So what's wrong with Radio 3 Breakfast?

[Frances_iom]

I've begun to notice, in my rare half hours tolerating the ghastly Breakfast 'Show', that works and/or performers are frequently - always? - chosen in order to provide the material for a trail-link. E.g. just now, Imogen Cooper playing Schubert: '...and Imogen Cooper is part of our Schubertfest starting here on Radio Three etc etc'.

this has been going on for a long time - it was a significant feature when I ceased to be a regular listner about 18months or more ago - I joked then that the music was what filled the gaps between the adverts and waffle and was the least important of all three

[Black Swan]

at just after eight thirty we'll have another half wit calling in to tell us about his cat's favourite tune..." (O.K I made up the last bit).
H

I couldn't agree more or let's not forget the new travesty. Select your time and music for a wake up call. I am getting to work early now as I often listen in the car and try to get to the car park before your call.

John

[hmvman]

I've just looked at the R3 Facebook page and I couldn't help but smile at a post from producer Steve Bowbrick about whatever it is that Tom Service has been up to and saying that it was announced on 'Breakfast' by Suzy Klein. Someone else has pointed out that surely it's Sara Mohr-Pietsch who presents the programme. One is tempted to say, "never mind, Steve, it's an easy mistake; they all sound the same don't they?"

[MJB]

I joked then that the music was what filled the gaps between the adverts and waffle and was the least important of all three

Setting aside the quality of what is being said, the speech/music ratio of Breakfast is absurd for a music station: The BBC would not introduce music into the Today programme as it would dilute its purpose, so why do the reverse? The BBC sometimes copies ideas from elsewhere only to come up with an inferior version of something which was not very good in its original form and perhaps this is what has happened here. Whatever the reason, from Monday I shall simply cease the self-abuse of listening at this time.

My father always used to describe something which was badly put together as a 'pigs breakfast' and so I propose Pigs Breakfast as a new title for this programme.

[kernelbogey]

The BBC sometimes copies ideas from elsewhere only to come up with an inferior version of something which was not very good in its original form and perhaps this is what has happened here.

Whatever the reason, from Monday I shall simply cease the self-abuse of listening at this time.

But will the broadcaters cease their, er, self-abuse?

[french frank]

I've just looked at the R3 Facebook page and I couldn't help but smile at a post from producer Steve Bowbrick about whatever it is that Tom Service has been up to

I thought the absolute, utter classic was the response to 'Elspeth', who said: "I was so pleased for the man, not often that Radio 3 does anything that the rest of the world notices!!", a comment which has so far received:

Reply from JB (our JB?): "You're so right Elspeth. Radio 3 should give up playing old hat classical music and take up sport instead. Far better use of the licence fee payers' money. I'm sure Reith and Glock would approve!"

Somehow, the thought that coming first in the BBC radio presenters' assault course competition is portrayed as a success of seldom achieved magnitude in the eyes of the world is, well, depressing ... I wonder if it will be mentioned in the Annual Report?

[hmvman]

Agreed, FF, that comment by JB really hit the spot

[Bax-of-Delights]

The continued froth of excitement - Martin Handley ullulated in Tom Service's praise on this morning's Breakfast (after serving up some very familiar dishes), Sean Rafferty waxed uxoriously yesterday evening, S M-P orgasmically (oh yes!) announcing the winner (sic) of some bizarre assault course run for radio presenters - is certainly a defining step point in the fast steepening decline of a once glorious radio station.

[french frank]

The continued froth of excitement - Martin Handley ullulated in Tom Service's praise on this morning's Breakfast (after serving up some very familiar dishes), Sean Rafferty waxed uxoriously yesterday evening, S M-P orgasmically (oh yes!) announcing the winner (sic) of some bizarre assault course run for radio presenters - is certainly a defining step point in the fast steepening decline of a once glorious radio station.

If you've got it, flaunt it?

[Osborn]

I thought the absolute, utter classic was the response to 'Elspeth', who said: "I was so pleased for the man, not often that Radio 3 does anything that the rest of the world notices!!", a comment which has so far received:

Somehow, the thought that coming first in the BBC radio presenters' assault course competition is portrayed as a success of seldom achieved magnitude in the eyes of the world is, well, depressing ...

I wouldn't be depressed - Elspeth was teasing & did it rather well - the respondant(s) saw that.

[french frank]

I wouldn't be depressed - Elspeth was teasing & did it rather well - the responder(s) saw that.

An odd reading ...

SteveB taking time off from Twitter and Facebook to read The Envy of the World?. I certainly don't remember the R3 people getting so excited about anything as they were over our Tom's bid for glory!

"Strange indeed are the ways of children."

[Norfolk Born]

This morning I was 'treated' to a deadly dull movement from a piano concerto by Fuchs AND a deadly dull movement from a violin concerto by Philip Glass in less than an hour. On the bright side, I was spared the other movements (or are they more interesting?) It's a great shame that there isn't a Sunday edition of the 'Today' programme.

[gurnemanz]

On Sunday morning I usually manage without Radio 3 until Private Passions and The Early Music Show. I start off with Sportsweek on Five Live. Garry Richardson is an incisive interviewer and seems to get the best people to come on the show. I then have the habit of picking some baroque music on CD - often a Bach Cantata. Today it's Neapolitan chamber music with Il Giardino Armonico and it's providing a pleasant accompaniment to the sunny Spring weather and is certainly preferable to the Archers Omnibus, as favoured by my wife, though I do tend to rejoin her for Desert Island Discs.

[Osborn]

Heh, gurnemanz - how was Kaufmann/CBSO/Nelsons last week?
(excuse the brief intrusion into your moans ladies & gentlemen)

[cloughie]

This morning I was 'treated' to a deadly dull movement from a piano concerto by Fuchs AND a deadly dull movement from a violin concerto by Philip Glass in less than an hour. On the bright side, I was spared the other movements (or are they more interesting?) It's a great shame that there isn't a Sunday edition of the 'Today' programme.

As we have complained about repeats of Bolero and Moldau maybe we should be careful about what we wish for, mind I have never heard the Fuchs but I am of the view that Glass is alright for looking through.