Here in England, the BBC is responsible for various radio stations and most people have their favourites. Mine is BBC Radio 4. Essentially, it is a non-music station and like all other BBC radio stations, it contains no annoying commercial advertising.
Radio 4 provides an excellent independent and in-depth news service as well as entertainment programmes. Just about every weekday morning, I wake to the "Today" show which covers the main news items of the day - both national and international. There are also interviews with key politicians, experts in particular fields and public bystanders.
Entertainment consists of original dramas, informative documentaries, a continuing soap opera called "The Archers" and comedy shows - some of which are genuinely funny.
One of these is "Just A Minute" in which guests are asked to speak on given subjects without hesitation, deviation or repetition. It has been on air since 1967 bringing light relief to thousands of homes for more than fifty years. Some guests, like Paul Merton, are seasoned and capable contestants while others are quick to stumble.
It is all just a bit of fun - like a middle class parlour game and quintessentially English too. I cannot imagine that "Just A Minute" is popular in many poorer, deprived homes or where there are people with a non-British heritage. The game requires listeners to have an intimate appreciation of our language and a solid educational background.
The following YouTube video is almost half an hour long but to grasp the concept of "Just A Minute", you only need to listen to a sample of it. I imagine that in some foreign lands the show will be met with incredulity - proving that British people really are nutty. I am fine with that.
Non-music radio? I would rather be deaf! Music to me is far better than all that talking which just puts me to sleep. When asked to talk for a minute, are they given a subject or do they choose their own?
ReplyDeleteYes - they are given a subject such as "Talk for one minute on sharks or maybe... how to make perfect Yorkshire puddings".
DeleteOur CBC is very similar to your BBC. I have not listened to any other radio station for many years.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I never listen to commercial stations.
DeleteI sometimes listen to an episode of Melvin Bragg‘s In Our Time from the archives, mostly when ironing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the lack of annoying adverts, I am all with you there, but I do understand that radio stations that are not state funded need them or else they could not exist.
Every year, like all other law-abiding citizens, I pay a BBC licence fee - now £169.50.
DeleteI don't know when and how, but I have heard some episodes.
ReplyDeleteRadio 4 was my preferred radio station but I found the focus on Africa very tedious. Generally Africa is of little interest to Australians. We are more connected to Asian countries.
Africans are not much bothered about Australians either!
DeleteToday on Radio4 is always on in the background in our house at breakfast time. The calm voices are a soothing start to the day.
ReplyDeleteNews about disasters both natural and manmade will often send me back to sleep.
DeleteI can no longer hear what they are saying but the quiet voices are calming.
DeleteI am so sorry that your hearing aids are not making sounds as clear as a bell for you.
DeleteNot listened to this for years, but it used to be a great favourite of hubby and I, in the days before we had TV. We listened to it on our little trasistor radio!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that this post brought back that happy memory for you Carol.
Deletei DO miss Nicholas Parsons..... he was great!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a national treasure he was!
DeleteI listen to it on BBC Radio 4 Extra, usually old editions. Sue Perkins does a good job, she's a lot brighter than many might think.
ReplyDeleteI have warmed to Sue Perkins since she took over from the late Nicholas Parsons. She is doing a good job.
DeleteHere in Sweden 'Sveriges Radio' is the equivalent of your BBC radio, and P1 (Program 1, out of 4) is very similar to your Radio 4, with talking programs only. I turn it on just about every time I'm doing something in the kitchen, and sometimes when just resting as well. We also have our own "Just a Minute", based on the BBC one. (Checking with Wikipedia, I see that ours started in1969, two years after yours, and has kept going ever since, except for a hiatus of six years between 1988-94). There seems to be a few minor details in rules that differ, but basically it's the same concept - and very entertaining. I rarely miss it - especially these days, when it's also available as podcast.
ReplyDeleteI pay the fee as well, if the BBC failed it would be Doomsday. Of course it is their ability to cover any subject whatsoever that makes me listen. Radio 3 is also very good.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could get BBC radio on the car radio here in Ireland. I don't like the commercial stations either.
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot! I bet 60 seconds seems like FOREVER while you're playing the game.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this idea, nutty or not! I wish we had something similar here.
ReplyDeleteA fun anchor for your days.
ReplyDeleteWe have NPR here. National Public Radio. Seemingly same format- news, in-depth conversations, witty games, etc. I fear for its future here, though, due to the current administration. They view it as extreme left-wing propaganda.
ReplyDeleteI listen to the radio only in my car and I have 6 channels that I bounce around - all of them music channels - oldies and new songs.
ReplyDeleteAs Red said, we have the CBC which has been chronically underfunded for years. I pretty much only listen to CBC and if I miss a show, they have on demand now, so I can listen to it when it's convenient for me. They also have wonderful podcasts.
ReplyDelete