I'm naturally attracted to Radio 3 for many reasons. Probably the main reason is that unlike even anything else provided by the BBC it doesn't automatically assume its listeners are stupid, cannot think for themselves, or both of those facets.
Then there's the fact Radio 3 is totally unobtrusive, is catholic in its musical output (one minute we could be listening to a celebration of the works of Hildegard, the next, an interview with Wayne Shorter) its establishment as a service to its listeners rather than a platform to advertise 'had an accident in the last 3 years' dubious enterprises and whose music and speech is solely to entertain, for the benefit of its audiences and not to make money for its advertisers primarily with the music coming second to that. Sanity in an increasingly insane world is my rule of thumb for Radio 3 and a safety net as whenever there's a radio playing 'the Third' my thoughts are straighter and better equipped to tackle the injustices of the world at all levels from the standpoint of one of its unimportant earthlings.
But there seems to be an air of complacency upon the station's output nowadays. Mr. Petroc Trelawny, formerly of 'Classic VHF' seems to be at the head of this and whilst I cannot dispute the intelligence and enthusiasm of the man, he does seem to be very much in love with the sound of his own voice, rather like the populist 'jocks' on Radio 2 (I have bitter memories of parents shouting rants - most of them ill informed and right wing - back at Jimmy Young in the 1980s which put me off Radio 2 for a lifetime and for which I have not received psychotherapy or licence fee reimbursement for). The very last thing I would want is for my cherished Third to 'turn' into Radio 2 just to increase its audience share. This is the BBC and diversity is paramount. Every radio network should provide something different rather than try to be all things to all people, and I choose Radio 3 because I don't want.......for example.........morning paper reviews or pestilential news bulletins. I want music and intelligent stimulating conversation first thing in the morning. If I want paper reviews I'll listen to Today or Chris Evans. If I want celebrity guests it'll be anything on Radio 2, or selected output Radios 1 or 5. Radio 3 should be DIFFERENT and proud to be different in a world of differences.
I fear greatly for the future....could you imagine Breakfast in 2018, Mr.Petroc smugly announcing 'there's a report in todays Express that says medical research has led to the formulation of a new pill to cure cancer', or 'we'd like to know what you think about a new study into immigrants taking all of 'our' jobs, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk'.......
Or how about this one, heaven help us all:-
'a look at the front pages and today's Sun says a British star(r) of stage and screen allegedly put a live rodent between two pieces of bread which he proceeded to eat' (said expressively).
Then there's the fact Radio 3 is totally unobtrusive, is catholic in its musical output (one minute we could be listening to a celebration of the works of Hildegard, the next, an interview with Wayne Shorter) its establishment as a service to its listeners rather than a platform to advertise 'had an accident in the last 3 years' dubious enterprises and whose music and speech is solely to entertain, for the benefit of its audiences and not to make money for its advertisers primarily with the music coming second to that. Sanity in an increasingly insane world is my rule of thumb for Radio 3 and a safety net as whenever there's a radio playing 'the Third' my thoughts are straighter and better equipped to tackle the injustices of the world at all levels from the standpoint of one of its unimportant earthlings.
But there seems to be an air of complacency upon the station's output nowadays. Mr. Petroc Trelawny, formerly of 'Classic VHF' seems to be at the head of this and whilst I cannot dispute the intelligence and enthusiasm of the man, he does seem to be very much in love with the sound of his own voice, rather like the populist 'jocks' on Radio 2 (I have bitter memories of parents shouting rants - most of them ill informed and right wing - back at Jimmy Young in the 1980s which put me off Radio 2 for a lifetime and for which I have not received psychotherapy or licence fee reimbursement for). The very last thing I would want is for my cherished Third to 'turn' into Radio 2 just to increase its audience share. This is the BBC and diversity is paramount. Every radio network should provide something different rather than try to be all things to all people, and I choose Radio 3 because I don't want.......for example.........morning paper reviews or pestilential news bulletins. I want music and intelligent stimulating conversation first thing in the morning. If I want paper reviews I'll listen to Today or Chris Evans. If I want celebrity guests it'll be anything on Radio 2, or selected output Radios 1 or 5. Radio 3 should be DIFFERENT and proud to be different in a world of differences.
I fear greatly for the future....could you imagine Breakfast in 2018, Mr.Petroc smugly announcing 'there's a report in todays Express that says medical research has led to the formulation of a new pill to cure cancer', or 'we'd like to know what you think about a new study into immigrants taking all of 'our' jobs, email 3breakfast@bbc.co.uk'.......
Or how about this one, heaven help us all:-
'a look at the front pages and today's Sun says a British star(r) of stage and screen allegedly put a live rodent between two pieces of bread which he proceeded to eat' (said expressively).
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