The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Tom knows his music and is enthusiastic about it (at least, he sounds it).

I would suggest that anyone who constantly talks over the music is more enthusiastic about his own importance.

[oddoneout]

I wouldn't disagree with that either. The other side of it is making things less complicated. A 150-minute programme (or 180-minute), same time every day, same two presenters, on and on for year after year: it runs on wheels. Think of it as a basket: each day the basket starts empty, the separate items are put in to fill the basket, then the programme is broadcast with the items being thrown out one by one; and you end up with your empty basket again ready to be refilled for the next day (with a list of handy standby items to top up when you run out of ideas).

Why do you want to go out looking for new people?

You might need a replacement/stand-in at some point?

I am still puzzled by the separate news-reader thing. Why? Especially as the presenter du jour, rather than the news-reader, does the weather bit, so why not the whole thing. I suppose one stumbling block is the necessity for correct pronunciation....

[MrGongGong]

I would suggest that anyone who constantly talks over the music is more enthusiastic about his own importance.

Tom Service really does know what he is talking about
As you seem to dislike people so much why not simply listen to recordings?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Tom Service really does know what he is talking about
As you seem to dislike people so much why not simply listen to recordings?

I do like people who know what they're talking about, just as long as they don't drown out what they are talking about.

Many (though not all) of the current crop of Radio 3 presenters know their onions, but this is often nullified by BBC ideologies.

[LMcD]

Tom Service really does know what he is talking about
As you seem to dislike people so much why not simply listen to recordings?

It's not a matter of 'disliking people'. I think the problem some of us have is that, while he undoubtedly knows his stuff, the way he puts it over makes it difficult to follow his argument - and it is sometimes really difficult to catch everything he says. Compared with his erratic delivery, Petroc comes across as a latter-day Alvar Lidell.

[oddoneout]

It's not a matter of 'disliking people'. I think the problem some of us have is that, while he undoubtedly knows his stuff, the way he puts it over makes it difficult to follow his argument - and it is sometimes really difficult to catch everything he says. Compared with his erratic delivery, Petroc comes across as a latter-day Alvar Lidell.

This is certainly where I stand on the presenter issue. I have no reason to suppose that those whose manner I don't like are perfectly pleasant and/or knowledgeable people, but I find it irritating or impossible to listen to them. I had to stop listening to In Tune as I found Sean Rafferty's interviewing, especially of those for whom English was not their mother tongue, excruciating. It wasn't a case of not liking him the person, but not liking aspects of his radio presence.
At least on radio it's only what one hears of the person which may annoy; TV has the additional drawback that what one sees may also be off-putting.

[Stanfordian]

You might need a replacement/stand-in at some point?

I am still puzzled by the separate news-reader thing. Why? Especially as the presenter du jour, rather than the news-reader, does the weather bit, so why not the whole thing. I suppose one stumbling block is the necessity for correct pronunciation....

Well I would imagine that the presenter can be recorded and played at an earlier date. The news/weather reader is the constant live element. I believe Classic FM would operate like that and maybe still does at times.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's not a matter of 'disliking people'. I think the problem some of us have is that, while he undoubtedly knows his stuff, the way he puts it over makes it difficult to follow his argument - and it is sometimes really difficult to catch everything he says. Compared with his erratic delivery, Petroc comes across as a latter-day Alvar Lidell.

It all reminds me of the new head teacher, who - when the deterioration in the school's general behaviour was remarked upon - said "This isn't bad; it was much worse in my previous school".

[french frank]

This is certainly where I stand on the presenter issue. I have no reason to suppose that those whose manner I don't like are perfectly pleasant and/or knowledgeable people, but I find it irritating or impossible to listen to them. I had to stop listening to In Tune as I found Sean Rafferty's interviewing, especially of those for whom English was not their mother tongue, excruciating. It wasn't a case of not liking him the person, but not liking aspects of his radio presence.
At least on radio it's only what one hears of the person which may annoy; TV has the additional drawback that what one sees may also be off-putting.

This is the point about training. A good broadcasting voice is a 'listenable' voice. To me that is the prime requirement. Whether a presenter sounds 'individual' or not (personal characteristics, manner of delivery, enthusiasm, even regional accent or not) are secondary, even unnecessary. The BBC loves 'characters': voices like those of David Bellamy, Patrick Moore, Loyd Grossman - you tune in and, lo! you identify who it is at once (and, if radio, conjure up the photo obligingly provided by the BBC on the website). This is the point at which 90% of presenters become Marmite™. A faceless, unidentifiable voice that provides interesting, accurate information, in a listenable voice, is fine by me.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A faceless, unidentifiable voice that provides interesting, accurate information, in a listenable voice, is fine by me.

[MrGongGong]

A faceless, unidentifiable voice that provides interesting, accurate information, in a listenable voice, is fine by me.

A robot you mean?
That's how Skynet starts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skynet_(Terminator)

[oddoneout]

Well I would imagine that the presenter can be recorded and played at an earlier date. The news/weather reader is the constant live element. I believe Classic FM would operate like that and maybe still does at times.

The current format of the morning schedule hardly lends itself to pre-recorded presenter links!

[Stanfordian]

The current format of the morning schedule hardly lends itself to pre-recorded presenter links!

I'm not saying it does on R3. During the night would lend itself to it! But I think this approach does go on at times, mainly on CFM, I reckon.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A robot you mean?
That's how Skynet starts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skynet_(Terminator)

A robot would be less insulting to the listeners, and wouldn't need. To. Breathe.

[Serial_Apologist]

A robot you mean?

A totem pole. (See EA's #7600 )