Going our separate ways

The excellent team at Radio Today is tracking the slow return of local shows to the 7-10pm slot on BBC local radio. It says stations have got eight weeks to find something to fill the space - presumably that's when the "All-England" show finally closes down.

It started in January 2013, with host Mark Forrest promising listeners "radio gems and gold dust of broadcasting from all around local radio". The only listening figures we found weren't good. Estimates of the savings were put at just £1m, and it's probably going to cost more to re-instate the local shows.

Meanwhile, the current incarnation of the All-England programme seems to have turned into a beyond-parody phone-in with music.

Here's me on your radio... tonight's show is all about the unusual, weird or memorable things you've ridden on or in. hang gliders, hovercrafts, space ships etc or memoble moments whilst travelling like sharing a bus with a crate of chickens etc. What you got fools? pic.twitter.com/awjKZNUQrW

— Johnathan I'Anson (@johnnyianson) July 30, 2018