Presenters/News readers

[french frank]

Before my R3 time but there’s a lovely blast from the past in the recording attached to this tweet:

https://twitter.com/radiojottings/status/1462931336818221062?s=21

of John Holmstrom genially advising of overnight changes to MW frequencies for R3, exactly 43 years ago

Only one of the present team that I can think of has that dry Radio 3 sense of humour

[underthecountertenor]

Before my R3 time but there’s a lovely blast from the past in the recording attached to this tweet:

https://twitter.com/radiojottings/status/1462931336818221062?s=21

of John Holmstrom genially advising of overnight changes to MW frequencies for R3, exactly 43 years ago

And here’s Cormac Rigby the following morning.

https://twitter.com/Radiojottings/status/1463039618186633219?s=20

[Nick Armstrong]

And here’s Cormac Rigby the following morning.

https://twitter.com/Radiojottings/st...186633219?s=20

Blimey, a bit precious! That florid furrow is still being worked by Sean Rafferty, it seems to me

I prefer the drier, sunlit Holmstrom-Skelly uplands (I assume that’s who you were referring to, ff?)

[Barbirollians]

Didn’t he leave to become a monk ?

[french frank]

I prefer the drier, sunlit Holmstrom-Skelly uplands (I assume that’s who you were referring to, ff?)

I wasn't actually but I've haven't heard Ian Skelly for a long time (as I remember, yes, I'd include him). In fact I have been relishing a couple of bons mots for years which are now getting fainter and fainter to the point where I scarcely remember the details but the delight lingers on: John Shea on Through the Night.

Didn’t he leave to become a monk ?

Cormac Rigby? Yes.

[underthecountertenor]

Blimey, a bit precious! That florid furrow is still being worked by Sean Rafferty, it seems to me

I prefer the drier, sunlit Holmstrom-Skelly uplands (I assume that’s who you were referring to, ff?)

I liked Holmstrom's version, but thought Rigby's was even better. But then I like Rafferty.

Here's an interesting piece on Rigby's life and career:

https://www.english.op.org/godzdogz/celebrating-priesthood-father-cormac-rigby/

[Nick Armstrong]

But then I like Rafferty.

No accounting for &c. &c.

[oddoneout]

But then I like Rafferty.

I had to stop listening to In Tune because although I didn't doubt he was a lovely chap I just found his rambling difficult, and his interviews with people whose language was not English excruciating, to the point where any pleasure from the music/performers disappeared completely.

[jayne lee wilson]

I had to stop listening to In Tune because although I didn't doubt he was a lovely chap I just found his rambling difficult, and his interviews with people whose language was not English excruciating, to the point where any pleasure from the music/performers disappeared completely.

Why were those interviews "excruciating"?

[Nick Armstrong]

Why were those interviews "excruciating"?

If I may chip in, I often found them so because he would lace his questions with flowery and obscure polysyllabic language that (as well as being silly and egotistical) was basically impolite to people attempting to do a live interview not in their first language. Poor broadcasting.

[kernelbogey]

If I may chip in, I often found them so because he would lace his questions with flowery and obscure polysyllabic language that (as well as being silly and egotistical) was basically impolite to people attempting to do a live interview not in their first language. Poor broadcasting.

Totally agree... and so I never listen to the programme.

[Nick Armstrong]

Totally agree... and so I never listen to the programme.

Same here, hence the past tense in my post. I assume he still does it but I wouldn’t know…

[french frank]

I assume he still does it but I wouldn’t know…

Fun fact - I think he's the only presenter who has stayed on the same programme since back in Nicholas Kenyon's day.

[oddoneout]

Why were those interviews "excruciating"?

The combination of his rambling sentences and his accent meant than the interviewees struggled to extract the question he was asking and then needed time to put together an answer, not helped by him jumping in with more verbiage/questions, observations while they were still trying to cope with the first lot.

[jayne lee wilson]

The combination of his rambling sentences and his accent meant than the interviewees struggled to extract the question he was asking and then needed time to put together an answer, not helped by him jumping in with more verbiage/questions, observations while they were still trying to cope with the first lot.

Phew! Glad I didn't tune in...... I do like Sean when he presents the Proms though....
I love a bit of extempore enthusiasm....

BTW, (just a random thought of course)....... which accent, do you imagine, would his interviewees have found easier to comprehend?