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 🥴

[foodtoorder]

@MeanMrMustardSeed you're so welcome!
Obviously you have local ads but given the music is greatest hits I can put up with that.

[LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow]

I am so disappointed in the show that Claudia is doing, it's basically the Chris Evans show rehashed, very "I am zany, me me me, laugh and self promote".... she did an evening show a while back all about films and books and had some amazing people and excellent interviews and the new show is all shitty cackling, sheer stupidity and phone ins with children who cannot hold the bloody phone.

I only like Ken Bruce now, and I hear some of Trevor Nelson and OJ Borg at bed time...they are fine. Rylan on a Saturday afternoon, he is cute as a button, although the show is very formulaic
Jo Whiley is good, but I never hear her unless I am in the car and Liza Tarbuck has gone all weird again so don't bother to catch her on a Saturday any more.

I have started listening to podcasts ... Fi&Jane ...is it Fortunately, or Unfortunately? They make me laugh but I am sure they are pinching a good deal of stuff from MN. Also makes me laugh when they get told off by emails from people, they ( I haven't managed to work out which one is which!) are very fond of a throwaway funny comment and then have to back track as it goes against their professed principles. ..but I am not my schadenfreude is what they are going for :o
They do have great interviews though, good questions, excellent to and fro conversations, and good rapport.

[notacooldad]

I gave up on radio 1 and 2 years ago.
I just have Planet Rock on for background music when I'm doing housework or just pottering around.

[Superstardjs]

I like Sara Cox, so sometimes put r2 on after 5 but I really like Jo Whiley and then Jamie Cullum on a Tuesday night. I listen to radio x all day, i prefer their music and chat.

[Lizdeflores]

It's fortunately and I love it too warm ,affectionate, thought provoking and funny.

[the80sweregreat]

Sara Cox is ok I think , but I miss Simon Mayo as he was a bit more of a grown up.
Zoe is too cheerful for me. She still thinks she is 20 something. Ken for pop master is fun. I've yet to ever get 39! ( or three in ten)
I tend to listen to five live or lbc more these days although radio stations with ads can be annoying. I Tend to mix it up.

[Standrewsschool]

I like Zoe Ball - cheery and chirpy.

I tried virgin radio, but got fed up of all the adverts, and the promotion of Chris Evans show throughout the day. Was irritating, and Chris Evans can be too smug. I wish that the sports presenter had stayed in radio 2 though, I liked him.

Haven’t really listed to Claudia’s show yet, although liked Nikki Chapman doing the show.

Sometimes I listen to Smooth or Gold - lots of music, hardly any adverts or inane wittering from DJs. Lovely background music.

[ghostyslovesheets]

I struggle listening to R5 on a Sunday now because of Laura Whitmore - I am 100% sure she is a lovely human being but her voice grates on my like fingernails on a chalk board

[RaindropsSplashRainbows]

You would have to pay me to listen to Jeremy vine or Steve Wright.

I tolerated Steve Wright for about 5 minutes in the 80s, he was fresh sounding with the posse and voices😅 I was fourteen though.

[RaindropsSplashRainbows]

I've not listened to Rylan but I imagine he'd be good.

[user1493494961]

We only stick with Radio 2 because of Ken. I'm sure the 'powers-that-be' are desperate to get rid of him and when that happens we'll go elsewhere.

[Youngatheart00]

Why does everyone love Ken Bruce so much? Why is he so different to Steve Wright?! Curious!

I don’t much like the Zoe Ball breakfast show but it goes on in our house for an hour in the morning for background noise more than anything else.

I quite like Jeremy Vine and the varied discussions

Love it when Sara Cox subs in but that’s because it reminds me of my youth and listening to her on R1 breakfast!

[NerrSnerr]

I really like Zoe Ball and Sara Cox. Love Ken's show and Popmaster. I don't mind Jeremy's show as the people who call in make me laugh. I don't mind Steve's show either.

[JE17]

Can't believe Steve Wright is still on the radio, I thought he was out of touch in the 80s. I switch off after Ken cos I can't stand the JV show. Podcasts/ Spotify in the afternoon but I might give Simon Mayo's new show a listen.

[UnderHisAye]

I feel like when my parents were in their 40s that Radio 2 was for them. And now I'm in my 40s it doesn't feel targeted to me.

Who is it for then?

[GoWalkabout]

I heard on a media show that they are trying to attract the demographic 'mood mums' in their 30s and 40s so they will be disappointed by this Mumsnet thread

[Youngatheart00]

What does ‘mood mums’ mean? 🤔

Times Radio is quite good too

[Dramallamabanana]

I cannot stand Sarah Cox. Surely, surely her voice is put on for the radio? I cannot believe that anyone sounds or talks like in real life. It just sounds like she's putting on a comedy piss-taking voice!

[MsTSwift]

Ken is a very decent person. Remember when that hideous Blurred Lines song was everywhere and he made such a gentle but strong feminist comment about it I have liked him ever since.

Steve Wright hideous why??? He must have some dirt on the top brass. Detest his white van man man of the people schtick.

Like Sarah Cox. Haven’t heard Claudia but hated her plug the whole “can’t believe they’ve let little me loose on this” why do women put themselves down like that? Her male equivalent would never say that. Not blaming her but found it depressing

[RaindropsSplashRainbows]

People really do speak with strong accents. Why this is a surprise if you live in the UK is beyond me!

[amylou8]

I like Vanessa, Zoe, Ken and Jeremy. They're easy to listen to driving. DP prefers LBC, and my god do they go on. Give me nice fluffy R2 any day.

[Sprig1]

Couldn't agree more. Just full of immature drivel now. I am pleased that I am not commuting to work any more so now I just don't really listen to the radio at all.

[Chemenger]

@foodtoorder

Doesn't help you for the mornings but greatest hits radio has Simon Mayo on drive time! Same concept as when on r2 with Matt the sports guy and confessions. Only started last week but it's made my year so far! 😂

Also lots of the older radio2 crew do various shoes through the week also.

This makes me wish I was back commuting by car.

[notacooldad]

Why does everyone love Ken Bruce so much? Why is he so different to Steve Wright?! Curious!
I find Ken Bruce has a gentle way about him and an intelligent humour that makes me laugh. Steve Wright is just loud and brash, not funny and the characters are annoying. In the past I thought some of them were made up and caricatures but they turned out to be real people ( unless I'm wrong- was 'old woman or Old lady, I can't remember what she was called on the show a real person?)

[notacooldad]

I didn't mind Sara Cox and like her tv show about a shop in time.
I did get fed up of her talking about her kids all the time and the funny things that they said. It was like listening to a boring colleague at work that never shuts up about their children and I really don't care what they have said after 2 minutes!