Someone needs to take Cat Deeley aside

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

and gently remind her that she is broadcasting to adults, not a group of primary school children!

I miss Richard Allinson.

He used to stand in for a lot of BBC Radio 2 presenters when they were off.

He was very funny, interacted with emails and texts brilliantly and was very professional.

Graham Norton, like a lot of 'stars' is a freelancer.

He has to keep working and remain in the public eye, in order to remain employed. The minute it looks like his star is waning, his agent will drop him like a hot brick.

I find Liza Tarbuck patronising somehow. All fake bonhomie.

Agree, I always have to switch off as soon as I hear her voice.

Also really dislike Dermot on the radio, he talks over people constantly, he just doesn't listen to anything anyone else says. And I also found Cat far too twee. Joe Wicks may be a good guy but a radio presenter he most certainly is not! Of the holiday stand ins, I've only really liked Gary Davies. Not keen on Amol or OJ, but did like the half hour Our Tunes slot that one of them did in the afternoons.

Listening to Michael Ball at the minute - I do like him actually, he's got a good radio voice and does good chat. I know he can be a bit smug though.

Love Craig Charles, more of him would be great!

I had to break up with somebody once because I just couldnt stop taking the piss out of the trendy trendy cool 6 music and steve lamacq. They really liked all that so it wasnt fair on them.

• I miss Richard Allinson.

He used to stand in for a lot of BBC Radio 2 presenters when they were off.

He was very funny, interacted with emails and texts brilliantly and was very professional*

Richard presents the drive time show week days on Magic

Drivetime-gate, what happened was either SM's agent and the BBC decided to be more 'contemporary' (how to you get more contemporary that radio2?) he needed a co-presenter and he actually suggested Jo Whiley rather than having one of these 'they're sort of famous so theyll do' people put alongside him. She wasnt keen on the idea either.

Graham Nortons agent will drop him? really? I hope you arnt in business of any sort.

Whilst I like Vanessa F as a sparky, smart woman she doesn't have a great radio voice either. Claudia W has a schtick which grates on me after a while. I have to switch off Alan Carr & Mel Sykes - individually they might be bearable but together all that cackling, aarggh!
I liked Phil Williams on Late night R5 but did he get the heave-ho? I can't take to Colin Murray and Steve Nolan is irksome.
I've surprised myself by liking Rylan, I think he does a good job although maybe he should leave his mum out of it for once!

ToffeeNotCoffee's comments about Richard Coles, specially about the death of his partner, are horrible. I can't recall him discussing his loss in public and even if he did, is he not allowed to talk about it? Is he not allowed to talk about being gay?

I think you would do well to remember that he is a real person with real feelings who lost the person he thought would be his lifelong partner and show a bit of compassion.

he actually suggested Jo Whiley rather than having one of these 'they're sort of famous so theyll do' people put alongside him. She wasnt keen on the idea either.

As it goes, she wasn't. So, was it just some sort of constructive dismissal to get Simon Mayo out ?

Sorry...my last comment on what's good on UK radio.

Johnnie Walker's 'Sound of the Seventies' on a Sunday afternoon is brill and you don't have to be ancient to enjoy it!

@ToffeeNotCoffee

he actually suggested Jo Whiley rather than having one of these 'they're sort of famous so theyll do' people put alongside him. She wasnt keen on the idea either.

As it goes, she wasn't. So, was it just some sort of constructive dismissal to get Simon Mayo out ?

My understanding was that they realised the week day schedule was v undiverse - all men from 7am til 7pm. So they decided to add a female presenter to Simon's show. Bizarre decision as they could much easily add someone to Jeremy Vine (or get rid of that show entirely...). They let him choose and he chose Jo W as he had a lot of respect for her, they were friends etc. But her evening style jarred with the drive time slot, you could almost hear her laughing when talking to the "normies". Simon was v uncomfortable and couldn't change it so left. I have noticed her evening show now is a lot more cosy than before tho, doing the parent taxi feature etc.

I think the whole Jo and Simon thing was a total disaster. I enjoy her show if I listen. Loved his show. It was really uncomfortable as every Drivetime fan was horrified at the whole idea and she was totally slated even before it began. She was apparently very upset by the flak. He was defensive of her as they are friends and he’s a decent guy. But it was never going to work.

@unlikelytobe - yes I love Sounds of the Seventies too. Great music.

Hate hate the screeching twosome that is Alan Carr and Mel Sykes. Nightmare.

Nobody has mentioned Paddy O’Connell. He fills in for various presenters. A bit flat but he filled in for Paul O’Grady this evening and I thought he was good in that slot. He doesn’t make it all about him.

I mentioned Paddy near the top of page 3 actually
Liza Tarbuck has such a poor music choice, is that her or a producer?
Looking forward to Ken and Ritchie being back.

So you did @Crunched - sorry! Missed that. I missed him covering for Zoe Ball too as I don’t switch on till she is almost finished.

I miss Simon Mayo! It’s was a stupid idea to add Whiley, Drivetime was the best when he was on and it was weird after adding in a second presenter. I also can’t hack Zoe Ball, shes way too much and even though she has lost millions of listeners they keep her. To be honest I’ve stopped listening to radio 2, it’s really lost it’s way except for Ken Bruce. I like my local radio which has a mix of male and female presenters and different styles.

Liza Tarbuck has such a poor music choice, is that her or a producer?

I disagree, her music choices are really good, much more diverse and interesting than the usual radio two mainstream fodder that is played to death on practically very other R2 show.

@unlikelytobe

Sorry...my last comment on what's good on UK radio.

Johnnie Walker's 'Sound of the Seventies' on a Sunday afternoon is brill and you don't have to be ancient to enjoy it!

I also love Johnnie Walker and his Sunday show. He was employed back in the day when you had to have a voice for radio and an understanding of how to engage listeners. TV presenters don’t necessarily have this skill.

I think the Radio 2 roster is put together now with diversity and representation at the forefront. A noble aim, but it means we end up with some people who are totally unsuitable as professional radio presenters.
Allan Carr would NEVER have got a job on radio when voices mattered. His god awful screeching would have seen him thrown out of the first audition.

I am another in the ‘Ken Bruce should never retire’ camp. He is so knowledgeable about the music he plays and such a pro.
Agree with PP who said Liza Tarbuck is under utilised. Johnnie Walker should be given back the Drivetime show and Sarah Cox can have breakfast.Zoe Ball is awful, sounds like any random ladette on a night out with their mates.
Some of the evening shows on R2 are great. Craig Charles and Trevor Nelson for soul, Bob Harris Country is a must listen.
Ken is King though!

Allan Carr would NEVER have got a job on radio when voices mattered. His god awful screeching would have seen him thrown out of the first audition. 😂😂 how true.

Although I must confess that despite Alan Carr really not having a voice for radio I did enjoy him and Mel this summer, they really cheered me up, but I know I am in the minority in this, so will bow to the majority view and keep quiet.

And yes to Liza T being under utilised.

I got Vanessa Feltz this morning at 4am

I switched over.

I really liked Nikki Chapman this morning.

One of GN’s new production team must be a Mumsnetter - just noticed a huge banner advertising his new show at the top of mn.

Simon Mayo does a good show on Scala Radio, Monday-Saturday now.

I don’t mind whoever is on really, although it took me ages to get used to Zoe Ball’s breathless, overly excited schtick. She has either calmed down or I have become immune to it. . I particularly like Sara Cox, Dermot, Graham , Rylan, Paul O’Grady and good old Ken.

Forgot to add, 10am - 1pm

I quite liked Nicky Chapman although her spiel about David Bowie did go on a bit. Really looking forward to Claudia starting, I love her sense of humour.

Nicky is great. Intelligent, direct and has a really pleasant unaffected conversational style.