Sean: a Celebration

[kernelbogey]

amazed how Sean is so graciously responding to the praise being heaped on him by some of our best current performers.

I have just dipped in - and out - of the programme, that I thought perhaps was 'a bit of history'. But alas, if you don't really like someone, you're unlikely to enjoy their leaving party.

[Old Grumpy]

There was a very effectively run - and, I believe effective - campaign a few years back (1980s?) to retain radio four broadcasting on Long Wave.

This?

https://keeplongwave.co.uk/

[kernelbogey]

This?

https://keeplongwave.co.uk/

No - it really was in the 1980s, and IIRC the instigator was a Winchester College 'Don'. (There were the cricket-loving wokerati with places in the Dordogne, and.... )
I think the Beeb responded with something about a huge hot valve needed for the transmitter that no one alive could still make....

[Ein Heldenleben]

Mmm it’s getting a bit memorial service Morgen , Yeats “Tread Softly for you’re treading on my Air time “ and Danny Boy,
Come on Sean is still with us and hopefully for many more years !

[Old Grumpy]

No - it really was in the 1980s...
... I think the Beeb responded with something about a huge hot valve needed for the transmitter that no one alive could still make....

Yes, I vaguely remember something like that

[Bella Kemp]

I remember Alan Keith still broadcasting Your Hundred Best Tunes in his 90s - but he was clearly struggling by then. I believe there is a YouTube recording.

[kernelbogey]

I remember Alan Keith still broadcasting Your Hundred Best Tunes in his 90s - but he was clearly struggling by then. I believe there is a YouTube recording.

David Jacobs, too, IIRC. I was astonished to hear him, having last done so in my teens, either from BBC light Programme or Radio Lux!

[Ein Heldenleben]

David Jacobs, too, IIRC. I was astonished to hear him, having last done so in my teens, either from BBC light Programme or Radio Lux!

Alan simply got old as we all will , David was immaculate and polished right up until the end of his career . Sean as it happens is in his broadcasting prime at 77. There are plenty of people doing more demanding media jobs in their seventies. I can think of one very good current affairs TV producer still going strong in their seventies.They ought to be congratulated for their Stakhavonite work ethic rather than sitting back on a fat pension.

[french frank]

Alan simply got old as we all will , David was immaculate and polished right up until the end of his career . Sean as it happens is in his broadcasting prime at 77.

To return to Radio 3 presenters, Geoffry Smith was 76 when the controller announced in 2019: "We will be resting Jazz Now and Geoffrey Smith’s Jazz." And 'resting' Geoffrey too. Resting is a BBC euphemism for 'giving the push to'. Mark Russell of Mixing It wrote that on being called into the (then) controller's office in 2007 he was told: 'we're resting Mixing It ... and have no plans to bring it back.'

[kernelbogey]

I heard Hugh Dennis give an account of how they had been told Radio4 was axing The Now Show after 25 years. He said they were given a decent lunch.

On the other hand Have I Got News For You trundles on like a Routemaster on the No 6 route, seemingly unstoppable after 34 years.... I often think it's well past its sell-by date.

[Padraig]

Alan simply got old as we all will , David was immaculate and polished right up until the end of his career . Sean as it happens is in his broadcasting prime at 77.

I don't have favourite presenters though I hardly ever missed Alan Kieth's programme for his selection of Songs. He was also the one who on air was so disdainful of the introduction of stuff they made him say in each programme. I was sorry to see him go. Sean was another who could enthuse listeners, and the many guests who appeared in discussion and performance though not as uproariously as in Friday's farewell. I regret his going too. When he arrived at Radio 3 I wrote on these pages, then, that they were lucky to get him. I hope they think so.

[Old Grumpy]

When he arrived at Radio 3 I wrote on these pages, then, that they were lucky to get him. I hope they think so.

Really? Sean started on Radio 3 in 1997 - perhaps you mean the old BBC message boards...

[Ein Heldenleben]

I don't have favourite presenters though I hardly ever missed Alan Kieth's programme for his selection of Songs. He was also the one who on air was so disdainful of the introduction of stuff they made him say in each programme. I was sorry to see him go. Sean was another who could enthuse listeners, and the many guests who appeared in discussion and performance though not as uproariously as in Friday's farewell. I regret his going too. When he arrived at Radio 3 I wrote on these pages, then, that they were lucky to get him. I hope they think so.

yes a bitter sweet evening yesterday.
I thought that fiddle band were good - played up a storm - not easy in an antiseptic Radio studio albeit one apparently fuelled by Bollinger in complete disregard for at least two BBC edicts . So much so I was tempted to go their gig in London today, Quite a few great Irish touches not least the delightful Ailish Tynan.

[french frank]

On the other hand Have I Got News For You trundles on like a Routemaster on the No 6 route, seemingly unstoppable after 34 years.... I often think it's well past its sell-by date.

It shows what guff the BBC's 'refreshing the schedules' is. "We keep what it suits [us suits] to keep and drop what in our view - and to use a former controller's phrase - 'no longer serves'. Chilling when that includes people.

[Ein Heldenleben]

To return to Radio 3 presenters, Geoffry Smith was 76 when the controller announced in 2019: "We will be resting Jazz Now and Geoffrey Smith’s Jazz." And 'resting' Geoffrey too. Resting is a BBC euphemism for 'giving the push to'. Mark Russell of Mixing It wrote that on being called into the (then) controller's office in 2007 he was told: 'we're resting Mixing It ... and have no plans to bring it back.'

It’s a fine balance between conspicuous ageism through easing out the older and competent but also giving the youngsters ( I,e, the middle aged to be honest) a chance. There are only a finite number of these plumb presenting and editorial jobs.
Up until the late nineties 60 was the compulsory retirement age for BBC staff. That made life very simple . Now because of the way the BBC pension scheme has been completely knackered many have to keep going into their sixties and , to be honest , with some of the roles that’s not a good idea. They are just too demanding.
None of these rules apply to freelances : but to complicate matters tax rules (IR 35) have forced the BBC to make many former freelance presenters staff. It’s all a complete mess . There are even a few people taking a final salary pension but still working as staff and paying into a further defined contribution scheme. I think that’s a tiny bit greedy.