and noticed his penchant for bright red scarfs maybe there is a tenuous connection.

He was certainly a one-off albeit a highly eccentric person but theres no harm in that particularly in todays homogeneity - as Lawrence points out.

And yes I've noticed the utter incapability of presenters to fill John Peels shows not only in broadcasting skills but in choice of music. So far they seem to be merely immitating his old choices whereas Peel was forever mercurial and moving on to other new bands.

I'm afraid the present crop don't have that curious antennae necessary for sorting the odd nugget of gold from out of the detritus. I'm afraid its an ability that cannot and will never be replaced and I feel this very strongly. Some have mentioned Andy Kershaw, Phil Jupitus and even Mark Radcliffe but I'm sorry to say that although they are good presenters in the main matter of choice of music - which is why I listen rather than the waffle inbetween - they are limited (in Andys case) or predictable ( re. the other 2).

I'm afraid anyone who plays the latest singles by U2 and Coldplay will be haunted every Christmas by the Ghost of Christmas Past in the form of Peel himself if they deign to darken Peels midnight slot.

And on that festive note - A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year One and All!!

[Pooka]

upsetter said:

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year One and All!!

And you as well, Mr. Upsetter.

[Lawrence Jones]

rosalie said:

Funnily enough I did read that article, and had a giggle to meself cos it really did reflect exactly what I feel about Home Truths.
Our recycling guys haven't been this week yet, so I've just dug the paper out of the box just to get the words right...Home Truths "a suffocating mix of tragedy and whimsy". How true.

oh and this "You and Yours in which weird shouty people daily dredge up idiotic health scare stories " exactly! Their full hour on bird flu recently was unbelievable, and as for the phone-in when one mother rang up to ask if it was ok for her kid to pick up feathers...sigh.

The author, Matthew Norman's take on the 'Ultra' English middle class was hilarious !

Glad you read the article Rosalie (1). I think JP fans who knew him from his Top Gear stable always found the attraction of HT difficult to understand, but if it did tap into a new seam of listeners, then I’m pleased. The early pilot programmes that he hosted were TX’d in the Stop The Week slot and sounded O.K. I only used to listen to ‘Correspondent’ on Saturday R4, but it never seemed to change, so I just lost interest. Listen to Brian Mathew and Jonathan Ross now. Don’t like JR, but enjoy unpeeling Mr. Davies’s character and the producer always includes 4 or 5 new bands which I enjoy listening to.

The rest of the article tended to be rather patronising and the comment:’ Radio 4 regulars are screeching nutters who will stop at little to protect what they think is their own’ just isn’t true. It’s absolute nonsense to suggest that the profiles of southern and northern listeners are identical. Northern listeners were shocked at the treatment of Gerry Anderson and I’ve no doubt that the thugs responsible for this will have been found residing in the wealthy areas of the South of England. It’s also the southern listeners who always resist change within R4 – hence the reason why they won’t get rid of Quote Unquote. There was a snippet in The telegraph about HT (2) and Mr. Damazer was quoted as saying: ‘It’s time to look for a new programme’. Isn’t that comment more applicable to QUQ?

R4 has always been controlled by unfriendly upper-class establishment southerners – they never joined in the discussions on their message boards - and this tends to be reflected in the programme content. Thought that clash between Carolyn Quinn and Sarah Montague in last Saturday’s edition of Today was so revealing!!!!! Did you hear it?

Even the ‘comedy’ within R4 is inherently southern (probably because the majority of commissioning editors at R4 are southern): The News Quiz, Hudson and Pepperdine, Clare in The Community, The Now show, Weak At The Too, Ed Reardon……Did you notice all the trails when Barry Cryer appeared on it last Friday? Hee-hee, I love playing ‘bumping cars’ with everyone at R4!!!! Why do they think that listeners who reside north of Watford all speak with a Yorkshire accent or possesses a Yorkshire radio character? It’s even detectable in the drama.

I wish Mr. Norman had defined his reasons for not liking Midweek in this article. I only listen to the truncated edition at night and rarely find the guests interesting. All that stuff about strip shows and the nervous laughter on the last edition was a complete turn-off. It’s also another programme with an inherently southern character, so it doesn’t appeal. Last year’s interview with Loudon Wainwright 111 made me wonder what music R4 presenters grew up with. I doubt if they tuned into Top Gear Sue Arnold concluded (3) that: ‘Libby Purves’s problem is overniceness’, but it’s her southern aloof style that I dislike. Start The Week has also run out of steam, but I think uninteresting guests are more to blame.

Yes, I also enjoy In Our Time, especially when they delve into the more esoteric areas of life (and death). I loved the discussion about Heaven and Hell. I thought the programme about the Graviton was also well presented. I do, however, wish that the programme would devote an edition explaining the concept of ‘the field’ (as in electromagnetic) and how it evolved. I’ve heard quite a few additions over the years where references have been made to electromagnetic and gravitational fields, but most listeners will still be puzzled as to where the concept of the field came from.
Finally, I’m really looking forward to this new Profile programme on Saturday evening and think the allocation time is spot on. What’s your feeling? The American lady featured in one of the trails has a gorgeous voice. Did you hear her? I was disappointed, though, when the trail stated that the profiles would comprise: ‘artists, writers and politicians’. What about engineers, technologists and non-V-neck pullover scientists? I think listeners should be invited to submit their suggestions.

References

(1) Norman, M. ‘The Appalling Truth About Home Truths’ Independent 16th December 2005 p33

(2) News Bulletin ‘Radio 4 to drop Home Truths’ Telegraph 15th December 2005 p2

(3) Arnold, S. ‘Radio Review’ Observer 18th December 2005

[rosalie]

I've missed the new Profile programme dammit. What were the first two like? I don't have time now to listen again. Will try and remember on Saturday. I hope there will be lots on non V-neclk pullover scientists...it would be nice to hear some snake belt wearing ones!

[Lawrence Jones]

rosalie said:

I've missed the new Profile programme dammit. What were the first two like?

You can read Gillian Reynolds’ review (1) of the first programme which was re-scheduled to focus on Ehud Olmert after Mr. Sharon’s second stroke. I think that was a major mistake, given that this was supposed to be the first of a brand new series and the programme was clearly put together in a hurry. I believe it was also a major mistake to allow the first two programmes of a supposed major new series to have strong Jewish connections – especially when one considers Ms. Barabara Plett’s recent experience.

The Radio Times described how the programme would talk to ‘Friends and enemies, Colleagues and Confidants’. This was total nonsense in respect of the programme about Sir Terry Leahy which sounded like one big advert for Tesco. They interviewed one of his old school mates who used to work for Sainsburys, Lord MacLaurin (his former boss), a farmer (who only spoke only briefly), emphasised how the late Professor Roland Smith was his tutor at UMIST. Tutors aren’t all that relevant during undergraduate years and so it didn’t really mean anything. Interestingly the Radio Times removed the reference to ‘friends, enemies, colleagues, confidants’ in the next edition.

Feedback returns today and I hope they’ll investigate why the trails led the listener to believe that the programme was going to be presented by two women. 15 minutes is too short a period to profile someone and R4 should have chopped off 15 minutes from Saturday Review and made it a genuine new programme.

I hope there will be lots on non V-neclk pullover scientists...it would be nice to hear some snake belt wearing ones!

You must be joking - any supposed scientist that enters R4 without wearing a V-neck is sent off to Radio 1. This is why you never hear engineers on Radio 4. Engineers wear round neck pullovers manufactured with knitting needles!

Snake belts are another no-no at R4. They have a special snake-belt detector at the entrance.

Reference

Gillian Reynolds

[Crusoe]

Lawrence said:

Gillian Reynolds

Thank you for that link, Lawrence. I always enjoy reading Ms Reynolds’ thoughts. This, in particular, made me smile:-

“(Broadcasting bosses say they take note. Listeners don't always believe them.)”

How very true.

It is a pity she is not a regular on radio, anymore.

[Lawrence Jones]

webb said:

Lawrence said:

Gillian Reynolds

This, in particular, made me smile:-

“(Broadcasting bosses say they take note. Listeners don't always believe them.)”

How very true.

It is a pity she is not a regular on radio, anymore.

Me, too, Crusoe! Mr. Damazer is being interviewed on Feedback next week. I'll start a thread (if that's OK with you) later on at the weekend, asking contributors what their question to Mr. D would be.

I can't get enough of Ms. Reynolds's thoughts and opinions and doubt if there's another radio critic with such a profound love of listening to the radio. Interesting that she's a Liverpudlian - probably why we rarely hear her on R4.

[rosalie]

Lawrence said:

I can't get enough of Ms. Reynolds's thoughts and opinions and doubt if there's another radio critic with such a profound love of listening to the radio. Interesting that she's a Liverpudlian - probably why we rarely hear her on R4.

I agree, she's such a big R4 lover - and thus critic too - cos yes, we love R4 but that gives us the right to be critical too doesn't it cos we know what we're talking about!