Radio Review: 14 June
Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse have a lot to answer for. Twenty odd years ago, Smashie and Nicey made BBC Radio 1 boot the likes of Simon Bates and Dave Lee Travis out on their earphones. While some of the veterans are currently, er, resting, others still broadcast to audiences a tad smaller than the millions they commanded in their heyday on 275 and 285. One is Mike Read, former breakfast jock, now on BBC Radio Berkshire. When not on air, he is UKIP’s Spokesperson For Culture, Media and Sport, a clear example of the infamous BBC left-wing bias. I have a lot of respect for old professionals still plying their trade, if they’re any good at what they do. Tuning into Read’s show the other day, I was filled with hope. The first guest was going to be Sam Spoons of the Bonzo Dog Doo- Dah Band and Three Bonzos And A Piano, and I’ve been a Bonzos fan ever since I heard The Intro And The Outro played by Read on Radio 1’s breakfast show three decades ago.
But my hope was misplaced. The chat with Spoons, if not the most teeth-itchingly awful piece of radio chat I’ve ever heard, was certainly top five. Richard Bacon remains the most vain, cloth-eared interviewer in radio, but Read ensures he doesn’t have the field to himself. I learnt precious little about the Bonzos, but much about Read, as he interrupted and talked over Spoons with questions that led nowhere.
No blame should attach to the interviewee, whom I know to be interesting and articulate. At worst, the encounter descended into the awkward small talk you have in the pub with someone whose name you can’t remember. Read claimed to have a friend with dogs called Bonzo and Doo-Dah.
‘If he gets another, he’ll call it Band,’ Read concluded. Oh, my aching sides.
The only illuminating bit was when Spoons explained that The Intro And The Outro was an attempt to use Abbey Road’s newest multi-track to the full just for fun, but Read ensured the anecdote was a dead end. I actually had to listen to the interview twice to find out the date and location of the gig Spoons was promoting.
Read’s show would work as a brilliant parody of bad radio, if it weren’t real.
Mike Read, Radio Berkshire, weekdays, 1pm to 4pm.
KNOCKED FOR SIX
Congratulations to Scottish broadcasting legend Tony Currie, whose personal radio station Radio Six International has celebrated its 50th anniversary. A BBC One Scotland announcer who worked on Radio Clyde and STV, he began the station in his room as a boy, and now runs it online: www.radiosix.comFollow Louis on Twitter: @LFBarfe or email him at: wireless@cheeseford.net
For Louis’ blog: www.lady.co.uk