WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll ·
06/09/2018 13:34
Warning: potentially very unpopular viewpoints to follow:
As a keen long-term watcher of The Wright Stuff, I really liked Matthew Wright and thought that he did a very good job most of the time (with a few notable exceptions). I didn't always agree with his opinions, but I respected him for them.
Now that MW has gone, I think that Channel 5 have made an excellent choice in choosing Jeremy Vine to take over. I'm a fan of his lunchtime radio show (granted, some topics are more interesting than others and, lovely though Allotment Terry seems as a person, his regular slot on a 'news and current affairs' programme bores me to tears).
Jezza has already fallen perfectly into the role. I think his personality and tone are spot on, as is his instant natural rapport with Storm (who I think would also have made an ideal replacement as host).
However, am I alone in thinking that this is the beginning of the end for his Radio 2 show? I'm guessing he probably doesn't write the Channel 5 show like Matthew did, but he must still have to get up really early to get there for all of the preparations, make-up, rehearsals etc. He's on air from 9:15 until 11:15. Then he has to dash across London to be ready to broadcast on the radio from 12:00 until 2:00, including any rehearsals and preparations (no make-up and visuals needed, at least). In the meantime, he has to be ready to speak to Ken Bruce (whether in person or over the phone) at 11:30 to introduce the topics for the upcoming show.
He's far from elderly, but he isn't a young man any more (pretty much the same age as Matthew, who spoke of the years of early mornings and no evenings to spend with his wife having taken their toll). By the time he finishes on the radio, he can't have all that long left of his day to spend with his family before a very early bedtime ready to be up early in the morning.
However is he going to keep it up? And are the BBC going to be happy to play second fiddle, with him dropping in at the last minute with little preparation time or leeway for unforeseen traffic hold-ups (not sure how far he has to travel between the two, TBF).
Is the writing on the wall for his radio show, do you think? Is it his plan to quit the radio show once he's fully established in the TV slot. It surely can't be sustainable for long as it is.