Questions For Mr. Damazer

[Lawrence Jones]

Mr. Damazer appears on Feeback next Friday. His appearance last March was most disappointing and it was clear that all controversial questions never made it on air. What questions would contributors like to put to Mr. Damazer? I’ve detailed mine below.


I’d like to know why most of the comedy on R4 is specifically designed for residents of the south of England, working in the service sector? Examples: Clare In The Community, The Now Show, Weak at The Top, Hudson and Pepperdine, Ed Reardon, The News Quiz…..

What about listeners living in the North of England who work in the manufacturing sector and earn foreign currency?

[Sally Sperling]

Thanks for starting this thread Mr. Jones. I enjoyed last night’s edition of Feedback and I’d like to ask Mr. Damazer why contributors to the R4 message boards have been treated so badly? It was difficult enough attempting to contribute – for about 4 years – to boards that didn’t work. However to be then faced with a radio station that is openly hostile to its posters is just too much.

Mr. Damazer was invited to introduce himself to listeners last year and detail his own broadcasting influences via a short essay on the R4 boards, but he never responded. The principal host – Anna MC - has stated repeatedly that postings are sent on to the respective R4 personnel, so I can’t see how he missed it. I’ve also noticed that on the very rare occasions that he does post, it’s always via a host. Why can’t Mr. Damazer register with the boards, use his own name, and place his own posts?

There’s a report about the BBC in yesterday’s ‘Sunday Express’, part of which describes an alleged R4 listener bonding exercise, detailed by Mr. Patrick Muir-Head who I believe is now a most successful painter and decorator. Unfortunately many current and former contributors to the R4 message boards can only conclude that R4 is an aloof and snooty radio station that doesn’t want to bond with its listeners or take any interest in their views.

Sally Sperling

[Lawrence Jones]

Thanks for responding Ms. Sperling and I agree with all your comments – I’m an ex-BBC R4 MB poster as well and still waiting for the apology from Mr. Damazer, Mr. Highfield, Mr. Loosmore and Ms. Anna MC in respect of the way contributors were treated on these boards.

Incidentally, I’ve just taken a quick look on the R4 message boards and there isn’t one posting by anyone from R4, detailing the appearance of Mr. Damazer on Feedback this Friday. Not a good advert for R4.

[Sally Sperling]

Oh Lawrence, I was so relieved to read your posting and was beginning to think it was only me who’d experienced problems with the R4 message boards and unfriendly BBC employees.

I see the BBC licence is going up by more than 4%. I’m not surprised they all eat smoked salmon for lunch on The Today programme. I’ve got stale cheese for my lunch and can’t even afford a new handbag at the moment!

Best wishes,

Sally

[Crusoe]

Sally said:

I’ve got stale cheese for my lunch

Don’t worry, Sally, I always think cheese tastes better when it’s had chance to mature.

Oh and we've all had problems with the BBC messageboards.

[Lawrence Jones]

Sally said:

Oh Lawrence, I was so relieved to read your posting and was beginning to think it was only me who’d experienced problems with the R4 message boards and unfriendly BBC employees.


Sally

I noticed they ran a trail on R4 last night for this interview which suggests that listeners don’t bother to send in questions anymore – I certainly don’t. It’s the arrogance of R4 that drives me up the wall and the Today programme is a major offender. Did you notice how they couldn’t even be bothered to send a spokesperson to Feedback apropos the egg cup debacle? Mr. Bolton had to broadcast two public appeals on R4 a few years ago, requesting Mr. Marsh to attend an interview – and he still didn’t appear.

Some of the these characters at the BBC wear their Oxbridge degrees like a badge of honour, yet they can’t even organise a simple egg cup promotion! Many private companies a fraction the size of the BBC would regard this kind of thing as routine and customers' orders would be fulfilled as promised. However R4 isn’t accountable to anyone, so nothing will happen……in exactly the same way as nothing was done about R4 message board debacle.

R3 cares far more deeply about its listeners and Mr. Wright always leads by example. I was so pleased to hear him speaking about the success (goodness knows he needs some good luck after the lambasting he gets from all the radio critics) of his Bach Christmas. I loved listening to that letter from the woman who’d been listening to Bach’s double violin concerto in the bath – and I don’t like much classical music!

P.S. Sorry to hear about your stale cheese and I hope you're able to find the funds for a decent handbag soon.