Quality | 2009.09.15
Goodbye Wogan, hello silver lining | Mike Read
The departure of Terry Wogan from his morning slot could be just what British radio needs
The presenter of the radio breakfast show has always been the equivalent of mine host: the genial landlord who can entertain, listen and laugh with – sometimes even at – the customers. He is also happy to laugh at himself, serve up everybody\'s favourite music, put a smile on their faces, inform and be good company.
Tony Blackburn created the template for the breakfast DJ on Radio 1\'s flagship show, with Noel Edmonds, Dave Lee Travis and myself moving with the times and tailoring it to our own styles over the next 20 years. Chris Evans was part of that small, innovative, breakfast show band of brothers and sisters before he moved to Radio 2.
Now for Evans comes the unenviable task of filling the boots of a man adored by the nation seemingly for longer than leprechauns have roamed the Emerald Isle. While Radio 1 breakfast presenters have changed with some regularity, Terry Wogan has marched on relentlessly at the helm of Radio 2\'s terracotta army, his quirkiness, charm and cheeky twinkle (yes, even over the radio) adored by millions.
So how will Chris Evans fare? For a start he won\'t be fazed by it; he will pay tribute to Wogan, and then look to making the slot his own for some years to come. Chris is a great talent for whom I have the utmost respect.
There will already be listeners who have decided that Terry\'s departure will herald the end of an era; possibly the end of their era. The question is, how many? We all know in radio that change brings instant discontent. How many complained that Radio 1\'s Steve Wright wasn\'t the man for Radio 2? My old chum is now, and quite rightly, highly popular. Where are those who decamped after Jimmy Young was shown the red card? Is Jeremy Vine any less popular? I doubt it. Yes, there will be an exodus, but probably not of biblical proportions; after all, there has never been bondage at Radio 2 – and in any case where is their Moses or Aaron to lead them to a new radio land, unless Elvis rises again from the chip shop.
This is manna from heaven for a new station filling the gap that Radio 2 seems hell-bent on leaving. If the BBC were Ofcom-regulated, it would have had its knuckles rapped by now for abandoning its perceived remit. The demographic has been gradually lowered, and now the station is not too adrift from Radio 1, leaving an area ripe to be plundered by a commercial Radio 2. Appointing Evans as the new man at the helm only serves to make it even more likely that Radio 2 will be boarded by pirates (of the legal kind) smelling a strong commercial opportunity in this green shoots period.
As the lawyer Jaggers dealt with Pip\'s question in Great Expectations, let me take a hypothetical case: 20 former Radio 1 voices, all national names and all highly experienced, who have collectively broadcast to billions over the years and won countless awards. What a line-up that would be. Now, we need a hypothetical name, let\'s say One Gold . Put thousands of advertisers and sponsors, who would kill to advertise on Radio 2 if it were commercial, into the mix. This theoretical station may well broadcast (and I mean broadcast, not narrowcast) the best of the 80s, 70s and 60s as well as established artists who don\'t seem to get a look in despite highly successful tours.
Long one of our great exports, the music industry has been strangled by the lack of innovative radio and television. This country has far too many radio and TV stations pumping out pap, so it\'s not surprising that many are proving to be unsustainable. It\'s time for a shake-up, and perhaps Wogan\'s departure will prompt just that. Less stations, more quality and realistic budgets.
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/[...]an-evans-radio2-breakfast-show
