The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[doversoul1]

I am listening to Saturday’s Breakfast. Elizabeth Alker is certainly not Catriona Young but I don’t find her anything as irritating as a certain regular R3 presenter (or two). Yes, she has that particular manner of speaking prevalent in her generation (she is 38) but she does give an impression (I get an impression) that she knows what she is saying*, maybe not as knowledgeable as the TTN Three but enough to present this programme. And I think she sounds sincere. All the same, I don’t think I’ll be listening to Breakfast. I like to hear whole works. Back to TTN.

*if she is reading a script given to her, she reads it well.

Afterthought: If Breakfast were a more seriously music based programme, I would prefer a trained voice and not just good enough, friendly voice.

TS: I don’t know how the BBC recruits presenters or how freelance broadcasters work but I suppose the difficulty maybe what position the potential presenter is being offered, for example, two mornings a week will not attracts those who are looking for a full time work. But as you say, some of the current full-time presenters’ positions could (should) have been open to public competitions. Is S M-P the only one who came in by winning the place?

[french frank]

Whats does bother me is that some people do seem to get these slots through contact, luck, being in the right place, and not through having anything that really adds to the mix. And there is no excuse for that, actually, because there are a lot of talented people with real expertise out there who deserve the chance.
And with its resources, the BBC should be able to find them.

The breakfast shows are also supposed to be 'flagship' slots (though I suppose weekdays moreso than weekends). Don't know that I agree that good presenters for 'breakfast shows' are easy to find. I think Petroc takes his job seriously and without being an 'expert' is thorough enough for a 'non specialist' programme like Breakfast. Martin Handley may be worth something better than Breakfast (like The Choir?). Ian Skelly is 'just' a very, very good broadcaster: I suspect he could make a good fist of any programme he was given.

But don't forget - SMP got her job by winning a 'talent competition': she had music qualifications and some experience of broadcasting. I suspect the pop-up studio 'Be a Radio 3 presenter' really was hoping a promising newcomer would turn up. A better idea might be to provide proper training rather than assume people have a natural gift: all right for other stations, not for Radio 3.

[Old Grumpy]

Nice piece by Jason Yarde this am at approx. 01:53...

Jason Yarde

Rude Awakening!
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor: François-Xavier Roth.
LSO LIVE.

... quite unexpected.

OG

[antongould]

... caught a few seconds this morning, I found the sing-song childish voice instantly offputting (i.e. off went live R3). Never been Alkered before and never will be again. Where did they find her? And why?

Rumpole are you sure you are not being impacted by your "... dietary self-discipline..." - in the Great Alkers Debate I come down on the side of the lady.
I like her presentational style, their seems a real enthusiasm there, which IMVVHO is very hard to fake for 4 hours.
As to the her knowledge of classical music I will leave that for others to judge, as best they can, but for what it is worth I think I have heard mentioning that she has played one of the tracks broadcast on a wind instrument - I cannot recall which one. Curiously in a world of wall to wall internet information the web contains little about her other than what underthecounter has detailed.
Sunday's programme contained, what I thought, was a delightful Birdsong Sequence which she presented very well with detail on Thankful Villages about which, shamefully, I knew nothing. Sadly the playlist contains no details of the 3 tracks played ... we have been here before .... it seems we had a whole Dame Ethyl opera ... I sent her a Facebook Message - Rumpole and ff will understand - pointing this out. She has responded thanking me, but as to whether she has the power to get this corrected we shall see ....
She is back in early November for those who want to get under their beds .....

[DaisyDog]

The weekend Breakfast programming is important and probably most listened to. So do let us have the best possible presenters. Such as Ian Skelly, Susan Sharpe, Penny Gore, Rob Cowan, Louise Fryer, Martin Handley, and the inexplicably little used Paul Guinnery (now only on occasional news items). There is something special about all of them, warm and welcoming voices, crystal clear diction, with no annoying vocal ticks, and none of them over-excited gabblers.

[underthecountertenor]

I think I have heard mentioning that she has played one of the tracks broadcast on a wind instrument - I cannot recall which one.

'Twas the clarinet. I think she said that she'd played Weber's 2nd Clarinet Concerto when younger but hadn't got anywhere near Gervase de Peyer's standard. Or words to that effect.

[Bax-of-Delights]

Like the no.11 bus, you wait for just one Pacific 231 to turn up - and then two come along together. On Breakfast this morning and Words and Music this evening.

[antongould]

New photo of Skellers looking like he is off to tell Johnny Europe that Brexit means Brexit ......

[underthecountertenor]

New photo of Skellers looking like he is off to tell Johnny Europe that Brexit means Brexit ......

Definitely looks like a man who would be handy in a UKIP punch-up.

[CallMePaul]

The weekend Breakfast programming is important and probably most listened to. So do let us have the best possible presenters. Such as Ian Skelly, Susan Sharpe, Penny Gore, Rob Cowan, Louise Fryer, Martin Handley, and the inexplicably little used Paul Guinnery (now only on occasional news items). There is something special about all of them, warm and welcoming voices, crystal clear diction, with no annoying vocal ticks, and none of them over-excited gabblers.

Louise Fryer has left the BBC and I believe that she no longer works in broadcasting. I suspect that SS has retired - I met her at a R3 stand in London in the mid-1990s and she was not in the first flush of youth. I do remember Penny G in the early morning slot several years ago (before it was called Breakfast I think), replacing the Squire after his first stint in this slot. Paul G used to do continuity many years ago and I have no idea why he appears so rarely. I enjoy MH as a concert presenter, which is probably why he only ever does Breakfast at weekends. I have to say that CBH is probably my least favourite presenter and I for one am not unhappy that her role appears to have been reduced.

[subcontrabass]

Paul G used to do continuity many years ago and I have no idea why he appears so rarely.

He seems to spend some time performing and recording - both solo piano and chamber music with Harmoniemusik.

[french frank]

Paul G used to do continuity many years ago and I have no idea why he appears so rarely.

He was the regular presenter of the Sunday evening Choirworks, predecessor of The Choir; and also, I think, Sacred and Profane, which was a very restful Sunday morning version of Breakfast.

But, yes, like several others he has a separate musical career.

[maestro267]

Being on a big Havergal Brian kick as I am atm, it's great to see that they played a new-to-me work of his on Breakfast this morning, the Variations on "Has anyone here seen Kelly?" (I believe it derives from his opera The Tigers.)

[Nick Armstrong]

Being on a big Havergal Brian kick as I am atm, it's great to see that they played a new-to-me work of his on Breakfast this morning, the Variations on "Has anyone here seen Kelly?" (I believe it derives from his opera The Tigers.)

A real treat to have some sensible discourse among the music this week, too, thanks to Ian Skelly; amusing as well, I like the way he accommodates the need for listener tweets'n'emails by taking the mickey out of the correspondents... Such a change from the glutinous sycophancy of other presenters (in recent times, but still sometimes these days... Rob Cowan), praising even the lamest contribution as 'fascinating &c. &c.'.

[Stanfordian]

In recent weeks I have been listening to Ian Skelly on my headphones during my daiuly early morning walks. Very satisfying and an object lesson on how to present a programme. Those that feel the same way should band together and let him know our appreciation.