Thoroughly enjoyed the recent two-parter adapted from Don DeLillo’s ‘Libra’.
For those who don’t know, it’s a reimagining of the JFK assassination - I read the book for the first time last year, but just thought I’d share in case anyone else was interested.
I know classical isn't everyone's taste, but for me this is a feeling. I don't know if I would spend my evening any other way.
*The night is dark. All through the home,
A quiet settles, soft and deep,
As shadows stretch and minutes roam,
And breathing shifts to match the sleep.
The house grows still as hours pass by,
A gentle easing of the day,
Until the stars fill up the sky,
And all the noise has slipped away.
The night is here. The dark is deep.
The final lamp begins to dim.
It is time to yield to quiet sleep,
And sing the world a resting hymn.*
EDIT: I meant swear words in songs themselves, not swearing in general
With Canada permitting F-bombs, even Ireland not having laws (?) on swear words, and even the most english-fluent of european countries preferring the explicit versions at all times. I'm wondering why we cannot do the same. Google searches say said countries allow it because artistic freedom is prioritised, so why must in europe, ONLY the UK have to go the maximum protect-kids way, when no one else in the world besides the US (correct if wrong) does the same?
Even Australia, some radios can have swears in songs during the day. Meanwhile we have to here the most terribly spliced of edits. Makes it unlistenable.
If this is not the correct community for this type of post, please direct me to the proper one.
I am a British citizen who has spent the entirety of my working career (last 27years) in Canadian Radio. I have worked as a audio producer/engineer in Toronto, Niagara Falls, and currently as the head of Imaging for 13 stations from Windsor to London (Canada).
I'm exploring the possibility of moving back to the UK to be near my parents as they are aging, and have some questions about getting into the industry there.
In Canada, there are 2 main job boards that serve the broadcasting industry. (Milkman Unlimited, and Broadcast Dialogue). Is there something similar for the UK?
In Canada there are 3 major players (Bell, Rogers, Corus), a few mid size companies (Stingray, Vista, MyBroadcasting, Pattison etc), small operators (Blackburn, Evanov, etc) and then many many independents... I spent some time over the weekend looking into British, companies, and it seems all the FM stations are owned by the BBC, Global, and Bauer. Is this all there is??
If anyone has any advice as to where I should start, it'd be most appreciated.
The world of radio now seems full of celebrities off the telly.
This Joel bloke on radio 2 just now is dreadful.
Is anyone else annoyed by the thing on BBC Radio London where presenters cut off the previous’ presenters last song before the news with a bed and explaining what’s coming up on their show?
99% of the time it’s pointless as most presenters have the next presenter a few minutes before the end of their show to explain what’s coming up anyway, it cuts off the end of songs, and this morning Nikki Bedi was in for Riz Lateef on breakfast and was talking until the top of the hour, she didn’t actually get a chance to finish her sentence and sign off because Robert Elms cut her off with the bed, even though he’d been on her show 5 minutes before to explain what’s he’s got on the show.
I listen to a few BBC local stations and Vic Minett on CWR is absolutely awful for it, literally just says “thanks previous presenter, Vic’s here now” or “morning, shall we do Monday” over the last presenter’s song into the news when she’s just been on the breakfast show 5 minutes before explaining it, sounds awful and always gets on my nerves.
Just wondering if radio travel updates are still useful for listeners, or is everyone using some form of sat-nav these days?
It'd be a shame for them to go. I like listening out for places I know or roads I've been on, even when listening in the kitchen with no intention of driving anywhere.
Listening to Jeremy Vine on his Radio 2 show today prompted me to raise the above question. I've always found him to be quite an obnoxious, opinionated moron but recently he seems to be really losing the plot.
Today he was getting into a muddle over a debate about underhand practices by companies conning people with subscription renewals on their bank cards. In a moment of confusion he gave away is own CVV code for his personal credit card live on air 😂. On another topic about cruelty to lobsters 🙄 he berated a listener for saying that he thought the idea of lobsters having feelings with ridiculous and told him to "read the room man".
He really is the awkward, embarrassing Dad trying to be relevant. Radio 2 has even given him a DJ spot at Radio 2 in the park this year. Now there's a reason to stay away if ever you needed one.......
I started listening to Radio 2 properly around 2016, back in the Chris Evans and Simon Mayo days. I really liked Radio 2 back then and listened quite a lot.
I eventually stopped listening in 2023, around the time Ken Bruce left. I didn’t follow Ken over to Greatest Hits Radio because, to be honest, I find GHR a bit too stuck in the 80s for me. I ended up listening to Clyde 1 instead and actually really enjoyed the GBXperience on Fridays.
I came back to Radio 2 in November 2025, so there’s obviously quite a lot I’ve missed and I’m still getting used to how the station sounds now.
One thing I’m curious about is Sara Cox’s new breakfast show. I haven’t actually listened to it yet. What do people think of it? How are the quizzes and the “kids in the car” stuff?
I’ll be honest, Sara has irritated me a bit from what I’ve heard on drive time, and I’ve heard some not-so-great things about her breakfast show, so I’m not exactly going into it as a massive fan. But I’m going to give the show a proper listen before making my mind up.
I’m also really interested in the new jingles, especially Vernon Kay’s. Does anyone know who produced them? I quite like finding out who produces radio imaging.
Personally, I much preferred the old Radio 2 jingles. I think they had a lot more character.
Something else I’ve noticed is the news jingle. Nowadays it seems to just have the recorded voices over it, with nobody actually speaking live over the jingle. I remember the old style where the presenter would talk over it and say things like how you could listen to the station. I thought that sounded much more natural and made it feel like a live radio station. I’d honestly like to see presenters speaking over the news jingle again.
And then there’s Drive.
The Drive presenters are basically just sitting in, and I’m not really sure what to make of it. Radio 2 seems to use quite a lot of TV presenters as well, and personally I don’t think they always fit radio that well.
I really liked Mark Goodier, so maybe I’m just stuck in my old Radio 2 ways when he covered for Pick of the Pops!
Anyway, for people who have listened through all these changes, what do you think of Radio 2 now compared with around 2016–2023?
And is there anything else you think I should know about the station now that I’ve come back?
Also, if anyone knows who produced the Vernon Kay jingles, I’d love to know!
Growing up, Dad would stick Radio 4 or World Service an hour or so after dinner. It was his gentle way of saying 'get your skinny arses to bed', and it worked a Pavlovian treat on my brother and me.
I've been listening to a lot of Radio 4 again recently, after fishing out an old Roberts from the attic. Media is so short-form these days, the radio makes for refreshing and relaxed company when I'm cooking, or having a tipple at night with my dog at my feet.
Which shows scratch this itch for you? I'm looking for something unhurried and homespun; food- for-the-soul sort of radio.
Love listening to a good old BBC drama when I’m doing the household chores and invariably turn to YouTube or Internet archive for a better selection. Surely the BBC would be onto a winner if it opened up its archive, just wondered why it doesn‘t, maybe copyright or something ?