Sean: a Celebration

[LMcD]

It’s always about presenters isn’t it ? The thousands of (often more talented ) production and technical staff who’ve left never get a mention.

In olden times, the final appearance of a popular broadcaster wasn't turned into a vehicle for an outpouring of national grief.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Well, either way it doesn't sound or look like Paddy's sort of thing. I think my tongue-in-cheek suggestion was prompted by some of the comments about Sean Rafferty's last programme and the reports of Zoe Ball's tearful departure from the Radio 2 Breakfast programme. Nick Robinson also went a bit OTT the other day as 'Today' braced itself for Mishal Husain's departure. I can clearly remember Michael Aspel's final news bulletin, which he ended by shuffling his papers and quietly saying something along the lines of 'Well, that's about it, then'.

It’s always about presenters isn’t it ? The thousands of (often more talented ) production and technical staff who’ve left never get a mention.

[LMcD]

Nothing like that series I’m afraid. Life at the top is very brutal. The top jobs are very demanding and very political .That series makes it look like a joke. There are ( or I should say were ten years ago ) plenty of non jobs though.

Well, either way it doesn't sound or look like Paddy's sort of thing. I think my tongue-in-cheek suggestion was prompted by some of the comments about Sean Rafferty's last programme and the reports of Zoe Ball's tearful departure from the Radio 2 Breakfast programme. Nick Robinson also went a bit OTT the other day as 'Today' braced itself for Mishal Husain's departure. I can clearly remember Michael Aspel's final news bulletin, which he ended by shuffling his papers and quietly saying something along the lines of 'Well, that's about it, then'.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I'm increasingly coming round to the view that the BBC TV series 'W1A' was, as some people have always claimed, a documentary and not a satirical or 'observational' comedy. 'Paddy O'Connell Appointed Head of Reduced Self-Importance'

Nothing like that series I’m afraid. Life at the top is very brutal. The top jobs are very demanding and very political .That series makes it look like a joke. There are ( or I should say were ten years ago ) plenty of non jobs though.

[LMcD]

If he doesn’t take himself too seriously he lacks one of the essential “behaviours “ of a senior BBC manager.

I'm increasingly coming round to the view that the BBC TV series 'W1A' was, as some people have always claimed, a documentary and not a satirical or 'observational' comedy. 'Paddy O'Connell Appointed Head of Reduced Self-Importance'

[Ein Heldenleben]

You're probably right - it's just that IMHO he's a very experienced reporter/journalist/presenter with a pleasing manner who doesn't take himself too seriously and probably wouldn't presume to tell listeners what. in his opinion. they and their favourite station(s) want.

If he doesn’t take himself too seriously he lacks one of the essential “behaviours “ of a senior BBC manager.

[LMcD]

I doubt he could stand the tedium . He’s mic side of the glass bloke isn’t he ?

I think our paths might have crossed way back. I bet he’s read the editorial guidelines which is a good start.

You're probably right - it's just that IMHO he's a very experienced reporter/journalist/presenter with a pleasing manner who doesn't take himself too seriously and probably wouldn't presume to tell listeners what. in his opinion. they and their favourite station(s) want.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sean’s departure is yet another nail in a once great station’s coffin. So often the replacements are worse.
My view is that some presenters wound be better employed by the BBC in other programmes, past or present.
Katie D: Listen With Mother
Elizabeth A: Play School
Tom S: Sunday Morning with Laura Kuenssberg
Suzy K: The Weakest Link
Jools H: Radio Antarctica

[Ein Heldenleben]

I think Paddy O'Connell should be made Grand Controller Of All Radio Stations.

I think Paddy O'Connell should be made Grand Controller Of All Radio Stations.

I doubt he could stand the tedium . He’s mic side of the glass bloke isn’t he ?

I think our paths might have crossed way back. I bet he’s read the editorial guidelines which is a good start.

[LMcD]

There you go . Two name checks there for Tyrell’s crisps on Saturday morning including , incredibly , one from the presenter, Both completely editorially unjustified. They could have just said crisp advert not Tyrell’s crisp advert. Even had the presenter saying “other brands are available “ as if this was some sort of editorial get out . It’s a myth - it’s not a get out. The BBC is not supposed to mention commercial brands except in strictly delineated circumstances.

I think Paddy O'Connell should be made Grand Controller Of All Radio Stations.

[Ein Heldenleben]

No of course he wasn’t paid or comped in any way . It’s just a habit. It’s just that having spent decades removing generic brand names like Hoover from scripts , taping over anorak labels , getting presenters to take camera straps off (some of whom were being paid in kind ) it’s really annoying when others are so casual. There’s absolutely no need to refer to the brand of the piano.
Radio 3 in general has become , thanks to the malign PR business, a pluggers’ delight, There are too many programmes where the editorial is driven by some one with a book , CD , or concert to plug . The most egregious examples being Saturday Morning , Private PassIons , and In Tune. To be fair on Private Passions the plugging is pretty well policed. We are being schmoozed…

Perhaps I should worry more about things in Syria …

There you go . Two name checks there for Tyrell’s crisps on Saturday morning including , incredibly , one from the presenter, Both completely editorially unjustified. They could have just said crisp advert not Tyrell’s crisp advert. Even had the presenter saying “other brands are available “ as if this was some sort of editorial get out . It’s a myth - it’s not a get out. The BBC is not supposed to mention commercial brands except in strictly delineated circumstances.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Not unless he’s transformed himself into Gareth Malone he doesn’t.

Ooh I could swear he was mentioned last night.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Although unless Sean was paid for mentioning/endorsing Steinway (which I doubt and do not suggest), it would strike me as more akin to his legendary 'Wardour Street' English to mean 'piano', like 'setting quill to parchment' to contact the programme. Rabbiting on about one's own enthusiasms would be different - were any presenter to be guilty of doing so.

No of course he wasn’t paid or comped in any way . It’s just a habit. It’s just that having spent decades removing generic brand names like Hoover from scripts , taping over anorak labels , getting presenters to take camera straps off (some of whom were being paid in kind ) it’s really annoying when others are so casual. There’s absolutely no need to refer to the brand of the piano.
Radio 3 in general has become , thanks to the malign PR business, a pluggers’ delight, There are too many programmes where the editorial is driven by some one with a book , CD , or concert to plug . The most egregious examples being Saturday Morning , Private PassIons , and In Tune. To be fair on Private Passions the plugging is pretty well policed. We are being schmoozed…

Perhaps I should worry more about things in Syria …

[vinteuil]

his legendary 'Wardour Street' English...

... I wonder how many now understand the locution -

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

- by a nice mise en abyme the locution 'Wardour Street English' has itself become Wardour Street English

(Wardour Street itself is not what it was in the 1920s - let alone the 1880s... )


.

[oddoneout]

Although unless Sean was paid for mentioning/endorsing Steinway (which I doubt and do not suggest), it would strike me as more akin to his legendary 'Wardour Street' English to mean 'piano', like 'setting quill to parchment' to contact the programme. Rabbiting on about one's own enthusiasms would be different - were any presenter to be guilty of doing so.

The 'Oirish witticism' angle did occur to me as well.