Tuesday, October 02, 2007
"Tell us about Dame Edith Evans in the Dog & Duck"
Ned Sherrin had one great gift as a radio presenter. He never felt the need to pretend you were eavesdropping on a regular chat. Consequently when he presented "Loose Ends" on Radio Four there was none of that nervous laughter, conversational gear grinding and embarrassed "so anyways" that tends to characterise most radio chat. He knew he was there to get each guest to tell three stories. His job was to direct the traffic, making sure they got to the punch line in the most efficient way and staying out of their way as far as possible. And if they wouldn't tell the stories he'd do it himself.
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Just a very at-ease presenter, wasn't he? And the big difference was that he started off as a lawyer, not like the appalling 'talent' of today who spring from Mummy's womb wanting to go to Italia Conti and front T4. Having a life in the real world makes you better in the smoke-and-mirrors media one.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteI was considered odd by my peers when I was in my late teens as I never missed Loose Ends, especially when it was in its hour long version at 10 on Saturday morning. It was a perfect way to imerge from the night before and Ned's wit and ability to tell a story on just about anyone who ever trod a board in British or even American theatre was always a joy to behold.
I'm of the opinion that he was a very important part of the whole 'alternative' comedy scene as it was he who produced That Was The Week That Was (which I'm a little to yoing to remember first hand). TW3 place in TV is well documented and its contribution to British comedy and satire has been equally well discussed but if it hadn't have been for Ned it might have never happened.
And then where would we be?
We would be celebrating The Chuckle Brothers twenty years in prime time.
ReplyDeleteThere is a rather splendid personal tribute here;
ReplyDeletehttp://martinnewell.stevedix.de/