This was the best show on Radio 2. Simon Mayo is an excellent broadcaster, intelligent, informed and entertaining, why have they teamed him up with the dreadful Jo Whiley? It's awful, there's no chemistry and Simon sounds hamstrung.
It was good when it was Johnnie Walker. Then that idiot and now Mayo. Gave up a long time ago and went to R4 podcasts or Spotify.
The thing is, I like Simon Mayo and his show, and I like Jo Whiley and her show - but I just don’t think it works as a combination. I just can’t see what the powers that be were trying to achieve.
Is that you Johnnie?
Bugger - busted!!
> I just can’t see what the powers that be were trying to achieve.
Me neither Johnnie. And the Thursday cooking spot with Nigel Barden has gone, it was the best 20 minutes of radio every week.
> I just can’t see what the powers that be were trying to achieve.
Chasing equality. Not easy when many of the female r1/2 presenters only got the job because of daddies connections in the first place. Tarbuck, ball etc.. so that leaves jo 'too cool for school' whiley.
They'd have done better to get rid of Wright whose format is a little tired.
I was chugging my way through to Cockermouth yesterday to pick up the Indian (chicken tikka Pathia - bloody awful gunk - not their finest hour) and I had to listen to it, pretty dire, both trying to talk over each other, SM clearly less exuberant than normal, JW still finding her feet. Hopefully it will sort it’s self out over the coming weeks or months but clearly a case of the sum of the talents being less than the individual talents. I too like them both as broadcasters, and they’re friends with each other but it’s just not jelling - shame.
If this means they stop playing that flippin muppet music on a friday then I'm all for it. A leftover curse on the nation from the carrot-topped egocentric four-eyed knobhead.
Never listen to Radio 2, but Mayo and Kermodes's film review programme 2-4 on Friday afternoons on FiveLive is one where if I miss it, I'll catch the podcast. Interesting that you don't have to be interested in film to really enjoy the show.
There's always the chance that Kermode will go off on one. His review of Sex and the City 2 is a classic of the genre....
youtube.com/watch?v=uHeQeHstrsc&
> There's always the chance that Kermode will go off on one. His review of Sex and the City 2 is a classic of the genre....
I remember that one, class!
Ooh yes, get rid of Wright. I've been advocating that since the eighties!
> Ooh yes, get rid of Wright. I've been advocating that since the eighties!
I can only cope with so many impressions of Trump or vine.
It's quite uncomfortable listening, isn't it?
I know these things take a while to bed-in but Simon Mayo is sharp, quick-witted, a good interviewer and, what I think is essential for a DJ/radio presenter, he 'knows his music'. Jo Whiley is pleasant enough but, when on her previous evening show, she often seemed to be a bit awkward sometimes, especially with guests, and when having to think of something off-the-cuff and she'd often fail to follow up on what could be an interesting point made by a guest. This is still apparent in the joint show but, unfortunately, seems to have stifled SM a little.
Her music knowledge doesn't seem to be as wide-ranging as it could/should be: on her previous show she played tracks that almost anyone -certainly a national presenter- would reasonably be expected to know and she'd get a word or two wrong of either the song name or performer. It was as if she'd had to read the info rather than just knowing it. I can't quote any examples, but it was noticeable a few times. I think they were 60s or 70s tracks so maybe she's more at home with indie and Britpop onwards from her Radio 1 days with Steve Lurpak. Simon May, in contrast, seems to have a solid music knowledge.
As Summo said, this is apparently because of equality - well, you can't get more equal than a 1:1 ratio of male and female presenters on a show, can you? I wonder if it has been done as JW requested different hours? Fair enough if it has, but it's not resulted an improved listening experience.
I have never liked Jo Whiley. She speaks in a pseudo intellectual voice using three times more words than necessary and says absolutely nothing.
A moronic program for morons of moronic music, no not music, noise and idle moronic talking. I instantly hit the off switch or have a quick swig of Domestos!
I wish I was really, really deep, insightful and had the intellect of all the geniuses the human race has produced so far.
Even then, I'd like to have a bit of light relief now and again.
Got to rest the old grey matter now and again, old chap
I've recently changed jobs, now have a driving commute and I'm really struggling with the radio. Chris Evans seems to be on one of his more manic phases, I'm just too old for R1, the Drivetime show is now pish as you say, Radio 4 has some great stuff but always seems to be financial news when I'm driving, the local station is vapid, I don't much care for classical music, Radio Scotland is repetitive and largely football based and I don't have a digital radio in the van so I can't get 6 Music.
Think I'm going to have to download some podcasts.
I think you mean he likes the music you like. Jo Whiley, whatever you think of her presenting style, very much 'knows her music.'
I don't know what music Simon Mayo likes but he seems to have a reasonable depth-of-knowledge on a wide range. Jo Whiley hasn't always given the same impression to me - nothing major, just seems to be on some older stuff, as I posted above. This is just my feeling, I've no stats or anything...
Both - when on their solo shows - played music that I like and some that I dont like.
Well done
No problem with Simon or Jo, just be a DJ and play some tunes.
> Never listen to Radio 2, but Mayo and Kermodes's film review programme 2-4 on Friday afternoons on FiveLive
Brilliant! Think I'll start listening to that.
I tried again tonight, it's horrible. I don't like Whiley much anyway, her enthusiasm for ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING just feels so fake. But her and Mayo just aren't a team, no Marc and Lard, or Radcliffe and Maconie that's for sure. I think R2 has lost a long term listener.
Kermode usually prefaces a rant with 'I'm not going to go off on one' and then does.
Worth seeking out his reviews of the Michael Bay Transformer movies on YouTube, which are really entertaining.
> Never listen to Radio 2, but Mayo and Kermodes's film review programme ...
And hello to Jason Issacs
> I tried again tonight, it's horrible. I don't like Whiley much anyway, her enthusiasm for ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING just feels so fake.
Same here... when they started going on about 'hacks' that was it for me.
On a related note - the new Blues Show with Cerys Matthews is brilliant. Great interview with Ry Cooder tonight and some cracking music. She really does know her subject.
Oh god 'lifehacks', ewch, such pish...
Now that's a different thing and kinda my point, I like Cerys, she's genuine and knows her stuff but it's not my kinda music.