In the unlikely event I am appointed to become controller of BBC Radio Two, be ready for some big changes. Well, not that big because I will be leaving Chris Evans, Ken Bruce, Jeremy Vine and Simon Mayo exactly where they are, but changes there will be. Here are my plans.
The first big change will be to say goodbye to Steve Wright in the afternoon. I have nothing against his show, apart its relentlessly dull, repetitive nature, where he talks over and sometimes sings along with records before cutting them off early and not saying who they were by. Oh, and the tame music selection, the unfunny zoo radio banter and fawning interviews. Other than that, it is great. It’s time to go, Steve. Thanks for the memories.
In at 2.00pm will be Jo Whiley. This has nothing to do with the fact I have been deeply in love with Jo for many years, oh no. But that voice that tells you she is smiling and happy. She still sounds fresh, enthusiastic and new and plays some great music on her evening show. It’s time to transfer Jo to the afternoon show.
I am introducing two DJs to the station.
First, Danny Baker will head up a new Saturday morning show to replace Graham Norton’s three hour version of his TV talk show. I will give Danny free rein to present the show as he likes with the one proviso that he plays an awful lot of the type of music he likes. It is a crime that the greatest radio presenter of his generation is employed by the BBC solely for an admittedly brilliant comedy show on Radio Five Live. Give this man a proper show on Radio Two and give him an Old Grey Whistle Test show on BBC TV as well.
Next, hello and welcome back Colin Murray. Having departed Talksport now that Rupert Murdoch has got his greedy hands on it, Murray will come in to present the evening show vacated by Jo Whiley from Monday to Friday. His brief will be simple: to play good music, to include new music, and interview singers and bands.
I will give more air time to Bob Harris and Johnnie Walker, and I will bring Martin Kelner back to the station, possibly to present a new show between 10.00pm and midnight. I am aware we don’t employ enough women presenters so I will look to use the talents of Fearne Cotton and Edith Bowman, if she is not signed to an exclusive deal with Virgin. And I very much admire the broadcasting talents of Suzi Perry.
I won’t mess with the specialist music areas because the BBC is a public service broadcaster but I will encourage new faces to stand in for regular presenters when they are away. I will scour local radio for the best, most talented and original broadcasters, although I do know that particularly on BBC local radio original and emerging talent is frowned upon. The talent is out there though, some of it on local community radio stations. I am looking for the broadcasters of tomorrow, not yesterday.
Evolution not revolution. Radio Two is not broken and I am not trying to fix it, just to make it better. With these changes, I think I will.
And with that, it’s over to Steve Wright in the afternoon. For now…
