Sean: a Celebration

[Ein Heldenleben]

At least according to the Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/27/bbc-radio-3-sean-rafferty-shell-shocked-replaced-in-tune/

this cannot stand..

[french frank]

It isn't the first time,certainly not for R3: presenters' heads roll all the time, and Sean is in his mid-seventies. I remember Mark Russell putting something on his website to the effect that he and Robert Sandall were called into the office by the then controller and told that Mixing It was being rested: "And I have no plans to bring it back." I believe both Brian Kay and Humphrey Carpenter were just told their services were no longer required.

[JoMarch]

How miserable ! .. Sean may be in his seventies but he's one of the most interesting, witty and engaging presenters on Radio 3 .. deplorable that he's been sacked whilst we have to go on enduring the vapid prattle of Katie D ...The recent changes have produced areas of truly grim banality and now this ..why, if I paid a specific subscription to Radio 3 I'd be asking for it back, with immediate effect . Sean, we'll miss you immeasurably

[Ein Heldenleben]

How miserable ! .. Sean may be in his seventies but he's one of the most interesting, witty and engaging presenters on Radio 3 .. deplorable that he's been sacked whilst we have to go on enduring the vapid prattle of Katie D ...The recent changes have produced areas of truly grim banality and now this ..why, if I paid a specific subscription to Radio 3 I'd be asking for it back, with immediate effect . Sean, we'll miss you immeasurably

An exceptional broadcaster who will be much missed . Let’s face it Sean WAS and IS In Tune.
PS welcome to the forum . I wish we could have welcomed you in happier circs.

[JoMarch]

Thanks for the welcome! .. silly isn't it, that you post when angry when there's so much to be glad about ?!.. We still have Sarah on Sunday mornings and a bit of Ian here and there. That is a positive...
..mustn't grumble but oh, Sean, that's bloody tragic

[Old Grumpy]

If true (one never knows with the Telegraph), then that is outrageous!

[french frank]

I think one has to separate the human side of the story from dispassionate reality: it's really grim to lose a job you love in that way. But it's a rough old world and Radio 3 controllers aren't known for their light-handed dealing with on-air staff. When the new schedules were being worked on, Humphrey Carpenter was called in and told that there was no place in the schedules for his programme - Listeners Choice. "And no place on Radio 3 for me." In fact, there was a replacement request programme - 3 for All - but the job of presenting it went to Brian Kay. As far as I remember he too got his marching orders a few years later. And can anyone forget the drama of Radio 1's controller sacking Andy Kershaw - and Radio 3 snapping him up?

[Ein Heldenleben]

If true (one never knows with the Telegraph), then that is outrageous!

Pretty difficult to get Sean’s side of the story wrong as he has in essence completely supplied it with direct quotes,

[gradus]

It seems that his error is to be aged 77. Sacking him from a job he does well is unfair, unreasonable and knuckle-headed. A civilised agreement could have been reached given that Sean says he only intended to stay another year or two.

[pastoralguy]

It seems that his error is to be aged 77. Sacking him from a job he does well is unfair, unreasonable and knuckle-headed. A civilised agreement could have been reached given that Sean says he only intended to stay another year or two.

Don’t forget that the BBC forced retirement on Sir Adrian Boult when he reached retirement age. He then hit new heights with the LPO as well as guest conducting engagements.

[Old Grumpy]

Pretty difficult to get Sean’s side of the story wrong as he has in essence completely supplied it with direct quotes,

Fair enough - I'll take your word for it. The quotes were not in the short section I was allowed to read on the link in #1 before being asked to create an account- No way!]

[smittims]

'It would have been nice to go on my own terms and for the matter to have been handled with more respect.' Indeed, pastoralguy, this could have been Sir Adrian Boult speaking in1950. He too had planned to stay only a few more years.

I've never liked Sean Rafferty and I can't think of In Tune as a 'flagship' programme. But Sam Jackson's two-faced behaviour, saying 'I love what you're doing' and then getting rid of him in this manner, reminds me of Thomas Cromwell's downfall in A Man for all Seasons, just after being given an award by the King. It's the sort of thing I see more often these days from 'prominent public figures', saying one thing and doing the opposite. Remember 'Partygate', anyone?

[LMcD]

Fair enough - I'll take your word for it. The quotes were not in the short section I was allowed to read on the link in #1 before being asked to create an account- No way!]

If you click 'Dismiss', you can read the whole article without committing yourself to anything.

[Old Grumpy]

If you click 'Dismiss', you can read the whole article without committing yourself to anything.

Not for me - just pops up the invitation to create an account

[AuntDaisy]

Not for me - just pops up the invitation to create an account

I had the same problem - but using a Firefox "Private Window" got round it. (I think they're using cookies to track if you're looking at too many free pages).
Or you could try a different web browser.

I wish Sam Jackson would retire or pootle off back to CFM

This part (if an accurate quote) was very sad to read.

The BBC said in its announcement that Rafferty would leave in 2025, but he does not know if he will stay that long. “My contract is technically until the end of March. Whether I can summon the emotional commitment, I’m not sure."

The BBC did not dispute that it had chosen to replace Rafferty on In Tune. A spokesperson said: “Sean was offered a new weekly programme as well as presenting opportunities on Radio 3. Unfortunately, Sean made the decision that he would rather leave the BBC, which we all respect.”