Regular readers will know this is a blog of surmise. I have no proof of an uprising by the 'talent' on Radio 4's Today programme, but it's a reasonable explanation for the tinkering with the ancient format round the Greenwich Time Signal pips in recents days.
The ability to 'talk to time' and not blunder through the pips used to be a badge of pride for presenters. The format of recent years goes, roughly, cue the weather at 3 minutes to the hour; run a pre-recorded trail for a programme other than Today; then one presenter runs through a list of items to come later on the show, self-editing to around ten seconds to the hour. That leaves enough space for "You're listening to Today on Radio Four, with X and Y" before the five short and one long bursts of tone that alert you to the start of the new hour.
If, of course, you can hear them. Jovial 'Uncle' Nick Robinson has never really qualified for the badge of honour; languid Justin 'And that's the point' Webb gabbles his way out of trouble; only Mishal Husain, cool, calm and collected, has strategies for editing the format to come out clean.
Now Emma Barnett has arrived, bringing her special brand of Mancunian bonhomie to the microphone. "It's a pleasure to have your company" she trills. This has bolstered the confidence of the shy new boy, Amol Rajan. I can imagine a visit to Editor Owenna's workspace.
"Look, love, why don't we just move the programme trails to the other side of the pips, then we can always fit them all in ?" says Emma. "I've been thinking that for a while" says Amol, looking down at his Louis Vuitton loungers. "Well", says Owenna "It's a tradition, and the way we do it has become a sort of signature tune. Most listeners are there for only twenty minutes or so before setting off for work or school or whatever. Some get irritated by long trails for things they'll never hear...". "Oh come on, Owenna, let's irritate them, then.."
So the format changes. But this morning an Emma Barnett interview ran to 06.59, leaving weatherman Simon King less than a minute for his forecast; he finished right in the pips. "It's seven o'clock, as you can hear" came the effortlessly ad-libbing Emma. "Good to be with you, and good to have your company".
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ReplyDeletethese things matter and are set properly and consistently at station level not randomly within individual programmes. The relationship between listener and radio station is personal and close. If your best friend suddenly started exhibiting unusual uncharacteristic behaviours at certain times of day you'd worry for their wellbeing.
ReplyDeleteAnd why do the interviews overrun - or have to be rudely scrabbled to an end? Because Today does too many items. They insist on squeezing two guests per item into 3 or 4 minute slots, hence the classic Today-style question which essentially makes a statement and invites the guest to say Yes or No to it. I thought BBC News had promised to do less but do it better?
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