Solidarity

Spotted: two of Britain's top quiz meisters stroking their (respective) beards not far from Broadcasting House yesterday. Jeremy Paxman, University Challenge (And Newsnight) deep in conversation with Russell Davies, Brain of Britain (and Radio 2, at present). No idea of the discourse, but producers of UC will be looking for on-screen continuity for the next series - so that may be cut-off point, as it were, for the holiday bristles, still making Page 3 news for the BBC-obsessed Daily Mail. Ah, the joys of radio...

Meanwhile, Russell may, or may not, be pleased to know there's a petition to stay the axe over his Radio 2 Sunday evening show, due to fall at the end of September, with erudite support and contributions from the UK and around the world. Here's one..

The history of 'popular song' is "our " history; this is a fascinating programme, made by someone with a broad and deep knowledge of his subject; it's informative and entertaining. This sort of excellence is exactly the reason why I pay a Licence Fee to the BBC: I can get the ordinary anywhere (and, increasingly, everywhere). Must we really lose this degree of knowledge and experience? I am so frustrated that the BBC would do this.

At R2's Western House HQ, rumours of further schedule changes, and possibly more petitions, still rumble, ahead of the "new term".