Jump to content
Unofficial Mills

Guardian review Greg's first drivetime show

Jono

By Jono
in BBC Radio 1

 Share

Recommended Posts

Jono

Jono

Posted
Posted

Greg James made his debut as as Radio 1's Drivetime host on Monday afternoon, replacing Scott Mills who had been in the job since 2004. To casual listeners the swap – Mills is moving to James's mid-afternoon slot – is virtually seamless. James and Mills share a similar conversational style, identikit non-accents and equal disregard for the music that breaks up their numerous features. But there is one very noticeable difference between the two: age. With Chris Moyles, Sara Cox, Zane Lowe and Mills all in their late 30s, at least James, who is 26, fits the 15 - 29 year old age bracket the station is meant to target.

But a new presenter for the drivetime show hasn't heralded a new programme as such. In fact, James has brought with him the same "funny bits" that broke up his early afternoon show – including Ten Minute Takeover, which involves the listeners choosing three random tracks (exciting); Ask The Nation, which features people requesting advice on thorny social dilemmas (if you accidentally feed a vegetarian some meat do you tell them?); and Star Caller, which involves a celebrity cold-calling a member of the public (hilarity ensues – perhaps). All have potential, but the best moment on Monday was when the Star Caller "victim" asked if she could "say hello" to her "bomas". "Your what?" spluttered James. "My Best-Of-Mates-Always," explained excitable student Lee.

One thing that Radio 1's drivetime show lacks is any sense that the audience might be listening while actually driving or coming home from somewhere – here, "drivetime" has become lingua franca for a radio programme that's on in the late afternoon. But elsewhere, travel information and kinship with the weary commuter is the backbone of this slot.

On Five Live, there is barely a traffic light failure that doesn't get a mention; on Radio Two, devotes swathes of time to a woman sometimes referred to as "Sally Travel" and TalkSport seldom allows five minutes to elapse without use of the words "white" and "van". But then, perhaps equally important on the radio at this time of day is a sense that our hard work is done and we can now loosen our proverbial ties and enjoy ourselves. It's this element that Mills did well and James – who already appears to building a listeners club of like-minded souls – seems likely to do too, although at one point he did refer to "boring Newsbeat" before hastily backtracking.

The Drivetime slot has been used as a a launchpad by both Chris Moyles on Radio 1 and Chris Evans on Radio 2. Currently the equation of home-time music plus topical chat and occasional cranial detours is being best served by Eoghan McDermott on XFM, a presenter who successfully manages to perform the balancing act between comedian, host and idiot with breezy aplomb.

Away from music radio, Five Live's Peter Allen and Aasmah Mir brilliantly navigate an unwieldily maze of news, sport, chat and information (although Allen's double act with Jane Garvey is still much missed). But such is the relentless nature of their rolling news format that making it to 7pm is as much a relief for the listener as it is for them. Perhaps the perfect drivetime mix lurks elsewhere on the dial.

So if you listened to Greg James's drivetime debut, what did you think and will you be tuning in again? And if you get your drivetime thrills elsewhere, what are the elements that keep you coming back?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/apr/03/greg-james-bbc-radio-1-drivetime

Link to comment
Share on other sites
R94N

R94N

Posted
Posted

One thing that Radio 1's drivetime show lacks is any sense that the audience might be listening while actually driving or coming home from somewhere – here, "drivetime" has become lingua franca for a radio programme that's on in the late afternoon. But elsewhere, travel information and kinship with the weary commuter is the backbone of this slot.

Yes, but I bet to a lot of people that isn't interesting listening, whether they are travelling somewhere or not.

On Five Live, there is barely a traffic light failure that doesn't get a mention; on Radio Two, devotes swathes of time to a woman sometimes referred to as "Sally Travel" and TalkSport seldom allows five minutes to elapse without use of the words "white" and "van".

I thought it was Sally Traffic, not Sally Travel? Maybe they changed it.

But then, perhaps equally important on the radio at this time of day is a sense that our hard work is done and we can now loosen our proverbial ties and enjoy ourselves. It's this element that Mills did well and James – who already appears to building a listeners club of like-minded souls – seems likely to do too, although at one point he did refer to "boring Newsbeat" before hastily backtracking.

Well, perhaps it's a good thing that most of Newsbeat is going then, if no one cares about it. Which is a shame, because I think the news is important, not boring.

So if you listened to Greg James's drivetime debut, what did you think and will you be tuning in again? And if you get your drivetime thrills elsewhere, what are the elements that keep you coming back?

Probably not. I still listen to Scott because even though some days the show isn't that great I still think it is worth my time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rosie_posii

rosie_posii

Posted
Posted
To casual listeners the swap – Mills is moving to James's mid-afternoon slot – is virtually seamless. James and Mills share a similar conversational style, identikit non-accents and equal disregard for the music that breaks up their numerous features. But there is one very noticeable difference between the two: age. With Chris Moyles, Sara Cox, Zane Lowe and Mills all in their late 30s, at least James, who is 26, fits the 15 - 29 year old age bracket the station is meant to target.

I'd say that even to casual listeners, they'd be able to tell the difference between the two. Scott's style is quite different to Greg's, added to the fact that Scott has more of a team around him...

The sheep is not a creature of the air.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Viv

Viv

Posted
Posted

Hmmm.. I wouldn't say that at all. He is a bit of a "bungler" compared with his more restrained wife, but a surprisingly damn good laugh. In fact, he is better than Chris Evans !! :hahaha:

I do like some of the totally off-the-wall thoughts he has !! Actually quite similar to my own.

ps: Also quite like the daughter Chloe.. quite opinionated on Twitter, but she's good !! :-0

Delta Machine, Depeche Mode - buy NOW !!

http://youtu.be/59dZzXLPRg0

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MrDoovdeHaxorz

MrDoovdeHaxorz

Posted
Posted
You know.. when you can't laugh at something anymore, when you can't tune in anymore, when you would rather have Richard Madeley on Radio 2 ....... that's when you know.... your time is over and out really. :-)

This coming from the huge Madonna fan? yeah... just gonna put that out there, I find it massively ironic is all...

Professional eater of puppy dogs, baby heads and killer of grannies...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • NathanS
      Radio 2 Schedule Changes

      By NathanS · Posted

      I must have missed that yesterday, sorry! Scott did make the same tongue in cheek comment on today's show about Rylan. It's a shame Rylan isn't the go to cover for Scott, I assume his commitments away from R2 prevent that. I enjoyed his last cover stint. Spoony is the go to stand in for the mid afternoon slot (he's covering again week after next while Scott's off getting married).   In that case, I think you're right! 
    • UnofficialStark
      Radio 2 Schedule Changes

      By UnofficialStark · Posted

      Not that last minute. Scott was talking about it on his own show yesterday, saying he and Rylan have a deal where they cover each other's shows but Rylan only covers Scott when he can be bothered!
    • Bluestraw
      Radio 2 Schedule Changes

      By Bluestraw · Posted

      Sorry I should have been clearer, I meant daytime weekday. Weekend shows would count as a 'step up' from overnights for OJ.
    • NathanS
      Radio 2 Schedule Changes

      By NathanS · Posted

      If we're counting the overnight slot, OJ Borg regularly covers weekend shows.
    • Bluestraw
      Radio 2 Schedule Changes

      By Bluestraw · Posted

      The only weekday R2 DJ who would ever cover a weekend slot?!
    • NathanS
      Radio 2 Schedule Changes

      By NathanS · Posted

      What I assume is a very last minute change... Scott Mills is in for Rylan today.
    • TMD_24
      Radio 1 Schedule Changes

      By TMD_24 · Posted

      Radio 1 at Parklife will be presented by Vicky and Nat. Nat is currently listed to present her usual Sunday show on that weekend but I imagine that will change and someone else will be doing it instead. The Radio 1 presenters at Download will be Daniel P Carter, Jack Saunders, Alyx Holcombe and Nels Hylton.
    • TMD_24
      Radio 1 Schedule Changes

      By TMD_24 · Posted

      Nat in for Dean with Vicky as well that day.
    • Jono
      Matt and Mollie to replace Dean and Vicky

      By Jono · Posted

      So the end of weekend afternoons this week - new show is July 1st.
    • Lily Georgia
      Radio 1 Schedule Changes

      By Lily Georgia · Posted

      Arielle is in for Greg on Monday 27th May.
    • R1Fan1
      Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie

      By R1Fan1 · Posted

      He’s definitely gotten better and the show has sounded fine this week. I think it been at its best when it’s been Katie and Jamie or Vick and Katie. Vick and Jamie are ok together, but I do think the show sounds better when it’s Vick and Katie and therefore I still don’t really understand the point of the trio.    Jamie is, however, a lot better than Danny Beard! 
    • BBCAaron
      Next Radio 1 boss

      By BBCAaron · Posted

      The RAJAR coming on later this year reflecting later summer to autumn will be interesting to how it reflects Matt and Mollie in afternoons to the revised changes on radio 1’s new music slots and the schedule re-shuffling Radio 3 introducing a new slate of programmes. Then, later on this year have speech radio stations having domestic political coverage of the election but also America’s presidential election.  
    • xxladybarefootxx
      Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie

      By xxladybarefootxx · Posted

      I actually caught snippets of today’s show, and I found it much better than the last time I listened. I have made it no secret that I like Jamie on the radio, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Matt & him together last year. People have criticised him for not being relatable, but I have to agree with the comment above that I have always found him a naturally warm person to listen to. Maybe the going home set up was something that needed settling in and things are starting to take shape.  It must have been difficult for him joining an established duo in Vick & Katie to begin with.  Jamie was great on something songs today, fully engaged in the caller and sounded like a real presenter. Maybe he is doing as a lot of us hoped and really learning as he goes, how to do it properly. 
    • Bluestraw
      Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie

      By Bluestraw · Posted

      Agree with this. The anti-Jamie feeling was IMO quite influenced by the negativity around him replacing Jordan, since Jordan was exceptional and also universally loved. When people mention Danny and Jamie in the same sentence about bad hiring decisions I almost choke - Jamie may not be perfect but he's several leagues better than Danny already and has bags of potential. Danny is poor and has shown zero potential...
    • R1 Insider
      Next Radio 1 boss

      By R1 Insider · Posted

      Jamie started 4 March, and the figures only going up to 31 March, so it isn't reliable. But it has shown the numbers have dropped in afternoons compared to last quarter. It looks like it's Capital's gain.
×
×
  • Create New...