Simon Mayo Show

[Smokin Joe]

Al Murray. Covered for shows in the past and is warm, quick-witted and funny.

Great on TV, but absolutely hopeless as a radio presenter. He's done a few bank holiday stand-ins and the longest I lasted was fifteen minutes. Rambling and unfunny.

 

[Pale Rider]

I can see Sara Cox as a good idea for replacing the abysmal, sycophantic Steve Wright, but the choice for the 'drivetime' show is a bit trickier. As Mayo is leaving and I think Whiley has always felt more 'natural' in a slightly 'warmer', evening slot, my suggestion for the drivetime show would be the hugely under-rated Alex Lester.

Lester used to be on from 0200 am to 0500 am. Not dissimilar in style to Mayo (whom I like) but with less of a thing about Prosecco. Lester is funny, but not in a 'frenetic' style, solid and competent. I liked his ongoing saga of Bolloxnia, an imaginary country who's entire economy was based upon sausage and sausage related products...

Alex Lester is distinctive, and he did a good job of standing in on drivetime several years ago.

No chance, though, because he blotted his copybook at the BBC in a way that was never fully explained.

He was dumped from his graveyard show with very little warning, in contrast to the likes of Chris Evans who get months to say goodbye.

 

[Smudge]

I'm convinced Steve Wright must have something incriminating on the R2 bosses, maybe he knows where the bodies are buried.
There must be some reason he's still doing his tired old, 80's throwback, show.

 

[Drago]

I'm pleased the ginger idiot is leaving the breakfast show. Rabbiting on 10 to the dozen, shouting, talking over the music, generally being a prat.

 

[perplexed]

Alex Lester is distinctive, and he did a good job of standing in on drivetime several years ago.

No chance, though, because he blotted his copybook at the BBC in a way that was never fully explained.

He was dumped from his graveyard show with very little warning, in contrast to the likes of Chris Evans who get months to say goodbye.

I thought I'd not heard him for a while - didn't know about the other bit about his copybook...

 

[Basil.B]

Whoever is standing in for Chris Evans this week is awful as well!

 

[NorthernDave]

Just a thought, no idea if she'd be interested but what is Edith Bowman doing these days?
She was excellent on R1 a few years ago and is a consistently good broadcaster when she pops up on anything.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

A few suggestions of male presenters coming through. Is there much likelihood that the new presenter will be male?
If it's a lone presenter I'd say not, but R2 may try another mixed pairing.

Maybe a bit outrageous but, how about they choose the best presenter regardless of genitals?

 

[Dave 123]

Some people were moaning the schedule was too white, male, and over 50, so management responded to that pressure and bought in Whiley.

No reason to think it wouldn't work, she knows one end of a radio microphone from the other, but it didn't work.

So management responded to that pressure by binning Whiley and Mayo (or he may have spat the dummy) for someone yet to be revealed.

The Radio 2 breakfast programme is the most popular show in the country, and Ken Bruce appears well-liked.

I can't see what the management should have done, given that producing radio shows is not an exact science.

Inevitably, there will be an element of suck it and see.

A complete failure, such as Mayo/Whiley, is rare for Radio 2.

Of course there’s no handbook for this. But if these suits haven’t got their finger on the pulse how can they make a good decision?
They should learn from the past.
R2 is now the R1 of the 80’s and 90’s. They had to do this when they alienated loads of listeners by shaking up R1 back in the day.

I once read Johnnie Walkers autobiography. It seems that radio management do this kind of thing with a successful show.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Maybe a bit outrageous but, how about they choose the best presenter regardless of genitals?

That would be my idea. But the current situation seems to have been created in response to pressure. I doubt that pressure will go away.

 

[Drago]

Ah, we must accept second stream mediocrity to compensate for skin colour and sexual equipment. Society is doomed.

 

[Beebo]

Danny Baker. I think he's had several Sony awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Academy_Awards

I would love to see The Candyman back on a daily programme, i just dont think the general public understand him, he is too arch for Radio 2 drivetime. They are looking for vanilla options that cover all the bases.
You are dealing with an audience who find Steve Wright funny, clever and sureal humour is lost on these guys.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Rob Bryden

 

[Beebo]

Coxy get the gig.

I like sarah cox so i am quite pleased.

 

[Smudge]

Coxy get the gig.

I like sarah cox so i am quite pleased.

I agree, she's a good choice.
I wasn't keen on her doing Sounds Of The 80's on Friday eve, i felt she was too young for it. The medallion man Gary Davies fits it much better.