Radio 2 why so dumbed down

[Parsley1234]

I cannot stand the relentless drivel that is Zoe Ball oh my god yesterday Stacey Soloman and her diatribe of awfulness and now replacing Graham Norton with Claudia just why ? I am Mrs Brady moany old lady for sure what else can I listen to 🥴

I don't understand why the BBC is so keen to ignore so many older listeners and chase younger people

Me either. I am planning to to find Boom radio when I can and I am probably the R2 target audience.

From the bit I hear of Anna foster and Tony Livesey I agree they are pleasant to listen to.

@Authenticchicken

I don't understand why the BBC is so keen to ignore so many older listeners and chase younger people

Me either. I am planning to to find Boom radio when I can and I am probably the R2 target audience.

I've listened to R2 for very many years but am just comfortably into the younger demographic that they're chasing and I hate the wittering/ mumbling/ shouty/ super-lovey style that they're adopting to chase the younger age. There's a reason why I didn't like Radio 1 in my youth.

I want to be talked to, have a broad range of music, including some well chosen recent stuff because it's got great talent, and no adverts. It's the no adverts which keeps me tuned in.

Totally agree Bog. I have listened for probably 18 years and often feel irritated enough to switch over now, with the exception of a few DJs. I love Jo Wiley for instance. I liked Claire Teal. I only listen(ed) to them on catch up though. That and Sounds of the Sixties which they moved from my happy Sat mid morning pottering slot!

Love It when Vanessa steps
In for Jeremy Vine. So much better, not a toady agreeing with everything and she you can tell she has actually researched the topics.

I always have to switch Ken Bruce off because the music he plays is so boring and bland. I like him and I like popmaster but not his taste in music. The other day there was a really awful obscure Spandau Ballet song and some god awful Janet Jackson number. And lots of bland middle aged man stuff like I don't know - Bruce Hornsby and the Range or Genesis or something. Sorry to be critical of Ken but there you go.

Can't stand zoe ball ( everyone is amazing , gorgeous, wonderful )!!!
Can't stand whinging , patronising Jeremy vine.
Cant stand Claudia winklemans new programme, simmering giggling nonsense.
Finding im switching more and more to virgin or radio 1.
Radio 2 has lost its way and many listeners.

The no ads thing is what used to tie me to the BBC but now Graham Norton's Virgin show is sponsored ( by Waitrose) there are no intrusive ads- same as Chris Evans who is sponsored by Sky. it just means they do some chat about the latest shows/ films which I'm interested in anyway. I'm not sure how the Waitrose sponsorship will work unless Graham and Maria start shopping recipes!

Yes, I agree with pp that Anna Foster and Tony Livesey are well worth tuning into, even if 5 Live isn't your usual sort of station. They also sound like they get on well together which is nice when you're aware of all sorts of simmering resentments between other co-presenters.

Simon May and Jo Whiley are both good presenters in their own right, they shouldn't have been put together.

Come on over to R4! Maybe less music focused but I think it has an old fashioned rep. Desert Island discs is always fascinating, I promise you I'm under 40 .

@2Rebecca

I'm in my 50s and we are a large demographic. I don't understand why the BBC is so keen to ignore so many older listeners and chase younger people. It does make me want all stations to be pay as you go, then maybe they'd be interested in us. More listeners = more money. You don't want all stations playing the same stuff but R1 used to be for teenagers and young adults and radio 2 was more retro

Well said

@Besom

I always have to switch Ken Bruce off because the music he plays is so boring and bland. I like him and I like popmaster but not his taste in music. The other day there was a really awful obscure Spandau Ballet song and some god awful Janet Jackson number. And lots of bland middle aged man stuff like I don't know - Bruce Hornsby and the Range or Genesis or something. Sorry to be critical of Ken but there you go.

Horses for courses

Those are all the reasons I like his show

Listening to the end of Claudia today I noticed it but also Michelle Ball does too.

They say "that's to my Producer Bob this has been a ABC production for radio 2" I'm sure there never used to be production companies hosting radio 2 shows

Sorry posted too soon...

Perhaps that's something to do with it

Loving the music Rylan is playing right now. DH and I are dancing round the kitchen.

I do not have the words to express how much I hate Steve Wright's shows.

I listen to 6 Music, Absolute and a bit of Radio Cornwall these days.

Loving the music Rylan is playing right now. DH and I are dancing round the kitchen.

I never believe this when they read it out on the radio-are you really?

I love Tony Livesy. Listened to him for a long time, sadly now not very often. He seems a genuinely lovely bloke and a good broadcaster to boot.

He did the late night show on 5live for a while and I would stay up to listen.

Rylan is the surprise hit on radio 2. When I heard he was going on Radio 2, I was very sceptical. Then ended up listening to him in the car whilst collecting son from his club,and was genuinely surprised how much I liked his show.

@BadlydoneHelen yes! Set you free by N trance is one of our favourite songs.

@Standrewsschool

Rylan is the surprise hit on radio 2. When I heard he was going on Radio 2, I was very sceptical. Then ended up listening to him in the car whilst collecting son from his club,and was genuinely surprised how much I liked his show.

He's really good isn't he

@BadlydoneHelen

Loving the music Rylan is playing right now. DH and I are dancing round the kitchen.

I never believe this when they read it out on the radio-are you really?

I'm with you. Dancing round the kitchen. Really? Makes me think of cringy montage scenes in films. Or rather like spitting your tea on the keyboard (ie a load of push)

I love Zoe Ball's show - it strikes just the right uplifting tone for me to navigate the shitshow that is endless lockdown and the monotony of WFH. And because she's the same age as me she has a similar music taste to me. I don't actually listen to her live, but rather on podcast when I'm walking. And as for Graham Norton - I love him on BBC1 on a Friday night but couldn't stand him on the radio - his voice just irritated me - so I'm delighted he's move on from R2.

Why’s it cringy? We’re not all miserable.