I have been having my issues with the BBC recently – the announcement that the Formula One coverage is to be halved from next season rather annoyed me if I am honest. I have sort of got over that now and was really pleased to see that Radio 4 is increasing its listener number while some of the other more ‘popular’ BBC channels are losing listeners. Apparently almost 450,000 more people are tuning in each week compared to last year.
I am not sure if it’s something that one grows into with age or not (sadly it probably is), but I have been waking up to the Today program on radio 4 now for years. There is something very comfortable about the Today program – John Humphries, Evan Davis and their colleagues bring the news to you in a very friendly and accessible way – it’s like your personal morning news briefing.
I don’t feel as if I am being ‘bludgeoned’ awake as I would if I listened to Chris Moyles on Radio 1 (frankly he annoys me – but again that’s probably an age thing). And Chris Evans is fine once I am in my car, but not to wake up to!
Radio 4′s broadcasting during the day can also be fantastic for driving to – and now I do sound old – the plays or documentary programmes are excellent, I often tune in between listening to albums from my iPod (albums not a selection of tracks – please note!). And then of course there is the Archers………..
So BBC Radio 4, well done and long may you broadcast. You are without doubt one of the Corporations ‘jewels in the crown’.
Give it a go sometime, you might actually surprise yourself – radio is the future!
