Moany old gimmer thread. Radio 4.

**Zanx** · 08-06-12, 20:08

Is it me or has it gone down the pan in the last few weeks? There have been some epic fails, like the cringeworthy woman ventriloqist (on radio?) some dire radio plays and now a special treat, an entire month of dismal June Whitfield hammy vaudeville guff.

I'm sure there are diamonds in the muck, but they are getting harder to find, even the "comedy" is about as funny as a drunk dad trying to breakdance.

**protoborg** · 08-06-12, 20:12

Radio 4 does the new phunny- no laffs

**KorkyKat** · 08-06-12, 20:14

No it is not you, you are fine. I switched it off the other day because I had become so fed up with its middle class smugness. That, along with non stop Syria reports and the Euro smash up news.

I like listening to Feedback. They seem to drag out the producers and editors from some old cupboard and no matter what the gripe of the listener they always have a smart arse answer which really means: 'Fuck off listener, we're the BBC and we don't listen to anybody else only the other brooms in the cupboard.'

**melons** · 08-06-12, 20:15

not forgetting the rumoured new "darker and bigger" Albert Square plots for "The Archers"

**Olly** · 08-06-12, 20:18

All radio is garbage.

I spend all day every day in my truck, and for the last 3 years I've listened to radio. All day, every day. Not got DAB, so limited to the usual FM fodder.

I started with Radio 2, but there's only so much inane vacuousness one can take, and I have developed a pure, limitless loathing of that super-smug twat Jeremy Vine. I'd gladly stab him in the face and laugh while he bled. The cuddly wuddly beary beary boo.

Then I went through an extended spell of Radio 4. I even managed to tolerate Woman's Hour, for a few months. Then I'd heard every single play they've ever recorded, at least twice. The Archers holds no appeal any longer. And even Eddie Mair's PM now grates. There seems to be a BBC rule which insists every interviewee on Radio 4 begins every single one of their answers with the word "so", and it was making my teeth itch. And the misuse of "less" when they mean "fewer" had me punching the radio.

BBC local radio lasted all of 1 day. It's proper garbage. And the local commercial channels are even fucking worse, with added commercials for further annoyance.

So, I spent £3 on an iPod cable, and now I listen to my own music all day every day.

**mrlongbeard** · 08-06-12, 20:19

Decent afternoon plays have been thin on the ground of late, but there has been some decent sci fi on 4 extra to compensate.
About time their statistics show (Fri afternoons?) was made a permanent feature.

**KorkyKat** · 08-06-12, 20:25

It seems that to save local stations they are going to put more repeats on Radio 4. No doubt that means the wars and the Euro crash will last for a further ten years!

**Olly** · 08-06-12, 20:26

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

It seems that to save local stations they are going to put more repeats on Radio 4. No doubt that means the wars and the Euro crash will last for a further ten years!

So, yeah no, there will be less people listening?

**moth** · 08-06-12, 20:41

Originally Posted by Zanx

There have been some epic fails, like the cringeworthy woman ventriloqist (on radio?)

Not even original, it was first done 60 years ago Educating Archie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Most Radio 4 comedy these days is dire, truly dire. The 11pm comedy strand is particularly shit, the commissioning editors should be taken outside and shot. Plus they seem to be recyling the crappest Afternoon ~~Plays~~ Dramas ad infinitum.

Much of their factual programming is OK though, apart from the stuff that carries an obvious agenda.

In Our Time is a gem, it never talks down to its audience.

So, a bit curate's eggy.

**demographic** · 08-06-12, 20:41

I like radio fours news and current affairs but as my morning bait time starts at ten I only have so much time for womans hour whining away about inequality in the workplace.

Don't even get me started on The Archers, I mean its a soap, on the radio

Total shite.

I did hear a woman I went to school with (she was two years younger but me and a mate used to talk to her in a coffee shop on Saturdays) doing a very witty book review on Radio Four a while ago.
She said the book was so grim that she felt like invoicing the person who recommended it for her time

Plus she was on Have I Got News For You as well and in my eyes was quite good on that also.

Sorry I have digressed a bit.

**moth** · 08-06-12, 20:44

Originally Posted by Olly

And the misuse of "less" when they mean "fewer" had me punching the radio.

Physician, heal thyself

Originally Posted by Olly

So, yeah no, there will be less people listening?

**moth** · 08-06-12, 20:54

Originally Posted by mrlongbeard

but there has been some decent sci fi on 4 extra to compensate.

Which you'll be utterly pissed off with when it's been repeated for the 79th time in a year.

I liked Radio7/4Extra for a while, until I realised it was the recycling bin of BBC crime/comedy/sci-fi/creepy tales programming.

Currently airing

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Gaston Leroux - The Phantom of the Opera, Episode 3 - Broadcasts

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Edgar Wallace - The Mind of Mr JG Reeder, The Strange Case - Broadcasts

On Sunday we're treated to

BBC - BBC Radio 4 Extra Programmes - The Scarifyers, The Devil of Denge Marsh, Episode 2

repeat until all your listeners are pissed off with the same old repetitive tosh

**KorkyKat** · 08-06-12, 20:54

Originally Posted by Olly

So, yeah no, there will be less people listening?

It will be cuts by smoke and mirrors.

The Archers will now be repeated four times daily. Any Questions will be changed to A Question. Likewise Any Answers will become An Answer. The World At One will change to The World From One To Four O'Clock. The Shipping Forecast will be replaced by an extended version of Sailing By. Front Row will vanish for the summer and make a return in the winter as Back Seat. Most drama programmes will be integrated with A Good Read to become a Good Drama where members of the public read out various passages from their favourite book in character. Desert Island Discs will change to Desert Island Disc. There will be no Bible or copies of Shakespeare on offer. Instead the guest will be given a mystery copy from Mills and Boon. The one special object will be replaced by a BBC mug from Noel's House Party. Farming Today will be replaced by clips of farmyard noises from the BBC's extensive sound archive. And more...

BBC halves local radio cuts

**Editor** · 08-06-12, 20:55

Originally Posted by Zanx

I'm sure there are diamonds in the muck, but they are getting harder to find, even the "comedy" is about as funny as a drunk dad trying to breakdance.

been a bit busy the last few weeks soi tricky to comment. So far as comedy goes R4 default seems to have always been like you describe. Now I come to think of it the utterly one gag Count whathisface reappaeared for another series about when I got busy so I'd say the rot coincides with whoever gave approval for recomissiong that POS & their obvious mate, the scheduler. Wouldn't worry too much-influential ears listen in. They must do as R4 is soo cyclical in it's quality.

Mind you, Toksavig bowled a right bastard at Charlotte Green a week ago, who deftly whacked it over the boundary so it's not all bad!