Here's five ways to laugh - both with the Beeb and at the Beeb. All, incidentally, have been broadcast on the Beeb. The Corporation has always been self-assured enough to see the joke, and not to take life - and indeed the whole business of broadcasting - too seriously. (1) Perhaps the most recent example … Continue reading It’s good to laugh (at yourself…)
Tag: Radio Culture
This one’s for the Arthurs, the Nellies, and the newspaper photographers sent to snap crazy set-up stories…
That’s two old-fashioned names and a craft profession rapidly becoming extinct as we all upgrade our 'phones to have the best top quality on-board cameras included. Except, that is, for one of those names. Arthur was, apparently, the fourth most popular boy’s name in 2020. In fact, the British Government’s Office for National Statistics said … Continue reading This one’s for the Arthurs, the Nellies, and the newspaper photographers sent to snap crazy set-up stories…
Radio jingles redux (All Along the Watchtower), life imitates art, and how much energy does it take to listen to the radio?
Radio jingles are a popular subject on this website. You can read more about them here, and that article includes clips of some early BBC Radio 1 jingles, a look behind the scenes of the recording of the station sound for the Lincs FM group, and bits and bobs about Radio York’s various jingle packages. … Continue reading Radio jingles redux (All Along the Watchtower), life imitates art, and how much energy does it take to listen to the radio?
Pop stars becoming DJs, old presenters living forever, and the joys of children’s radio…
In this article I want to think about pop stars turning into radio presenters, and about old DJs (where exactly do they go?), and about some of the simple things in life such as children’s radio. Frankly, anything to take the mind off the pandemic must be good. So, children’s radio in Britain was one … Continue reading Pop stars becoming DJs, old presenters living forever, and the joys of children’s radio…
Bad spelling and the trouble with truth…
John Dryden (1631-1700), England’s first poet laureate said, “Truth is the foundation of all knowledge, and the cement of all societies.” John Lloyd, an author and contributing editor to the Financial Times writing in the Summer 2020 edition of Index on Censorship, said, A search for the facts which govern our lives has always meant … Continue reading Bad spelling and the trouble with truth…
10 things the pandemic makes you nostalgic for…
...pictures of old radios, valve sets, transistors radios and even more. I'll come to them in a moment, but first consider this. There's something compelling about taking refuge in the past, especially when memories can appear to offer more emotional comfort than the often alarming and worrying news headlines of the present day. I'm writing … Continue reading 10 things the pandemic makes you nostalgic for…
10 things we did in the 2020 lockdown…
This article was written on Wednesday 1st July 2020. The COVID-19 lockdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic started in Britain on 23 March. The country had (mostly) sheltered in place for the whole of springtime before beginning to emerge in late June. During those weeks and months we'd welcomed delivery drivers at the front door … Continue reading 10 things we did in the 2020 lockdown…
Movies and radio memories…
There is a connection. Honestly. Do please bear with me. This article was written on Wednesday 29th April 2020, in the sixth week of the Covid-19 confinement for Britain. Easter had come and gone. The dry warm-ish spring weather had continued and by and large the nation had heeded the Governments instructions to “stay home, … Continue reading Movies and radio memories…
Bite the hand that feeds you…
...Go on. Why don't you? I was listening to a Busted track recently. I've always had a soft spot for the band, despite their early teeny-bop-rock stylings. They've grown. In particular I've been enjoying the track called Radio (2019). https://youtu.be/kG2CVhbt5W4 Here we see the British trio jump into a red BMW convertible and drive down … Continue reading Bite the hand that feeds you…
Know any good jokes about radio…?
One of my favourites is a really old one that I first heard over thirty years ago: "I've got a friend who's a newsreader on a medium wave radio station. When we go for a drive he keeps fading out under bridges." ...which probably doesn't work too well in these days of DAB, FM and … Continue reading Know any good jokes about radio…?
