Eddie Mair and PM

[Lawrence Jones]

I’ve noticed that Stewart Henry is always criticising Mr Mair on the BBC message boards. I enjoy listening to him a great deal and I suspect that it’s the grumpy old grocks within R4 who dislike him. He conducted a fine interview (on PM) with Professor Sir Martyn Rees last week in respect of school kids not studying maths physics and chemistry at ‘A’ level. I don’t know if Mr. Mair has a background in engineering or science (I suspect not), but one could tell that he really was on the side of engineers and scientists which is very rare for most other R4 presenters. IMO, a very good interview.

[Crusoe]

I’ve never really understood people who criticize Mr Mair: I do think that he is one of the best (perhaps the best) journalists/ news broadcasters that the BBC has. He seems to bring wit, intelligence and an enquiring mind to everything he does. I think it is a pity that he moved from “Broadcasting House” to “PM”, partly because BH was on at a time that I could listen to it but also because he seemed to be the perfect presenter for such a varied programme.

[not wavering]

i agree eddie mair is a totally accomplished professional with an excellent ability to present appealingly on radio...

_{n. b. it would not surprise me if some of the signs in the wake of his detractors bear the mark of colleagues and/or jealousy... the word vendetta springs to mind...}

[Lawrence Jones]

not said:

i agree eddie mair is a totally accomplished professional with an excellent ability to present appealingly on radio...

Quite right NW and he also possesses impeccable interviewing manners. Contrast this with the way R4 treats its message board contributors.

No Reply

I hope all these decent folk cross out the wretched R4 MBs from their Bookmark list.

_{n. b. it would not surprise me if some of the signs in the wake of his detractors bear the mark of colleagues and/or jealousy... the word vendetta springs to mind...}

You could be right here, but I must say that when I hear most of his colleagues speaking to him (for news breaks and trails), they always say 'Eddie' in a warm and friendly manner. I think the Mair/Rae combination works best on PM.