Alan Davey, new controller, R3

[Stanley Stewart]

Richard Brooks in his Biteback column, S.T Culture magazine,
(11 Jan), offers practical advice for Alan Davey as he takes over as Controller of R3, 12 Jan. He is confident that Tony Hall as DG will protect arts and classical music.

Davey, he asserts, should "beef up the spoken word on
Radio 3, with more new short plays that will not break the bank. He must banish, too, presenters who are beyond their sell-by dates..." Another consummation devoutly to be wished!

[french frank]

Richard Brooks in his Biteback column, S.T Culture magazine,
(11 Jan), offers practical advice for Alan Davey as he takes over as Controller of R3, 12 Jan. He is confident that Tony Hall as DG will protect arts and classical music.

Davey, he asserts, should "beef up the spoken word on
Radio 3, with more new short plays that will not break the bank. He must banish, too, presenters who are beyond their sell-by dates..." Another consummation devoutly to be wished!

AD seemed confident that Tony Hall would be one to back him. Don't know about short plays that "won't break the bank" - plays are expensive. I wonder what sort of "new short plays" he has in mind? There doesn't sound to be much 'beef' there. And what are presenters who are beyond their sell-by dates? It sounds as if it might include people who are very good. Be careful what you wish for. It's hard to think of many of the newest recruits who instil much enthusiasm

[LeMartinPecheur]

And what are presenters who are beyond their sell-by dates? It sounds as if it might include people who are very good. Be careful what you wish for. It's hard to think of many of the newest recruits who instil much enthusiasm

ff: you took the words right out of my, um, ... fingers

[Zehr idiomatisch, ja?]

[french frank]

[Zehr idiomatisch, ja?]

Ja. Zehr.

[Richard Tarleton]

I thought Richard Brooks (?Arts editor of ST?) doesn't fully understand the problem. He says:

Those claiming Radio 3 has dumbed down to take on Classic FM are wrong. My problem- and I listen every day - is that it sometimes talks to its audience as if they were members of some private club, while its presenters often overeffusively call this or that work "just amazing". or "truly wonderful".

Well, er, up to a point. I'd never heard of the presenter he singles out as an example of "beyond their sell-by date" - Philip Dodd ("...the most ludicrous conversation on Free Thinking...between the interviewer Philip Dodd and the artist Sean Scully [whom I've also never heard of]. They were equally appalling."). But then I never listen to Free Thinking.

PS a look at Suffolkcoastal's research might help him understand.

[french frank]

I thought Richard Brooks (?Arts editor of ST?) doesn't fully understand the problem. He says:

Those claiming Radio 3 has dumbed down to take on Classic FM are wrong. My problem- and I listen every day - is that it sometimes talks to its audience as if they were members of some private club, while its presenters often overeffusively call this or that work "just amazing". or "truly wonderful".

It sounds as if he's really more interested in the speech programmes than the classical music. It would be useful to hear some of the comments that he thought sounded like 'addressing a private club'. Does that simply mean he didn't understand what they were on about ('Speak English, can't you?')?Can anyone think of anyone who fits that description Clemency? Sean? Suzy? Katie?

[Flosshilde]

conversation on Free Thinking...between the interviewer Philip Dodd and the artist Sean Scully [whom I've also never heard of].

I'm assuming this is your comment, Richard? I don't know where your art interests lie, but if you're not totally averse to abstract art you should perhaps have come across him - Sean Scully is a well established painter based in the USA. I've seen an exhibition in Edinburgh - his work looks better in the flesh than in reproduction.

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sean-scully-1917

[eighthobstruction]

I have a perverse wish to listen to this to discover its depth of appallingness....is it still on iplayer

Scully's thoughts, which I have read in articles, come over pretty well

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It would be useful to hear some of the comments that he thought sounded like 'addressing a private club'. Does that simply mean he didn't understand what they were on about ('Speak English, can't you?')?Can anyone think of anyone who fits that description Clemency? Sean? Suzy? Katie?

I think he may have been referring to the cliqueiness of presenters, in the way that they refer to one another on a first name only basis, and anyone who doesn't know whom they are referring to mustn't be a member of the cosy club.

[french frank]

I think he may have been referring to the cliqueiness of presenters, in the way that they refer to one another on a first name only basis, and anyone who doesn't know whom they are referring to mustn't be a member of the cosy club.

It could be that, though I suspect it's what happens on other BBC stations. And if he listens every day, he isn't taking much notice of who the presenters are if he is unaware who they are referring to.

That said, I think it does give the impression of a small group gossiping in the Broadcasting House cafeteria over a cup of coffee (a private club if you like). I think this is counterproductive if the idea is that they're creating a warm, welcoming feeling for the station. We are excluded from their cosy chats.

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm assuming this is your comment, Richard? I don't know where your art interests lie, but if you're not totally averse to abstract art you should perhaps have come across him - Sean Scully is a well established painter based in the USA. I've seen an exhibition in Edinburgh - his work looks better in the flesh than in reproduction.
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sean-scully-1917

Thanks for that Floss, yes, my contemporary abstract art knowledge very patchy I'm afraid. I'll look out for him. My education received a boost when Mrs T was doing her art & design degree - we went to the Pollock exhibition (Tate Britain), the Rothkos at Tate Modern, etc. etc......- I read The Shock of the New......

[french frank]

when Mrs T was doing her art & design degree

[Richard Tarleton]

Relatively recently - as a mature student

[Barbirollians]

Past their sell by date is a meaningless phrase unless it is suggesting deliberate age discrimination - a problem that already infests the BBC .

On the other hand a clear out of Sean Rafferty , Petroc Trelawney, Sarah Walker and Katie Derham would be welcome here .

[DracoM]

And here.