The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[cloughie]

Before my time antonio but the accent itself is nothing to do with it!

By ‘eck Nick you must be a young ‘un!

[underthecountertenor]

I think the average 'really well educated' French or German person doesn't end up as a radio presenter. I can only think that the BBC profiles their desired 'average listener' (in this case to Radio 3) rather than their current listener and fits the presenter to that profile. They want averagely younger listeners (ie younger than 59) who don't know a lot about classical music, so you get c. 40 year olds who also don't know a lot about classical music (don't want to scare people off). If you are over 55 and pretty knowledgeable (or at least have an enquiring mind), you aren't the target audience. Not for Breakfast, not for Essential Classics, not for Classical Fix, Night Tracks, Tearjerker, This Classical Life … But there is some 'live music' served up for you, some of which will interest you.

I’m over 55 (sadly). I enjoy Breakfast for the most part, not least because it frequently (as today) introduces me to interesting repertoire that I would not have sought out otherwise, or reminds me of rep that had gone to the back of, or out of, my ageing mind.
Does this make me not ‘pretty knowledgeable’ or ‘not possessed of an enquiring mind’? I’m afraid I rather resent the implications of this post, ff.

[oddoneout]

I’m over 55 (sadly). I enjoy Breakfast for the most part, not least because it frequently (as today) introduces me to interesting repertoire that I would not have sought out otherwise, or reminds me of rep that had gone to the back of, or out of, my ageing mind.
Does this make me not ‘pretty knowledgeable’ or ‘not possessed of an enquiring mind’? I’m afraid I rather resent the implications of this post, ff.

No, but I think you've turned this round to get somewhere that wasn't intended. The target audiences for the programmes listed do not need the qualities mentioned to access or appreciate them. That is not the same as saying that if you do listen you also are deficient - and there are several of us who repeatedly make that point, although sometimes it does get a tad wearing and having to joke about our perceived deficiencies wears at bit thin at times.

[french frank]

I’m afraid I rather resent the implications of this post, ff.

I regret that. Perhaps it's a question merely of degree: I was finding little to stretch me, and will admit that breakfast time is not where one expects maximum intellectual demand, but in my case I expect minimum, on which level it failed. It was more a question of how much sheer irritation it caused that made the programme no longer worth listening to.

On enquiring minds: I have no doubt that you have a very enquiring mind, and also that you enjoy Breakfast 'for the most part'. It is not therefore a necessary corollary that Breakfast caters for enquiring minds.

That is not the same as saying that if you do listen you also are deficient

Thank you, oddoneout, for making that point.

[cloughie]

I bet you didn’t appreciate Elsie Tanner ........

Nor did those in the street who experienced the sharp edge of her tongue!

[Roslynmuse]

... enjoy Breakfast 'for the most part'.

A Breakfast Curate's Egg?

[french frank]

A Breakfast Curate's Egg?

Well, that is very apposite, the more I think about it. Who enjoys an egg which is partly, but not entirely, bad?

[oddoneout]

Well, that is very apposite, the more I think about it. Who enjoys an egg which is partly, but not entirely, bad?

Those with unusual tastes?
Having just been reminded of gulls' eggs do(did perhaps I should say?) those used to eating such items find ordinary chook eggs too bland? Speaking of chicken eggs the avian flu restrictions mean that all eggs(and meat) are now from housed chickens although they can continue to be labeled free range for 16 weeks from 14th December. In practice it doesn't make that much difference as the majority of commercial free range hens don't actually choose to go outside; I have seen inside the housing of my local producer so I am not unduly bothered by that as the hens are well kept, and in any case I buy the seconds direct from the farm so don't pay the retailer FR premium.

[french frank]

Those with unusual tastes?

Touché, mon brave!

[greenilex]

I recently saw a photo of Eliz. Alker for the first time. Perhaps she doesn’t have the right face for radio? I was pleasantly surprised ...

[Serial_Apologist]

I recently saw a photo of Eliz. Alker for the first time. Perhaps she doesn’t have the right face for radio? I was pleasantly surprised ...

Once, back in the 1980s, we were made to don formal dinner attire to appear on a radio panel game broadcast on BBC Radio Bristol. This was for the finale, held before an audience at the Colston Hall. I had to go to Moss Bross and hire the ruddy clobber for the night!

[LezLee]

But she was a winner on Pointless, surely that counts for something!

...and she's very tall.

[LezLee]

Once, back in the 1980s, we were made to don formal dinner attire to appear on a radio panel game broadcast on BBC Radio Bristol. This was for the finale, held before an audience at the Colston Hall. I had to go to Moss Bross and hire the ruddy clobber for the night!

I was a contestant on 'Counterpoint' at the end of the Ned Sherrin days and the 2 male contestants wore suits. Don't know if they were asked to. I wasn't given any instructions!

[underthecountertenor]

Well, that is very apposite, the more I think about it. Who enjoys an egg which is partly, but not entirely, bad?

Not really apposite. I'm not saying that it's partly bad. Only that I personally don't enjoy 100% of the music, or the performances, played every day. But if I did, that would make me thoughtlessly undiscriminating, wouldn't it? For example, I happen to find the singing of a particular baritone who is very much in vogue (and indeed whom I've seen lauded around these parts) extremely bland. He gets far more exposure on Breakfast (and indeed elsewhere on Radio 3) than I think he deserves. So when he pops up, I find myself not enjoying the programme at that point. But I understand that there are many people who do. And his appearance does not turn a good programme into a bad one.

[french frank]

Not really apposite. I'm not saying that it's partly bad. Only that I personally don't enjoy 100% of the music, or the performances, played every day. But if I did, that would make me thoughtlessly undiscriminating, wouldn't it? For example, I happen to find the singing of a particular baritone who is very much in vogue (and indeed whom I've seen lauded around these parts) extremely bland. He gets far more exposure on Breakfast (and indeed elsewhere on Radio 3) than I think he deserves. So when he pops up, I find myself not enjoying the programme at that point. But I understand that there are many people who do. And his appearance does not turn a good programme into a bad one.

I accept that what you aren't keen on doesn't make it a 'bad programme' for you. But what I don't like about the programme makes it no longer worth switching on. Irritating presentation and too little musical interest. But - that's just me, and I accept responsibility for remedying the situation. No feelings one way or the other about anyone who thinks/feels otherwise. I don't even 'grumble': I just comment