Show Diary - 5 February 2026: Mums, social pressure and modern reality

[Old Codger Fan]

I have great respect for the man ...

But Bob Harris is a great choice to take over Sounds Of The 70's (and Shaun Keavney is an interesting choice to take over the Rock Show!).

[DC]

I'm sure there will be people moaning. If anyone leaves radio 2 to retire or simply die whilst still there, it's usually someone's fault. That said, happy retirement to him!

[shippp]

On 10/6/2024 at 10:29 PM, Old Codger Fan said:

I have great respect for the man ...

But Bob Harris is a great choice to take over Sounds Of The 70's (and Shaun Keavney is an interesting choice to take over the Rock Show!).

Its who has covered for him most recently for both shows honestly. It is interesting because it does seem that with all the weekend/evening Radio 2  shows Shaun has covered (Liza Tarbuck, Rob Beckett, Folk, Rock) the R2 Management must like him even if 6M management obviously didn't to get rid of him 

[Old Codger Fan]

Guardian Radio Reviewer calls him 'Johhny' - clearly someone who has taken no interest in him, over the years ... 

The week in audio: Kill List; Call Her Daddy; Boj & Kate Have a Lot on Their Plate; Johnny Walker – review | Radio | The Guardian

[R1Fan1]

Nice quote here from him:

Walker left half a century of broadcasting with some critical thoughts on the industry. “It always used to be: you learned your radio craft,” he said. “A lot of people started off on local stations and gradually sort of worked their way up. And I think nowadays it seems to be the way to get radio shows is to get a television one first.

“Because you’re good on TV doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to be good on the radio, but that’s the way it is. We’re in the age of celebrity.”

 

[DC]

2 hours ago, R1Fan1 said:

Nice quote here from him:

Walker left half a century of broadcasting with some critical thoughts on the industry. “It always used to be: you learned your radio craft,” he said. “A lot of people started off on local stations and gradually sort of worked their way up. And I think nowadays it seems to be the way to get radio shows is to get a television one first.

“Because you’re good on TV doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to be good on the radio, but that’s the way it is. We’re in the age of celebrity.”

 

You know what. He's absolutely spot on, I couldn't agree more.

 

First thing I thought of was about 15 years ago when Kelly Osbourne was handed a Radio 1 show, I mean come on. She never turned up half the time anyway. Radio people need to be like him, Scott, Chris Moyles and Greg James for the more recent generations. You need to have a passion for radio, work your way up and gain experience.

[NathanS]

On 10/27/2024 at 2:49 PM, DC said:

You know what. He's absolutely spot on, I couldn't agree more.

 

First thing I thought of was about 15 years ago when Kelly Osbourne was handed a Radio 1 show, I mean come on. She never turned up half the time anyway. Radio people need to be like him, Scott, Chris Moyles and Greg James for the more recent generations. You need to have a passion for radio, work your way up and gain experience.

I do agree, partly however... some people who would be considered 'celebrity hires' have worked their way up to where they are now and are very good radio presenters. Mollie King being the most recent example on Radio 1. 

Radio 2 for example have had 'entertainment' figures, especially in weekend slots for many years. They're paid to do exactly that... entertain. Where do we draw the line at who counts as a 'proper Radio DJ'. Zoe Ball, Vernon Kay, Sara Cox for example all started out in TV before jumping to radio, but they've done enough radio presenting in high profile slots to be considered 'proper' in my opinion. 

[DC]

Thing is with TV presenters they have already halfway worked their way there in a very similar industry. I mean times where celebs are just bought in because of their name and it's a kick in the balls to very good presenters already out there. Some examples do deserve a chance, Jarvis Cocker with 6 Music for example. But picking the ones who just sit there and giggle at stupid jokes with no proper content, I've found there's been way too much of over the past 2 decades or so.

[coffeeandgin]

I think celeb do carry a slightly higher degree of risk and if a celeb isn't willing to put in the time, effort and learn the ropes they will get found out.

Mollie King and Maya Jama are perfect comparisons Mollie joined and it's clear she very much treated the radio role as a full-time career and put the time in to learn and improve - it's mentioned she shadowed the likes of Greg, Scott and Annie Mac among others and learnt how to drive the desk etc. And now she's as strong a DJ as anybody on Radio 1.

Whereas Maya was paired with Scott on Fridays to begin (so given almost the perfect opportunity to develop) but was quickly found out.  You rarely heard her outside her own slot and her show was pretty thin gruel which was highlighted even more so by Jordan doing the same slot on Sunday 100x better.

[NathanS]

2 hours ago, DC said:

Thing is with TV presenters they have already halfway worked their way there in a very similar industry. I mean times where celebs are just bought in because of their name and it's a kick in the balls to very good presenters already out there. Some examples do deserve a chance, Jarvis Cocker with 6 Music for example. But picking the ones who just sit there and giggle at stupid jokes with no proper content, I've found there's been way too much of over the past 2 decades or so.

True, I do agree with a lot of that. One example though... I don't think Mollie King had much if any broadcasting experience when she joined. They had that period where they paired up Matt Edmondson with some celebrities (I'm assuming for the very reason of having a 'celeb' co presenter). Scarlett Moffatt and Example were also paired with him but they gave Mollie the gig permanently. It definitely paid off as she is arguably one of the best presenters on Radio 1 now. She very much has took it seriously and it's very much her full time career now.

[NathanS]

2 hours ago, DC said:

Thing is with TV presenters they have already halfway worked their way there in a very similar industry. I mean times where celebs are just bought in because of their name and it's a kick in the balls to very good presenters already out there. Some examples do deserve a chance, Jarvis Cocker with 6 Music for example. But picking the ones who just sit there and giggle at stupid jokes with no proper content, I've found there's been way too much of over the past 2 decades or so.

I know some will disagree but Rylan is another example. He only covered Zoe Ball's Saturday show once, then got the show full time. I think he's turned out to be a great presenter who works well bouncing off his on air team (Sally, Lottie). The show is pitched perfectly for a Saturday afternoon. He's knowledgeable on a lot of the music he plays as well.

I do agree that there are probably some very talented presenters who have lost out thanks to the big groups buying up loads of local stations, then scaling back local shows to the bare minimum required (which as of now they're no longer required to do), but sadly it's nothing new. There's hardly any 'local stations' to work your way up from nowadays. 

 

[DC]

Mollie King and Maya Jama I simply connect with Radio 1 and nothing else. I know of nothing they did beforehand frankly. Maybe it's because I don't follow what they may have been involved in beforehand. Or a generational thing.

It's a small career risk if your already a celeb doing a radio 1 show, if it doesn't work out it's all forgotten in month nowdays. Hence why the likes of Kelly Osbourne couldn't of cared less if she turned up or not in the late 00s. You end up back on TV or something. Your not going to end up on hospital radio (nothing wrong there btw), if it doesn't work.

The thing is where does this all leave the next generation of wannabe Radio 1 DJ's who don't have that TV platform, or even social media platform? That avenue is an overcrowded house anyway. Maybe, like Steve Wright was, they aren't into being on camera but come alive behind a radio mic.

In 1997 an overweight 20 something year old bloke made his way to early breakfast on radio 1, and got promoted from within. Seems like now the likes of him, and even a raw circa 2007/8 Greg James would have a harder time to get to the top. You could even put Annie Mac into that convo. She was a producer in 2001/2, that ended up taking over from Zane Lowe a decade on when he left.

Without going on, let me ask you this simply. If a circa 1998 Scott Mills went for a job at Radio 1, today. As good as he was even then. Do you think he would even get a look in?

 

[abertom]

15 hours ago, NathanS said:

I know some will disagree but Rylan is another example. He only covered Zoe Ball's Saturday show once, then got the show full time. I think he's turned out to be a great presenter who works well bouncing off his on air team (Sally, Lottie). The show is pitched perfectly for a Saturday afternoon. He's knowledgeable on a lot of the music he plays as well.

I do agree that there are probably some very talented presenters who have lost out thanks to the big groups buying up loads of local stations, then scaling back local shows to the bare minimum required (which as of now they're no longer required to do), but sadly it's nothing new. There's hardly any 'local stations' to work your way up from nowadays. 

 

 

Rylan covered for Matt on radio 1

[NathanS]

1 hour ago, abertom said:

Rylan covered for Matt on radio 1

I know he did,it wasn't great either from what I remember, but he's definitely grown as a radio presenter since then.

Radio 1 are one of a few stations that can be praised with giving chances for younger presenters from a radio background with the Christmas takeover/Friday early breakfast, the recent weekend afternoon rotation etc. Sam & Danni are the most recent success story. Came through the Christmas presenters slot a few years ago, to getting the weekend breakfast show after lots of cover slots.