The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[french frank]

At one time Radio 3 presenters were expected to be able write their own scripts. I remember from around 35 years ago seeing this requirement in an advertisement for a part-time presenter in Manchester, mainly for the "Studio 7" series of concerts.

In theory that's still the case - and as far as I know still largely pertains. But how the deuce is someone who knows nothing about the music they're introducing to say anything valuable or interesting (or even comprehensible in some cases)? And some people who clearly do write their own scripts shouldn't be allowed to

Then there is more than one presenter who should know better dipping straight into Wikipedia and reading out a chunk completely verbatim - a sign of abysmal standards of knowledge or just treating it as a secondary job. But what do you expect with a programme like Breakfast which is aimed at people who will know no better?

[antongould]

*uck a roo?

Indeed M'lud ... But as ff says Breakfast is aimed at me I suppose it's all my fault ......

[ardcarp]

'Watford Gap' has already been uttered; but a casual reader of this thread might think we don't believe culture exists above 52 degrees North. Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, (Leicester even), are Meccas of The Arts, and positively teeming with potential Breakfast presenters....who could even write their own scripts!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I didn't realise the term "smoggie" referred to the inhabitants of Middlesbrough, though my mother hailed from there.

I suppose it is not commonly known to persons from south of the Watford Gap.

The saying was originally based upon the idea that Londoners hand't a clue about anything that took place "north of Watford". It was actually Northerners who confused Watford with the tiny village of Watford Gap, because the latter was know to far more Northerners than the large town just to the north of London. Watford Gap Service station suddenly put a previously unknown place on the map on the day the M1 opened.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

'Watford Gap' has already been uttered; but a casual reader of this thread might think we don't believe culture exists above 52 degrees North. Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, (Leicester even), are Meccas of The Arts, and positively teeming with potential Breakfast presenters....who could even write their own scripts!

I can assure our friends in the SE, that there are very many Northerners capable of being excellent broadcasters, but not those that seem to be picked up off the street at the present time.

[vinteuil]

I can assure our friends in the SE, that there are very many Northerners capable of being excellent broadcasters...

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Pickles

[Padraig]

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Pickles

vinteuil, I would appreciate knowing whether your link is in support of 'many Northerners capable of being excellent broadcasters', as I am sure is your intention in mentioning Wilfred Picklles, and not at all intended to be associated with the slur contained in the second half of the same post. Unfortunately my browser does not allow me access to wikipedia.

[vinteuil]

vinteuil, I would appreciate knowing whether your link is in support of 'many Northerners capable of being excellent broadcasters', as I am sure is your intention

... of course.

The inadequacy of various Radio 3 presenters has nothing to do with their geographical origins!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

No-one's mentioned Eddie Waring yet.

[Padraig]

... of course.

The inadequacy of various Radio 3 presenters has nothing to do with their geographical origins!

...nor, 'of course',has their excellence.

[Old Grumpy]

I didn't realise the term "smoggie" referred to the inhabitants of Middlesbrough.
I suppose it is not commonly known to persons from south of the Watford Gap.

No, me neither.

For those struggling with the accent - here is some help!

I also note from the ubiquitous Wiki that the Watford Gap may have represented the North-South divide way before the M1 was built.

OG

[french frank]

Indeed M'lud ... But as ff says Breakfast is aimed at me I suppose it's all my fault ......

It would be somewhat solipsistic to think the programnme is aimed at you, personally, Lord G .

"We endorse the broad strategy of making Radio 3 more accessible and welcoming to potential listeners, particularly in the breakfast and drive-time slots." (BBC Trust review, 2010)

I interpret the word 'potential' as meaning appealing to new listeners; and modifying the programmes to increase that appeal.

[Serial_Apologist]

For those struggling with the accent - here is some help!
OG

Thanks for those, OG - think I'll send them off to two friends of mine who "emigrated" to Redcar a few years ago from around here.

The only Teesside expression from that lot I remember my mother using was "Haway", for "Come on, hurry up". She used to say it was a shortening of the Geordie "Haway hinnie". Several of the words are pretty ubiquitously employed slang around the country - maybe they originated around Middlesbrough?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Watford-Rare-Classics-1964-1982/dp/B000024HQK

[ardcarp]

I expect most of us remember Pickles as a comic actor and genial show-host, but:

Pickles remained a proud Yorkshireman, and having been selected by the BBC as an announcer for its North Regional radio service, he went on to be an occasional newsreader on the BBC Home Service during World War II. He was the first newsreader to speak in a regional accent rather than Received Pronunciation, "a deliberate attempt to make it more difficult for Nazis to impersonate BBC broadcasters"

I remember an interview with Pickles where he related how the BBC [for all its stated intention to introduce regional accents] pulled him up for saying 'aircraft' with a short 'a'. From then on he drawled out 'air-craaaarft' in mock deference.