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Original poster

R4 lovers, what programme[s] do you hate?

162 replies

Fink · 30/10/2015 21:11

In an effort to avoid writing an essay ...

Those of us who are almost constant R4 listeners (I get tense when it switches to the World Service for the night), what programme/programmes can't you stand?

I love quite a lot of it, will put up with a lot more rather than switch over, but there are some programmes I genuinely destest. The Moral Maze is probably top of my list.

Any others?

OP posts:
iamEarthymama · 30/10/2015 21:44

The Today programme.
Listened to R4 since it was the Home Service, but hate the bias now, I have lost all my trust

On a lighter note, I don't like You and Yours, find the Afternnoon Dramas very hit and miss.
I like From Our Own Correspondant, Micheal Rosen's programme, the one about numbers, Food Programme, Clare Balding walking about chatting.
Oh and Poetry Please and Something Understood

I have lost my R4 habit recently, this has made me determined to listen day-to-day again

(I have been sneaking over to R4Extra and Audible!)

iMatter · 30/10/2015 21:45

Gardeners' question time!
I hate the patronising/smug attitude and always switch off.

I love so many things about R4 (and the world service at night).

FaFoutis · 30/10/2015 21:50

The Clare Balding programme makes me think of people on their death beds.

NorahBone · 30/10/2015 22:06

Melvyn Bragg sends me to sleep. I often start off quite interested in the subject, but when he starts talking my brain switches off.
Also Moneybox, Gardener's Question Time and most of all Quote Unquote.

Bogburglar99 · 30/10/2015 22:13

Most of the comedy in the 6.30 slot unless it's Just a Minute. Listening to the 6.30 comedy is my just punishment for leaving the office later than I should.

yeOldeTrout · 30/10/2015 22:18

Midweek, Without a doubt. I can't STAND Libby Purves!! Also the Sat. morning 9-10am programme can be tough, though Coles is miles better than Peel was. Anita Arnand is great, though.

Not exactly thrilled by Melvyn Bragg either. I tend to turn over if John Humphries is on for more than 10 seconds.

otoh, I like a lot of the ones other posters dislike.

DH loathes Eddie Mayer so PM is generally banned.

Helenluvsrob · 30/10/2015 22:23

The war thing at lunch time and you and yours.

Travelledtheworld · 30/10/2015 22:39

I have had a consistent hatred of Round Britain Quiz for decades. It's so fecking smug, pretends to be soooo intellectual and yet some of the contestants are incredibly stupid.
Otherwise I love R4 and listen to it almost round the clock.

R4 · 31/10/2015 11:36

Shock@ Roamer. I don't think I've heard anyone dislike the Shipping Forecast before! It is a soothing litany for the non-religious amongst us.
And Sailing By would probably be in my Desert Island Discs: imagine being all alone in the dark, miles from home, unable to sleep for fear of invaders and creepy-crawlies - Sailing By would be my sanity-saving lullaby.

I think I may have mentioned a billion few times that I cannot stand Libby Purves and Midweek.

fredabear · 31/10/2015 11:46

not a fan of you and yours or the religious prigs, quite like in our time, depends on the topic though, some prigs rather worthy, afternoon plasys can be great, often not, ditto 6.30 comedy slot
love more or less, the health one, all in the mind and a life scientific, I'm sorry..., news quiz

fredabear · 31/10/2015 11:47

oh, inadvertently appropriate typo there, meant to say religious progs, but prigs will do!

JeffyJeffington · 31/10/2015 15:38

Listened to Any Answers today and was quickly reminded why i usually avoid it. A bizarre insight into some of the more extreme viewpoints of middle England!

IloveJudgeJudy · 01/11/2015 07:00

Poetry please. Can't stand Roger Gough's voice. GQT, especially with Edward Robinson. So smug. Round Britain quiz as the questions are so convoluted. The WW1 drama at noon. I had high hopes for that as I thought it was going to be about real events and people, happening in real time, not some made up junk with people acting in dreadful accents, using modern phrases. Most of the other stuff I either listen to properly or don't mind if it's on in the background.

I'm a relatively late convert as parents used to listen to Radio 2 and Terry WoganShock.

Rollermum · 01/11/2015 07:25

I'm a recent convert after Radio 2 drove me away (looking at you Steve Wriggt and Serious Jockin') and an enjoying it. Love the random science stuff that comes up - wouldn't normally say I have an interest in that, but is great. Also the news covert is so much better.

But I can't get into The Archers - no clue who anyone is or what is going on.
Gardeners Q Time too - I don't have a garden so have envy. But it sort of a calming burble.

pseudonymity · 01/11/2015 07:39

Hate: Moneybox
Love: any of the serious documentaries

Scoobydoo8 · 01/11/2015 07:53

Don't listen to the Archers - ludicrous story lines to keep people interested - I used to listen to it as I was involved with the characters. Stopped when Nigel fell off the roof.

Can't stand Fee Glover's tinkle winkle winkle listening progs. Too much emotion for me, don't like the idea of opening up in public.

Don't often listen to the afternoon play now, it has to grab you straight away also the voices need to be listenable to.

And don't like Clare Balding's walking about talking.

The rest is very good, even sometimes PoetryPlease.

Kennington · 01/11/2015 08:01

The 630pm comedy is variable and I am surprised they re broadcast the same people since they are mediocre to poor. If that it what they are aiming for then they should get in some new blood who can learn on the job.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 01/11/2015 08:08

I'm 32 and have always listened to R4.... Middle aged since I could tune a radio.
Love ISIHAC, Just a Minute, Now Show and News Quiz, GQT, Quote Unquote, Word of Mouth, Counterpoint, Brain of Britain, Ramblings.... And (Shock) The Archers.... The list goes on.

Ambivalent about RBQ, In Our Time, Moneybox and so on.

Will actively turn off Count Arthur and was so disappointed last night when I fell into bed to have RBQ bumbling in the backhand found bloody "spooky" stuff Angry

CrayonShavings · 01/11/2015 08:10

Thought for the day regularly has me shouting at the radio, and I don't listen on a Sunday, on account of all the religion.

I also can't stand the afternoon plays or the Archers.

I love it when David Sedaris or Bridget Christie are on, also that ex Jehovah's Witness comedian was hilarious, and Lynne Truss' pondlife series. A Good Read, More or Less as it seems so anti-establishment, I think it should be part of the news tbh. Feedback, Any Questions. ..

Hassled · 01/11/2015 08:13

The afternoon plays seem to have no quality control whatsoever - they are sometimes excellent but mostly truly dreadful. I still leave the radio on if I'm home on the offchance it will be one of the excellent ones.

I hate a lot of the "comedy" - that 6.30 slot is pretty patchy.

JamJar1 · 01/11/2015 08:15

The comedy on R4 never seems to float my boat at all. Agree with the Fee Glover comments too but I love Poetry Please and the shipping forecast, it's so soothing. I have a ridiculous romantic image of little boats on moonlit waters. I often wish they would travel round just one more time, I would be asleep. But then the anthem and that World Service music would no doubt wake me up.

AutumnAttic · 01/11/2015 08:19

I can't get into the 15 min WW1 dramas that are on for apparently random runs and then stop.

The sound of Eddie Mair means that I'm on the downward run towards throwing the children in the bath. I love PM for that.

Round Britain Quiz and Counterpoint feel a bit Radio 2.

From our own Correspondent is one of the best things on Radio, fascinating insights, I'm always gripped.

laplumeofmyaunt · 01/11/2015 08:24

The listening project gives me the irrits and is the only thing I actually turn off. Navel gzing at it's worst. I generally don't like phone in stuff like Moneybox live or Any answers. In Our Time can be a bit of a mixed bag, but I have learned a lot from the more sciency ones - you can always tell when MB has really enjoyed presenting a particular programme. I don't like the recycled radio one much. Lazy programming.

I LOVE DID, some of the comedies, particularly Cabin Pressure and am loving John Finnemore's new duologues (is that a word?), In and Out of the Kitchen. Generally like the Saturday and Sunday afternoon dramas/book dramatisations/plays. I like Poetry Please, because I need to hear poetry and don't get on well just reading it. Been introduced to some fabulous poetry through this.

R4 is the soundtrack to my life and I get paniced thinking it may not always be there.

My DDad has requested Sailing By at his funeral - hopefully many years from now Grin

GoblinLittleOwl · 01/11/2015 08:28

Gardeners' Question Time; it is repeated, so if I turn it off in the house it catches me in the car.

Wolpertinger · 01/11/2015 08:30

Love: In Our Time (best show ever - all the haterz are just wrong), Beyond Belief, Gardeners Question Time (it's soothing but wish they had a bit less Bunny Guinness), Brain of Britain, Now Show, News Quiz, Bridget Christie, any random one off 30 min documentary programme about something you hadn't thought about before, PM, David Sedaris, Classic drama

Ambivalent: Moneybox, Ramblings, Afternoon Play - occasionally have liked one, Feedback, Any Questions, anything Fi Glover, Just a Minute - fed up of Paul Merton being smug

Hate: Round Britain Quiz, Shipping Forecast and any tribute programme wittering about it being a national treasure

Hate to the point of spontaneous combustion, presenters will be first up against the wall come the revolution: Midweek, Any Answers, Sheila Dillon, Jenni Murray, John Humphreys