Five Live have got the same problem as Radio Two: they're desperate to hire people who they think are known from TV because, sadly, they find it pays in increased ratings.
Last night, the night Sam Allardyce left Newcastle, they found themselves with Tim Lovejoy fielding the post-match phone calls on 606.
Lovejoy's a brilliant TV presenter because he's completely at ease under the scrutiny of the camera. But on the radio he simply doesn't have the crackle, the energy, the presence.
Just heard the darts commentator Sid Waddell and the racing man John McCririck bantering about Newcastle on the same station. Somebody should sit Lovejoy down to listen to it. The attack that these two pensioners put into it must have left them physically drained.
The best example of overblown plugging of TV stars on BBC Radio comes at R2, where Russell Brand promos are constantly played, his podcasts promoted to buggery and he's all over their website - and he's on for one - ONE! - hour a week...!
ReplyDeleteIf I were Alex Lester or Janice Long I'd be a bit miffed.
It's the usual Radio 2 smoke and mirrors trick. Mark Lamaar was often lauded as one of their new saviours, when it was doubtful if more than 2% of the audience knew who he was, or what he did.
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