Live webchat with Radio 2 DJ Simon Mayo, Monday 27th February 1 - 2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Simon Mayo will be joining us next Monday (27th Feb) for a live webchat. Best known as host of Radio 2 Drivetime, Simon has been broadcasting with the BBC since the early 80s, including a stint as host of Radio 1 Breakfast show.

Simon's debut children's book ITCH is described as 'a fast-paced thriller starring an accidental school boy hero called Itch whose hobby of collecting all the elements in the periodic table gets him into some seriously explosive situations'.

If you have a question for Simon, join us next Monday or send in your question in advance to this thread.

@AncientsOfMuMu

Can I have a P please, Simon?

You should know that having just finished filming 41 episodes of Blockbusters, every single time someone asks for a P, it got a round of applause, and a laugh! Undoubtedly the easiest applause I've ever had in my life. And one of the joys of presenting the programme was that even though it hasn't been on television for so long, everyone in the audience knew the format, knew the music, knew the set, and played along as they probably did when they were kids, eating their tea at home!

I hope when it goes out people will enjoy it as much as when Bob Holness hosted all those years ago.

Hi Simon
I'm a Children's Librarian, part of a team working across the city of Bristol - will you be doing a promotional tour for 'Itch' and if so where can people go to see you and hear about your book? I would also like to know if you would be available to visit libraries to talk to young people about boks and reading?
Love your radio 2 show btw

@policywonk

My question: would you describe yourself as a feminist? I'm a huge fan of the Kermode/Mayo film show, and it was so cathartic to hear you both expressing real anger and shock at aspects of Winterbottom's 'The Killer Inside Me'. It seemed to me that the anger was at least partly to do with the nature of the violence in the film (ie, male-on-female violence within a relationship). I've always assumed that Dr K would identify himself as a feminist: would you too? (And if you could ask Dr K for his answer as well I would be STOKED. Although I realise that that's a cheeky request and you're welcome to ignore it )

Thank you for the question.

I would describe myself as a feminist yes, but I don't know if that was why I responded the way I did to the Winterbottom film but I did find it unforgivable that the violence towards men was short, sharp, brutal, but that the violence towards the women was protracted and sadistic.

When I challenged Winterbottom on it, he was surprised at my concern. I don't think it had occurred to him, but I did find it a distressing picture. I mean, the justification for it was that we are seeing events told from the viewpoint of a psychopath, but I'm not sure that that forgave the brutality onscreen. If being a feminist means believing in complete equality, and hating Nuts and Loaded magazines, then yes, I'm a paid-up member!

Thanks for answering my question, Simon. :)

@lemonpoppyseed

I always enjoyed listening to you Radio 5 book chats, particularly the ones about children's literature. Which books / authors have had the most influence on you, and your new novel?

If they have had an impact it's been subliminal as I have spent last 15 years reading to my kids and for work, read all Potter books three times once to each child, inevitably you absorb these influences. I have enjoyed Philip Pullman, interviewing Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo. Anthony Horowitz writes a thrilling story. I am sure I have learned from them all, by osmosis.

@NotYetEverything

Hi Simon, I raced through Itch, really loved it, especially the Show of Hands references! How did you get into folk / world music, and do you think it has a broader audience than it used to?

Thank you for reading the book, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I put in the Show of Hands reference because Cousin jack is such an important character in the book and such a great song. While I was writing the book I listened to a lot of folk music. One of the main reasons was that mining was an important part of Cornwall, and an important part of the book - and it was going to be more important but it got eroded over time.

But I was listening to a lot of mining songs, which has been a big tradition in folk music. I suppose I got into this style of music originally from listening tot Paul Simon, who was the first concert I went to see in 1975, and the first album that I bought. And being at Radio 2 exposes you to a huge variety of musical styles, and enables me to follow up my interest in world music. I can't think of a better place to work!

Thanks for answering my question Simon!

I'm looking forward to introducing my 10 year old son to Blockbusters. We are both fasn of your Drivetime show and he is keen to read your book.

A new generation enjoying your work - sorry if that makes you feel old.

@2ticks

So, my questions are, do you have any plans to do more interview-based shows? A future presenter of Desert Island Discs maybe? Would you and Mark to a TV film review programme?

Also, I'm looking forward to Itch - I still read aloud to my nearly 10year old at bedtime - do you think Itch is works for 'read aloud' material, or is it better suited for him to read it independently? Have you read it aloud to anyone?

Thank you.

I don't know, which is a shame because I do enjoy longer form interviews, but I still do three or four interviews a week for Radio 2. You can't actually beat the format where you have 45 to 60m if needed, but I did that for a long time and it was time to move on. As far as Desert Island Discs are concerned, I think Kirsty is the best they've ever had so I think I'll leave it in her capable hands!

In response to your second question, TV commissioners aren't that interested in having a film review programme on, so we'll happily stick with radio, where we are of course the BBC's flagship film programme (which is what Mark likes me to say - and is true!)

I do think that Itch works for read aloud, I've read stories to my kids for the last 15 years, and I can do three accents - Cornish, camp and Cockney! So I wrote this book for myself, to fit in with my full range of voices! Nearly 10 might be a little old, but give it a go.

@MayCanary

Long-time listener like so many here - big fan and delighted the confessions are still going strong.

Is it true that you played The Las "There She Goes" just after announcing the resignation of Ms Thatcher?

No, it's not true. I was doing the breakfast show at the time, and the announcement came through, so I was off air at the time. I remember this because Simon Bates, who was doing mid-morning programme, was on tape that day, and his producer had to spend a frantic hour re-editing the show so that there were enough gaps for the news flashes.

@BearlyThere

PLease can you stop playing QUeen on those friday request shows.

Sadly, for you, we will be playing lots of Queen for the foreseeable future! They remain unbelievably popular, so you'll have to bear with us!

Thanks for answering Simon - hope it wasn't too serious for this thread

This is not an additional question really (oops) but in case you run out of others to answer... Do you or the team ever rewrite the confessions before you read them out or are they pretty much as submitted as they always seem excellently composed!

Simon, do you really have cooking going on in the studio and if so, how exactly? is there an oven and hob in situ or do you host the show in a kitchen once a week?

@georgee

Hi Simon. I just wanted to say that I listen and look forward to Drivetime because, quite simply, it's so edifying, particularly at that tricky toddler's-teatime slot in the day. Unlike loads of snidey, bitchy media stuff you always maintain a sense of integrity and respect your listeners, which is really important. I expect that's at least partly down to your Christian faith but have you found it tricky to maintain that integrity with your job? Have you ever been tempted to be a bit edgier/bitchier to fit in better or be more popular? Anyway, don't ever change will you! Thanks!

I don't think that edgier and bitchier really works on Radio 2!! It has its place, of course, but I think that the Drivetime audience don't want to hear that. I mean, the reason why i start every day with the 'Enjoy Yourself' jingle is that it encapsulates the ethos of the programme, and the mindset of most of the listeners, I think, which s that , we know we're not getting any younger, but we still ant to learn stuff and have a good time.

I'm also very much aware that we have people listening on the school run, and people listening with families at teatime, and so, I don't want to give anyone a reason for switching off (unless they don't like Queen records!)

I want everyone to listen, and in general being edgy and bitch gets you a smaller audience rather than a larger one. And it wouldn't sound natural anyway!

But thank you for your lovely positive comments, they are always appreciated!

Hi Simon, hope you're enjoying this!

Just wondered if you remembered making The Herbs video with Sybil Ruscoe - how on earth did you get involved in that?

I'm now wondering what a camp-voiced Simon Mayo voice would sound like.

Any chance of recording a sample for us, Simon/MNHQ? :o

coppertop

Audio-boo MNHQ, you know you can do it

@MordechaiVanunu

Hi Simon,

I'm very excited to see you are going to be on mumsnet; I podcast your film review show every week to listen to while I cook at the weekend, and the while family knows not to attempt to speak to me whilst it's on as it is 'Mummy's Treat'.

I also loved your 5Live afternoon show and was distraught (I'm only slightly exaggerating) when you we're leaving as I thought no one would be able to replace you (I've now got used to Richard Bacon and like him but he's not as good as you). You managed to be so well informed and do such insightful intelligent interviews everyday on such a wide range of topics, it was always good listening.

You can do the light-hearted stuff on radio 2, but your wasted there a bit imvho, and should do some more serious stuff.

I don't have my own question but would like to second policywonks questions about feminism and how you'd define yourself. You and Mark often both seem to view films with a feminist view point, particularly films with role models for girls and young women.

Lastly, if you have a nice time on mumsnet could you suggest to Mark he comes on here for a webchat about film? I'd love that and I think he'd like mumsnet!!

Fancy being mummy's treat! I quite like that! Thank you for enjoying the podcast, we love doing, and it seems to go from strength to strength. And thank you for the nice comments about the 5 Live show as well. I moved because, after nearly nine years, it seemed like the right move for me, and I had always missed the music side of radio while I'd been at 5.

I know we've just talked about feminism, and it had never really occurred to me before that Mark and I might sound as though we're agreeing with each other (not something that we are regularly accused of!) but I guess there's nothing like having a young daughter to make you see the world differently.

Someone once said that if you have a daughter, you become more left wine and I'm not sure if that's true but it certainly makes you see the world through their eyes, and very angry when the leery lads culture permeates the mainstream.

It's certainly true that Mark's supportive comments about Twilight were influenced by the fact that in his opinion, it will trade an independent, spirited, young woman, who is making her own choices, he felt - and I think he's right - that this side of Bella had been under-reported in all the in the Mormon vampire nonsense.

I'll certainly suggest to Mark that he does a films chat here, because he's be very good!

@cocolepew

Oh I think my DD might like your book, is it geeky?

1.Why did you decide to write a childrens book?

1. What is your opinion on actors/comedians presenting radio shows?

That's the bizarre thing I didn't really mean to write a book, it was meant to be a short story for my son, if I had realised I would have to do all this publicity and it would be so terrifying I might not have started! It's very different when you think you are writing for an audience of one.

Clearly a lot of them are very good at it which is v irritating. If you listen to Graham Norton, Frank Skinner Patrick Kielty they can transfer their spiel to the radio v successfully. In the short term it is v good news for people like me they want a show every now and then and I want to a show for 5 days.

@20SomethingmumUK

Hi Simon

What is your all time favourite record to play and why? I ask as a complete music geek with 10,000 vinyl and umpteen CDs and tapes in the house.

What's interesting about this question, is that it's not what's your favourite song, but it's about what's your favourite record to play which is a (subtly) different question. I'll answer both.

My favourite record to play is probably Stay With Me by the Faces, because it's one of the greatest rock and roll records ever made, and it lifts any programme.

My favourite song, on the other hand, which is slightly more difficult to play to a radio show, would be Northern Sky by Nick Drake, which is just totally sublime, and I'd listen to it every day if I had the time!

Hi Simon,

Not a specific question but just wanted to say how much we love your drivetime show. I'm usually cooking dinner, assembling everybody to come and eat said dinner, and then clearing up afterwards all the whilst listening to your show. (I once came on and delivered a Three Word Tuesday - claim to fame!) So it's a Teatime Show in our house and we listen every day. Thank you very much for such brilliant entertainment!

One question - are you really having as much fun as you all sound like you are? Sounds like a great place to work.

Enjoy your Mumsnet experience. XXX

@zipzap

Arghh. Should have previewed

Was supposed to say dadsnetter? honorary mumsnetter? at the start of my post.

Hope MNHQ are looking after you and providing plenty of , and ! (an observation rather than a question!)

Yes, MNHQ are looking after me fantastically; too early for , tea and sandwich are good tho sadly no ginger biscuits yet. Indisputably the best biscuits are ginger biscuits and for extra indulgence ones coated in dark choc, with dark choc digestive a close second...

Thanks for responding I'm ridiculously chuffed!

Yes, I was thinking of Twilight, and had presumed your views were influenced by the fact you both have daughters, and I'm presuming, intelligent strong wives!