Radio 3 during the period of National Mourning

[alywin]

I'm still reeling from the decision to axe the Last Night of the Proms. It could so easily have been re-programmed into a memorial and celebration.

It could have - but perhaps not within the less-than-48 hours' notice we had?

This summary from the British Newspaper Archive (well worth the £75 a year subscription ) can be taken as a reasonably accurate description of what happened after the death of along George VI

“The shock of the nation upon the King’s death is reflected in how it impacted daily life. The BBC closed down broadcasting apart from news bulletins, the shipping forecast and gale warnings, theatres were closed, courts at the Old Bailey were adjourned, campaigning for the Bournemouth by-election was suspended and trading on the Stock Markets stopped. Dances were called off, ice rinks closed down, the Test match between India and England at Madras was rescheduled, and the upcoming Rugby Union match between England and Ireland at Twickenham was postponed.”

Thank you. I'd thought it was something like that back in those days. Obviously that was 70 years ago and things have changed, but I had expected a period of national mourning to include theatres shutting their doors. But I went to a theatre this evening where it was made clear in the announcement that the Royal Household had wanted things to continue as normal. At a box office for another theatre I was told that it was the Queen's express wish that things not close down.

[DracoM]

IMO, the BBC or whoever has made a major error in deciding for us - whether WE willed for it or not - to cancel itself in so many ways, and spent literally HOURS of endless, dour, and mind-bendingly colossally repetitious material.

Yet now, we learn that this was not urged on us by the Royal family at all.

Good for Judith Weir, I say, and her criticism of the outcome of 'official' decrees eg cancellation of LNOTP. .

[Ein Heldenleben]

Given that my rather innocuous comments on the Last Night Of The Proms cancellation and the shortage of outside broadcast capacity have been removed Along with others it does seem odd that one or two of the comments in this strand have slipped through.

[french frank]

Be interested to see some of the evidence that the Queen's death has 'deeply affected many people'.

I don't doubt that some such people exist, but I do wonder just how deeply affected they would be by the death of someone who was actually consequential, who made a difference and was not just a feudal relic.

What I find sad is that people find this sad.

I've seen the evidence on the vid clips I've seen. But returning to the (amended) thread title: Radio 3 during the period of National Mourning:

One view is that R3 has actually been much improved. I haven't listened to R3 for so long I haven't bothered to sample the temporary relief. I've long ago given up feeling 'sad' that some people actually enjoy R3's new style ie. they feel differently from me. I just accept that they do. Just as I accept that people now feel indignation at being deprived of their normal television programmes whereas I haven't watched any television for over 25 years.

Life tends to make one stoical.

[DracoM]

Chacun a son gout.
My guess is that there are more forumistas reeling from the BBC's self-cancellations than are saying so publicly.
I feel immensely sorry for programmers / producers etc / presenters who must be in deepest gloom at having to serve up what has been deemed - erm by whom?? - 'appropriate'.
So repetitious, though, that once you've heard one, you've heard the lot.

[hmvman]

IMO, the BBC or whoever has made a major error in deciding for us - whether WE willed for it or not - to cancel itself in so many ways, and spent literally HOURS of endless, dour, and mind-bendingly colossally repetitious material.

Yet now, we learn that this was not urged on us by the Royal family at all.

Good for Judith Weir, I say, and her criticism of the outcome of 'official' decrees eg cancellation of LNOTP. .

I wonder if the Beeb is doing this out of fear of a good kicking from the government and their attack dogs at the Daily Mail if they put out anything that could be deemed 'disrespectful'.

[DracoM]

My thoughts exactly - and in the process, maybe by so doing deterring some from long time support.......! Huh!

[Ein Heldenleben]

At the risk of being “political “ -something that led to the censoring of the Last Night Of The Proms thread - the judgement that most editors make in these circumstances is that the consequences of severely offending those profoundly upset and in mourning are likely to be greater than annoying those who think things are over the top. There is no conspiracy- no newspaper of broadcaster wants to seriously offend its audience.

[gurnemanz]

It is frustrating that we shall never know what The Last Night as a memorial to Elizabeth II might have been. Presumably it would have carried that association in perpetuity. The association it will now have for me is that of a missed opportunity.

[DracoM]

If they are so moved - and I fully accept there will be - they just do NOT have to listen............!

[DracoM]

Well, judging by the playing fields near me, as I post, the Sunday footie of all ages + spectators + runners, + walkers + picnickers etc is well peopled!

[french frank]

At the risk of being “political “ -something that led to the censoring of the Last Night Of The Proms thread - the judgement that most editors make in these circumstances is that the consequences of severely offending those profoundly upset and in mourning are likely to be greater than annoying those who think things are over the top. There is no conspiracy- no newspaper of broadcaster wants to seriously offend its audience.

I agree with that. I, as an individual, didn't happen to share other people's views on Princess Diana. In not proclaiming what I thought about her (I knew that even colleagues on the news subs desk where I was working didn't feel as I felt), I wasn't showing respect to her, I was showing respect to - call it empathy with - other people's feelings. Nothing to do with whose views are in the majority. What I thought really wasn't very important - in my opinion.

[smittims]

We've seen it all before. After Diana, 'the nation was in shock'. Well, no, we weren't.

I was disappointed the Archers omnibus was cancelled, but when I caught up with it on BBC Sounds I was relieved to hear the origibnal version of 'Barwick Green' instead of the horrendous re-instrumented version we get normally.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I wonder if the Beeb is doing this out of fear of a good kicking from the government and their attack dogs at the Daily Mail if they put out anything that could be deemed 'disrespectful'.

This may explain such phenomena as the availability of live coverage of the coffin's movements from various sport-specific pages of the BBC Sport app.

[Nick Armstrong]

Indeed, a "national mood" of mournfulness is largely being manufactured by the mainstream media I think. Perhaps the older someone is, the more the Queen meant to them as a beacon of 'normality' in the UK. But I certainly haven't noticed any change of mood in a single Millennial or Gen-Z person I've spoken with or seen in the last 3 days, or any neighbours.

Agreed. I cycled through parts of central London yesterday, areas just north of Marble Arch - not a single sign of anything: no photos, etc in shop windows - nothing to indicate anything has happened. The only photo of HMQ I saw was a faded newspaper pull-out stuck to a hair salon window since the 70th Jubilee in the summer.

Then, approaching the Palace, barriers preventing progress (other than on foot) down Constitution Hill, more people than usual, and dozens of portaloos already erected in Hyde Park for the funeral, were the only tangible signs of recent events…