I love The Archers, but....

[Martorana]

...there is loads more radio-don't people listen to anything else?

[stilllearnin]

No votes for more or less?? I could have that on constantly. At one point it was the only thing that got me through running further than 5k! Hate Count Arthur. But yes to Life Scientific - I'm not into science at all but it is fascinating - particularly the epic failings they've all had at one time.

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

Why are you all pretending that radio stops at "4"?

There are millions of other stations.

[Hiphopopotamus]

Ah I love that almost everyone has talked exclusively about Radio 4 R4 has been my default station for a few years now and I love it. However, I don't know anyone else my age that listens to it!

[Cooroo]

zero I don't think anyone's pretending anything of the sort! Just lots of R4 listeners have joined the thread. Tell us what you listen to!

[Inchicore]

R4 again I'm afraid, but The Moral Maze is excellent.

[Patchouli]

The way my school run works out I usually get the last 20 mins of a really great drama (was enjoying Cumberbatch's Rumpole very much), but then another 20 mins or so of Claire Baldings 'Ramblings'
I wish they could just inch that scheduling over a bit so I get the whole play.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Round Britain Quiz.

Why?

Otherwise, all the rest of the R4 schedule is fine with me. Ds1(7) was heard singing The Archers theme tune on his space hopper the other day so I like to think I am cultivating the next generation of fans.

[longtallsally2]

I'd forgotten the Round Britain Quiz. Why oh why, indeed?!

Yy to The Moral Maze and More or Less. I am not at all mathematical, but have to memorise/write down bits of it to repeat to dh or ds1. Fantastic stuff.

Love the Book Programme and Open Book too - the latter mainly cause I want Mariella Frostrup's voice (and name!)

[Davros]

Listened to Cumberlord as Rumpole tonight. Excellent!

[Cooroo]

I confess to loving Round Britain Quiz! Once in a blue moon I can actually answer and feel smug all day. Otherwise I just enjoy hearing then work it out.

I rely on podcasts and rarely hear anything live. Of to see if Rumpole is downloadable!

[GrendelsMum]

I adore RBQ! Just love love love it.

And More or Less. I save More or Less for particularly dull household jobs like sorting the socks.

If you like More or Less, then listen to the Planet Money podcast from American NPR. Occasionally it means you get a repeat of the same topic, but in general they recognise there's a lot of overlap in listenership and try to avoid duplication.

[WillieWaggledagger]

listening to the radio is central to my daily routine - catching the shows i love and avoiding the ones i hate

i cannot bear thinking allowed. it's not the concept of the programme, it's bloody laurie taylor, i just can't stand his stupid anecdotes and his annoying voice and the way he grunts while the interviewee is talking

i quite like you and yours. it justifies my sense of paranoia and worry . it gives me things to fret about i never knew i needed to

i also love switching the radio on to something totally random and learning about something i had no clue about

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Yy to switching on and learning something random and new. I love the idea that I'm sharing the experience with thousands of others at the same time. I like watching box sets/I player but not on my own. But I don't mind watching the actual telly on my own and I actively prefer listening to the radio alone. Anyone else get this?

Not really enjoying Hamlet as the afternoon play this week I'm ashamed to say. I like a good soapy/thriller yarn in that slot. Like that they've done it tho.

Enjoyed the Muslim woman discussion on woman's hour this week and loved £3 in my pocket. Also finding the Brian/Jenny kitchen saga immensely funny.

[syllabubble]

I work from home and have R4 on from 7am to 8pm most days.

Especially like Today, FOOC, Life Scientific, More or Less, Film Programme, Last word, TA (obv!). There are some absolute gems like Cabin Pressure, Meet David Sedaris and Martin Jarvis doing PG Wodehouse or Just William. It is the soundtrack of my life, I have converted DH, and I don't know what I'd do if R4 ever went off air - I actually get slightly panicky thinking about it!

[Lomaamina]

I'm another radio 4 addict, with several podcasts on permanent catchup: the bottom line (though I could do without Evan Davis' giggling), Laurier Taylor, whose programme is a must for catching up on the latest sociological research, desert island discs (did anyone catch that heroic nurse this week?) and the archers, of course. I used to listen to more or less, but I've got too annoyed with their lame jokiness. Condescending as hell. I listen to the news quiz, but tune out when they slide into lazy anti-toryness. I'd love to hear an alternative opinion on there sometimes. Mind you, Rebecca Front is a breath of fresh air from that point of view in that she seems to be more thoughtful in her opinions.

Thanks to all who recommended the Indian migration series. I hadn't heard of it. Here's a link: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03xq6h7/episodes/guide in case any one else didn't either.

[HolidayCriminal]

Radio always on here, too.

I was converted to be more of a 5L listener about 15 yrs ago, although I follow few sports & the traffic reports are of little interest...

I am riveted by Wake Up to Money, The Life Scientific, From our Own Correspondent and a lot of the World Service. Mickey Clarke is like my dad. The Sunday night Business programme on 5L is ace, too. Pinar & Murray BEFORE QuestionTime actually broadcasts are good, and I hear a lot of Up All Night (insomniac). I really disliked Colin Murray at first but I have come around to respecting how much compassion he can muster for people; and I love the way he is candid about his weight problems. I just googled a pic of Dotun Adebayo (he sounds & looks so cuddly). I like Tony Livesy's voice but find his pictures creepy . Still glad he moved to day time although DH doesn't like him; Rachel Burden is fab, too. Did anyone enjoy the 5L 20th anniv celebrations today? Nice to hear Jane Garvey on there, again.

I simply adored Anita Arnant & would love to hear her presenting news again, she was so amazingly on the ball in her questions. I used to be huge Fi Glover fan, too.

DH & I argue over which presenters we like or dislike (he hates Eddie Meyer whereas I blanche at Richard Bacon). I loved NME radio & mourn its passing... There is a good techie/DIY programme on 5L, but I don't really know when.

I normally hate prattling-on hosts but Danny Baker being manic on a Saturday morning I find soothing .

I'm often awake around 5:20am & I have a whole regime worked out so that I can keep skipping the bits of 4/5 that I don't like at that tie; 5L at 5:29am to hear the headlines for WU2M, then they have a long sports report so I switch to R4 for news, then back to R4 when R4 starts on sport as that's when the long sports bulletin on R5 finishes. I swear the 2 stations work it out in conjunction.

[kernowal]

But holiday at 5.20 it has to be the shipping forecast. Gets me back to sleep every time. Then I get cross that I missed news briefing.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogroves]

I usually listen to Radio 3 on weekend mornings, Today on weekday mornings. I loved Radio 3 even more decades ago when there was hardly any speech on it at all - just a few words introducing the next bit of music, no wittering. Very restful in the morning, especially when Today was getting too loud and argumentative.

Other than that, I listen to quite a bit of Radio 4 here and there. I loathe Woman's Hour and Count Arthur Strong.

[Davros]

I too love David Sedaris, we always talk about loosening they lid on a pickle jar!
We used to leave the WS on all night but they have a dreadful rowdy kids hour around 4am. That's something I don't like about 5L, the links and intros are so loud and discordant

[Mirage]

I listen to R4 all day at work.The only time I turn it off is when Count Arthur Strong is on-can't stand him.I used to like the comedy about the corner shop [Fags,Mags and Bags?],but there have been some truly dire comedies on.Woman's hour is variable,sometimes OK other times to worthy and dull for words.I don't like the nature programme that is on at 11.00 on a Tuesday,half an hour of listening to someone up a tree is describing the way the light falls onto the leaves is enough to send me to sleep.

[stilllearnin]

Ah but the slightly soporific effect is part of the charm no? Test Match Special reminds me of whole university days spent in bed dozing on and off, bliss!

[ErrolTheDragon]

'i also love switching the radio on to something totally random and learning about something i had no clue about'

Absolutely.

There's loads of good stuff. But for anyone who gave up on The Archers either when Nigel fell or in the dire patch before Christmas - its improved massively with the change of editor.

[Davros]

Tweet of the day anyone? I catch it occasionally, brilliant title and concept

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogroves]

Yes! We especially loved having the robin as the tweet of the day on Christmas morning, with David Attenborough doing the commentary.

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

I had up till now assumed I was the only person in the entire world listening to CD Review on Saturday mornings. (R3) Objectively even I think it's a weird way to spend that particular slot of time, but when I'm away from home, or too occupied with other people to listen, nothing else seems even tolerable.