Breakfast programme - Dog’s breakfast or eclectic mix.

[french frank]

That does not clarify. Lord Stockton, according to Wikipedia, is the grandson of Prime Minster Harold Macmillan. What is the connection?

The current controller of R3 is a native of Stockton on Tees. Lord Gould may know him too

[Alain Maréchal]

Ah, the famous British sense of humour!

[underthecountertenor]

My view, and I doubt if I qualify as a serious music lover, is that it is not dire and has improved noticeably under the guiding hand of the present Lord Stockton - but each to his/her own .....

I entirely agree with you, certainly when PT is in the chair. CBH is for me too intrusive, particularly around now with her plugging not only of the Proms but also of what she appears to regard as 'her' New Generation Artists. But there has been a noticeable improvement in the range, and length of music played.

[french frank]

I entirely agree with you, certainly when PT is in the chair. CBH is for me too intrusive, particularly around now with her plugging not only of the Proms but also of what she appears to regard as 'her' New Generation Artists. But there has been a noticeable improvement in the range, and length of music played.

If presenters write their own scripts (as we're assured they do), we can judge the individuals critically on the kind of information they find to say between the music - since presumably they all have the same general guidelines. Is that a banal truism or does it have any significance?

[underthecountertenor]

If presenters write their own scripts (as we're assured they do), we can judge the individuals critically on the kind of information they find to say between the music - since presumably they all have the same general guidelines. Is that a banal truism or does it have any significance?

I think the guidelines must be very general, or generalised, indeed, given the differences between PT, IS and CBH in the week and between MH and 'the others' at the weekend. But I certainly think we can judge them critically (though without of course resorting to the hatchet).

[antongould]

Ah, the famous British sense of humour!

Hardly, if at all, the thick Geordie variety .....

[antongould]

I think the guidelines must be very general, or generalised, indeed, given the differences between PT, IS and CBH in the week and between MH and 'the others' at the weekend. But I certainly think we can judge them critically (though without of course resorting to the hatchet).

I too think we can judge them critically .... the Squire IMVVHO has grown into his role and MH is very good at weekends .. both have about the right amount of, usually pertinent, and often enlightening, chat.
But you really should try Nicholas Owen on CFM - this morning he seemed to be having difficulty pronouncing simple musical terms and the between pieces chat I heard was about cats guarding houses and the constituent parts of breakfast cereals .....

[doversoul1]

But you really should try Nicholas Owen on CFM - this morning he seemed to be having difficulty pronouncing simple musical terms and the between pieces chat I heard was about cats guarding houses and the constituent parts of breakfast cereals .....

Haven’t we agreed that a little bit better than the worst isn’t good enough?

[antongould]

Haven’t we agreed that a little bit better than the worst isn’t good enough?

.... believe me I'm not talking a little better and the one thing I think we can agree on is that we will never agree .....

[Old Grumpy]

Haven’t we agreed that a little bit better than the worst isn’t good enough?

Who is "we" in this context?

I like Breakfast (I do prefer PT to CBH, but like IS most of all). Don't listen to weekend Brekker, so can't comment.

OG

[doversoul1]

Who is "we" in this context?

OG

Oh… I’ll rephrase it:

Wasn’t it (a little bit better etc.) suggested on this thread sometime in the past and no one argued otherwise?

[underthecountertenor]

Oh… I’ll rephrase it:

Wasn’t it (a little bit better etc.) suggested on this thread sometime in the past and no one argued otherwise?

I might have been (though you'd have to give chapter and verse), but silence doesn't necessarily connote assent.

And some people here appear to cling to the notion that R3 Breakfast was, is and ever shall be terrible in saecula saeculorum, which enables them to say that it is still terrible without having to go to the trouble of listening to it (see Stanfordian on page 1).

[antongould]

Oh… I’ll rephrase it:

Wasn’t it (a little bit better etc.) suggested on this thread sometime in the past and no one argued otherwise?

Not that I recall .......

[doversoul1]

Underthecountertenor, antongould, and maybe Old Grumpy

Oh, all right. I am sure it was said but I won’t stick to it as I can’t possibly find the exact post, and I take your point Underthecountertenor. I’ll try again.

When Classic FM is mentioned on these boards, nine out of ten, if not ten out of ten posts are criticism if not contempt. On this basis, saying that Breakfast is not as bad as the CFM counterpart is not much of a defence. How's this?

While I was deprived of listening to Through the Night on iPlayer in the morning, I turned to the radio for the first time in many years and found that Breakfast presented by Petroc Trelawny was nothing as abominable as some comments I had read here. The information about various concerts seemed very useful and it had some interesting choice of music. All the same, now that iPlayer is back, I can’t say I am tempted to stay. The programme as it is is just not my taste.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It isn't abominable - that would be too strong a word. But it's pretty poor fair - CB-H's simpering and PT's gasping - for starters. Then the trying-to-be-cool choices of music, the tweets, etc.

Most of the presenters are knowledgeable and could do a great job it the emphasis of style were changed. But I fear that's not even on the horizon at present. Ditto Essential Classics.