tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post782709661637714458..comments2024-02-06T16:17:25.826+00:00Comments on THE GRØNMARK BLOG: The Today Programme has lost 300,000 listeners - a mix of Brexit, John Humphrys, and its editor, I reckonScott Gronmarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-34232797324904233192018-02-16T17:53:43.100+00:002018-02-16T17:53:43.100+00:00Radio 4 Extra - the older the programme the better...Radio 4 Extra - the older the programme the better. Unless it's Steptoe & Son or The Navy Lark or anything involving Arthur Smith or Stephen Fry. Only radio station I listen to voluntarily these days. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-45332028912826375342018-02-16T17:49:14.280+00:002018-02-16T17:49:14.280+00:00Tow which the correct response was, "Just nor...Tow which the correct response was, "Just normal-coloured whisky, thanks - triple, same amount of water, two ice cubes."<br /><br />God, that makes me feel nostalgic!Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-83886771853138451762018-02-16T17:45:03.016+00:002018-02-16T17:45:03.016+00:00I'm pretty sure they're planning to replac...I'm pretty sure they're planning to replace John Humphrys with Sir Lenny Henry - him or Camila Batmanghelidjh, who probably has a few holes in her diary these days. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-58370974423692030832018-02-16T16:30:18.163+00:002018-02-16T16:30:18.163+00:00I suspect the reason for sticking with its outmode...I suspect the reason for sticking with its outmoded format (sort of "Thinking Man's Jerry Springer") is to keep politicians and journalists hanging on every word - that's the real target audience. As long as it generates a sufficient number of "Minister in Today Row" headlines and tweets, thereby "setting the news agenda", the BBC will be happy. As for politicians, it mirrors the confrontational nature of the Commons, so ministers at least feel they know where they are. I edited a less formal late night political TV chat show in the '90s which tried to avoid the usual defendant/prosecuting counsel approach. If guests trotted out the standard boilerplate, they were mocked. Viewers seemed to appreciate this approach, so, naturally, it was abandoned. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-80008123106882064642018-02-13T21:48:46.969+00:002018-02-13T21:48:46.969+00:00'what do other Gronmark aficionados listen to ...'what do other Gronmark aficionados listen to as the kettle is boiling? '<br /><br />Classic FM (and pray they aren't playing film music or bad contemporary stuff). My liver would explode if I had to listen to radio Pyongyang that early. Or even at all, most days.GCoopernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-50951207845136420532018-02-13T16:14:25.725+00:002018-02-13T16:14:25.725+00:00Ed Stourton is a fine journalist who continues to ...Ed Stourton is a fine journalist who continues to deliver balanced discussions and programmes, a fundamental loss to Today. which is infuriating and self-satisfied - what do other Gronmark aficionados listen to as the kettle is boiling? <br />Another line that depressed Kingsley Amis was 'Red or white ?'Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07191599030795096843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-12604915034153001952018-02-13T10:13:01.504+00:002018-02-13T10:13:01.504+00:00Re Humphrys. Kingsley Amis said that the saddest s...Re Humphrys. Kingsley Amis said that the saddest sentence in the English language is " I think we will just go straight in". I think it is "And here's The World This Weekend with Mark Mardell" so be careful a what you wish for.<br /><br />I just know instinctively that the BBC are lining up this unpleasant, ginger-haired tub of venom to replace Humprys and thereby guaranteeing the loss of further thousands of listeners [although Orla Guerin might be in the frame unless she pursues a career in stand-up comedy]. This is what Allison Pearson said about "Bunter" when she was on the Mail and Mardell was away in America enjoying the BBC American Editor sinecure :<br /><br />" The BBC’s Washington Correspondent not only looks like a sweaty, red-faced squire who has been chasing the housemaid before coming on air, he is now so hefty he blocks the view of the White House behind him. Has any BBC producer told Fatty Mardell to go on a diet because he is failing the “primetime test”? I do hope so." <br /><br />It would be a classic, bloody-minded BBC gesture to show its continuing contempt for the R4 listener - not dissimilar to the shameful sacking of the excellent and charming Ed Stourton around 2009.<br /><br />SDGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-44410933358385750382018-02-13T09:46:35.652+00:002018-02-13T09:46:35.652+00:00I just got fed up with starting my day listening t...I just got fed up with starting my day listening to all that artificial disgruntlement. I don't think that building a whole programme around a series of engineered confrontations - politician v opposing politician, health minister v person with an illness etc - provides any real insight into the issues it highlights. <br /><br />It's surprising how little the format has changed over the years, although it's probably more bad mannered today and has more of a campaigning flavour, to judge from the few occasions when it is on over breakfast at someone else's house.. Ex-KCSnoreply@blogger.com