Discussion
don't know how long this will last in the lounge, it may get moved to an obscure sub-sub-forum?
I was inspired by This thread in which several people announced their listening habits, to start a thread specifically about Radio 4.
I've been a radio 4 listener since my early 20's; I started with an occasional listen to the comedy program at 6:30pm (If I recall correctly, it was "Dial M for Pizza" that first caught my ear) around which time I became addicted to "I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue" - so much so that when I started working across the road from Mornington Crescent Station at the tender age of 25 it gave me a little frisson of pleasure to see it each time I walked out of the office (even though it as closed for renovation until I was 28 or so).
Then my habit became a bit stronger ... I would leave the radio on for the news at 7:00pm ... so this is how intelligent news can be read in a few minutes? No more "Newsbeat" on Radio 1 for me. I started to turn the radio on a little earlier, and discovered "PM" ... and then "The Archers". What? A soap opera on the radio? Still, it's only on for 13 minutes ... I wonder what's next.
Then the slow decline into addiction started, heralded not by trumpets but by the dulcet tones of John Humphries giving some politician or other a hard time at 7:10am ... I must have left the clock radio tuned to R4 when I went to bed. Still, leave it on, they may have the weather on soon (I fooled myself, and everyone else with that one for a while. Like all addictions, the addicts try to say that they aren't hooked, that they can break the habit anytime).
Then I changed jobs, so went from a London Underground commuter (yes ... I did sometimes play "Mornington Crescent" in the morning, quietly, to myself) to being a car commuter. 2 hours drive each way, I'd start out with the 7 AM news ... sometimes forgetting to turn on my CD player ... politicians continued to be savaged ... thought for the day both enraged and provoked thought ... oh, and the weather was on, it was important. Sometimes driving in the morning I'd find myself listening to Martha ... you know, it's not just interesting to women! There's Gardeners Question Time too ... I didn't know it could be so interesting to listen to gardeners ... more shows were advertised that caught my ear. Afternoon plays were good to keep the brain occupied. Readings of books on Saturday afternoons became strangely compelling. I found myself actually setting reminders in my PDA that a certain program was starting soon - I think the first time I did this it was for the "Carols from Kings" on Christmas Eve. It's still the official start of Christmas for me.
Finally came the "Ed, Will, Emma and Baby George" storyline on the Archers. Well, I was hooked. I timed my drives home to arrive just after 7:20pm, so I could keep up. When would Emma spill the beans? Would it be the end of the marriage? How will Ed and Will remain civil? Poor George.
So now, at the age of 40, I can freely admit that I am an addict ... my car radio only has one preset channel on it. I have to wean myself off sometimes though, as listening to intelligent, challenging, interesting talk radio has the ability to distract me from working at home in the way that perhaps music or banal chatter can't. But I still flip back over to Radio 4 at lunchtime to listen to the news ... and the weather, of course. That's really why I listen to radio 4.
I think now, though, that for anyone who falls into the category of "Intelligent British" (although in my case, that can be prefixed with "not very"), Radio 4 is a fact of life. It's not something you will choose, all you have control over really is at what part of your life you will start to listen.
Just had to get it off my chest, really.
I was inspired by This thread in which several people announced their listening habits, to start a thread specifically about Radio 4.
I've been a radio 4 listener since my early 20's; I started with an occasional listen to the comedy program at 6:30pm (If I recall correctly, it was "Dial M for Pizza" that first caught my ear) around which time I became addicted to "I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue" - so much so that when I started working across the road from Mornington Crescent Station at the tender age of 25 it gave me a little frisson of pleasure to see it each time I walked out of the office (even though it as closed for renovation until I was 28 or so).
Then my habit became a bit stronger ... I would leave the radio on for the news at 7:00pm ... so this is how intelligent news can be read in a few minutes? No more "Newsbeat" on Radio 1 for me. I started to turn the radio on a little earlier, and discovered "PM" ... and then "The Archers". What? A soap opera on the radio? Still, it's only on for 13 minutes ... I wonder what's next.
Then the slow decline into addiction started, heralded not by trumpets but by the dulcet tones of John Humphries giving some politician or other a hard time at 7:10am ... I must have left the clock radio tuned to R4 when I went to bed. Still, leave it on, they may have the weather on soon (I fooled myself, and everyone else with that one for a while. Like all addictions, the addicts try to say that they aren't hooked, that they can break the habit anytime).
Then I changed jobs, so went from a London Underground commuter (yes ... I did sometimes play "Mornington Crescent" in the morning, quietly, to myself) to being a car commuter. 2 hours drive each way, I'd start out with the 7 AM news ... sometimes forgetting to turn on my CD player ... politicians continued to be savaged ... thought for the day both enraged and provoked thought ... oh, and the weather was on, it was important. Sometimes driving in the morning I'd find myself listening to Martha ... you know, it's not just interesting to women! There's Gardeners Question Time too ... I didn't know it could be so interesting to listen to gardeners ... more shows were advertised that caught my ear. Afternoon plays were good to keep the brain occupied. Readings of books on Saturday afternoons became strangely compelling. I found myself actually setting reminders in my PDA that a certain program was starting soon - I think the first time I did this it was for the "Carols from Kings" on Christmas Eve. It's still the official start of Christmas for me.
Finally came the "Ed, Will, Emma and Baby George" storyline on the Archers. Well, I was hooked. I timed my drives home to arrive just after 7:20pm, so I could keep up. When would Emma spill the beans? Would it be the end of the marriage? How will Ed and Will remain civil? Poor George.
So now, at the age of 40, I can freely admit that I am an addict ... my car radio only has one preset channel on it. I have to wean myself off sometimes though, as listening to intelligent, challenging, interesting talk radio has the ability to distract me from working at home in the way that perhaps music or banal chatter can't. But I still flip back over to Radio 4 at lunchtime to listen to the news ... and the weather, of course. That's really why I listen to radio 4.
I think now, though, that for anyone who falls into the category of "Intelligent British" (although in my case, that can be prefixed with "not very"), Radio 4 is a fact of life. It's not something you will choose, all you have control over really is at what part of your life you will start to listen.
Just had to get it off my chest, really.
i have been listening to radio 4 since the age of about seven. to me it typifies britishness. lots of good comedy on there. a lot of programmes on the tv originate on radio 4. goodness gracious me being just one of them. to me it makes a change from listening to music all day. i would thoroughly recommend it. radio world service is not too bad either.
I'm quite a fan and yet people tend to laugh if you tell them you listen to Radio 4. Strangely, these same people see nothing wrong with watching Dead Ringers or Little Britain or any of the other TV shows that began on Radio 4.
Eddie Mair is great and I like Today, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and DID (depending who the guest is). The Archers I can take or leave though - I don't follow it religiously. Can't stand You & Yours!
It can sometimes get a bit self-important but generally I'd go along with the old adage that it's worth the license fee on its own.
Eddie Mair is great and I like Today, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and DID (depending who the guest is). The Archers I can take or leave though - I don't follow it religiously. Can't stand You & Yours!
It can sometimes get a bit self-important but generally I'd go along with the old adage that it's worth the license fee on its own.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 20th October 12:24
Risotto said:
I'm quite a fan and yet people tend to laugh if you tell them you listen to Radio 4. Strangely, these same people see nothing wrong with watching Dead Ringers or Little Britain or any of the other TV shows that began on Radio 4.
Eddie Mair is great and I like Today, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and DID (depending who the guest is). The Archers I can take or leave though - I don't follow it religiously. Can't stand You & Yours!
It can sometimes get a bit self-important but generally I'd go along with the old adage that it's worth the license fee on its own.
I love Radio 4. One of my favourite things is to cook dinner whilst listening to it in the evening. Eddie Mair is great and I like Today, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and DID (depending who the guest is). The Archers I can take or leave though - I don't follow it religiously. Can't stand You & Yours!
It can sometimes get a bit self-important but generally I'd go along with the old adage that it's worth the license fee on its own.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 20th October 12:24
I thought it was just me!!!
I listen to the morning show with John Humphries and PM in the evening in the car.
I can't get in to the plays or the Archers - maybe that's for the hardened listener..... am i on a slippery slope?
Do i need slippers????
Go on Nicol@, try it, just once - what harm could it do??
I listen to the morning show with John Humphries and PM in the evening in the car.
I can't get in to the plays or the Archers - maybe that's for the hardened listener..... am i on a slippery slope?
Do i need slippers????
Go on Nicol@, try it, just once - what harm could it do??
Edited by Ozone on Tuesday 20th October 12:45
Nicol@ said:
I don't want to listen to radio 4, for fear that I might like it.
Anything of a higher number than R1 is for old people.
(I will stay in denial for as long as I can)
Sums up my thoughts perfectly!! Anything of a higher number than R1 is for old people.
(I will stay in denial for as long as I can)
As i have reached the grand old age of 31, and Radio 1 seems to have a target audience of 11-14 yr old girls I need to expand my Radio options.
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