Robert Robinson, critic, writer, broadcaster and quiz master, was about the poshest Scouser I've ever met. But then, he didn't stay there long after his birth in 1927. The family moved to the London suburbs - Robert would refer to West Barnes, Merton, Malden and Wimbledon; he'd choose a name that suited his love of euphony, bathos, alliteration etc depending on the circumstances. Thence to Raynes Park Grammar School and Exeter College, Oxford.
He played a part in the UK's first-remembered deliberately-uttered broadcast utterance of "fuck", chairing an edition of "satire" show 'BBC 3' (then definitely just a programme, not a network) in 1965. Panellist Kenneth Tynan said "I don't think anyone would mind if they heard the word 'fuck' spoken in the theatre".
From 1970 to 1974 he co-hosted Today on Radio 4, filling the shoes of Jack De Manio, alongside John Timpson. They became known to the production team as the Brothers Grimm. When Robert decided he'd had enough of the early mornings, "Stop The Week" was created as his principal radio vehicle - recorded early on Friday evening, and broadcast on Saturdays after the evening news. Michael Ember was its creator. I "minded" one edition in late 1974 as a trainee. Department head Alan Rogers had cast the show - I think we had Ann Leslie, Laurie Taylor, Milton Shulman and Benny Green, with a "musical interlude" pre-recorded by Instant Sunshine (I think we even recorded them in "panned" mono for a bit of fun). I poured the BBC Club champagne deemed necessary to get the panel on their mettle before the recording; Alan came in for the recording, and left me to cut a tricky 10 minutes out after everyone else had gone home. I'd have made them finish on the clock.
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