Sounds Of The Sixties - Ruined

[brainiac]

Read today that Tony Blackburn will be taking over as presenter of Sounds of the Sixties, but the powers-that-be are moving the programme to 6am - 8am. Who on earth is going to be listening then? - though I daresay it will be repeated in one of the midnight slots vacated by Long and Lester. What a shame they got rid of Brian Matthew, who was ready to continue, and I'm afraid I for one will no longer be listening, as absolutely cannot stand Blackburn: Smashie and Nicey rolled into one.

[tonyav]

A stupid time slot that.

[Zacs-Master]

All available on iplayer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wqlv/broadcasts/2017/02

[straydog]

6am-8am? Is there such a time on a Sunday?

[andy-hughes]

It's a shame for Brian Mathew, he has been badly treated, ironically replaced by another badly treated presenter! I love TB, but he belongs on Pick Of The Pops. I feel a sense of discomfort from Gambo, who has no personalised jingles at all - surely he feels he is holding the slot until TB returns.

Elsewhere on the station, Zoe Ball and Aneka Rice both get shows - neither suitable in my view, and both should go, along with the appalling Jo Whiley who hangs on, must have friends in high places!

[andy-hughes]

Braniac, I cannot agree that TB is 'Smashie and Nicey rolled into one'.

The entire point of the achingly accurate parody by Messrs. Enfield and Whitehouse was Radio One DJ's who neither knew or cared about the music they played.

So Blackburn and Freeman, who were major elements in the caricatures, stand alone from that era with their massive knowledge and deep passion for the music they played - Freeman was a mass of info and a total fan of rock music, and Blackburn matched him for knowledge and passion on the soul side.

[OldBather]

They are probably required/forced to have this programme as a diversity of broadcasting.However,as they don't like it they put it on at this ungodly hour!
Yes,bring back Brian Matthew,he is still alive and kicking at 88.
PS:~There ARE worse broadcasters than Tony Blackburn,not many,but there are some.

[fiction-factory]

It's the only programme I have listened to regularly for what seems like 20 years on Radio 2. The 8am start was good for me as weekends are the only time I get up later than 6am. I know the music is the same but I just couldn't get the same enjoyment from Tim Rice doing it as I did with Brian Matthew, and whilst I quite like Tony Blackburn I'd rather have Brian - or Mike Read. But Brian is 88 and although he clearly loves his 60s music his health isn't great and he probably couldn't have managed much longer anyway. But, I wouldn't mind if they just played repeats of shows from years ago- okay the anniversary etc messages would be out of date but it's just the music and the stories I'm interested in.
.

[vulcan42]

This nonsense starts tomorrow, I have a feeling that the BBC want to cancel this programme. By putting it on at 6 am they can say in a few weeks time the figures are dropping, time to remove it.

[Zacs-Master]

I have a feeling that the BBC realise that the way people are accessing programmes is changing and that iPlayer allows them to listen at any time they wish.

[fiction-factory]

Great shame- it's been part of my Saturday routine for over 20 years. I'll miss Brian Matthew. TB is okay- better than Tim Rice I feel. But I am sure BBc2 are aware of the feelings of listeners but have decided that the programme doesn't get enough listeners at 8am and a change was needed to boost ratings.

[bhg481]

It srikes me that the BBC are finding an easy way to scrap the programme - broadcast it when fewer people will listen, show that figures are down and scrap it.

[hc4361]

You can still listen to it at 8 am

[vulcan42]

And having got everybody listening to i player they cancel normal broadcasting and start charging a fee.

[fiction-factory]

Maybe they are but I assume they have reasons and I don't think it's vindictiveness/ageism- or maybe it's just incompetence. I suppose it's had a good run. Who'd have thought in the 1970s that TOTP's days were numbered, but i can see now why it went.

[Zacs-Master]

They already charge a fee.

[fiction-factory]

>You can still listen to it at 8 am
If you mean on iplayer, not when I'm in the shower or in the car.

[hc4361]

You need to get your tech sorted, FF

[fiction-factory]

Well i don't think I'll be switching on at 6am next Saturday. It started brightly with, not surprisingly, Flowers in the Rain, But whereas with Brian Matthews the sixties music rightly took centre stage this just seemed like any other programme with inane banter between Tony and passing DJs, chatting about the pigeons etc. And I don't understand why on earth Tony Blackburn had to keep inflicting the barking of Arnold on us and his awful jokes. I think i may just find some old editions of Brian Matthews SOS and listen to those.

[brainiac]

Well, I did warn you! Needless to say, I didn't listen to it (asleep), but on principle will not listen to the creepy Blackburn with his 'DJ-speak' which belongs in the distant past. And you say he was broadcasting the bark of 'Arnold'? Ye gods, what is the boss of Radio2 thinking employing this cretin?