I read on Yahoo News this morning that “veteran broadcaster” Terry Wogan has spoken out against the BBC, saying that it no longer is the world class broadcaster that it used to be.
Wogan has worked for the BBC for nearly his entire career and reportedly earns £800,000 a year (which I assume includes the £10,000 he gets paid to present the annual Children in Need charity telethon, the hypocritical gitbag). Which other broadcasting company would be willing to employ a geriatric gasbag like him? No other is the answer, at least not at those prices
But employed he should be. A lot of people enjoy listening to his banal whinging about how things used to be better in the old days and bemoaning the lack of “common sense”. He is the Daily Express letters page given human form, and there is certainly an audience for it. But can you imagine him on Kiss FM? Real Radio? Even Classic FM? No, you can’t. The reason he is popular is that he has been given a relatively long leash by the BBC.
The license fee has never been as good value as it is today. Look what we get: BBC 1, 2, 3, 4. Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7. BBC local radio. BBC website. BBC iplayer. And all for £12 a month. I’ve said it before, but I’d probably be willing to pay that just for radio 4 and 7 alone.
Sure the BBC put out some dross. Eastenders, Strictly Come Dancing, talent shows based around whatever musical Andrew Lloyd Webber is trying to promote that year. But that’s fine, I’m not supposed to like everything they produce. I can’t bear listening to BBC 1Xra but I recognize that it speaks volumes to others.
Most UK commercial channels aim themselves firmly and squarely at the lowest common denominator, with the possible exception of Channel 4 (but recently even they are struggling against their charter in order to do so). Now I’m the first to admit that the BBC does put out the odd bit of ratings chasing populist programing, but at least that isn’t all they put out. I watched a documentary the other night about comic writer Alan Moore. You wouldn’t get that on SKY 1.
What’s my point? As usual I don’t really have one. But it just galls me that the self promoting chronic complainer Sir Terry feels the need to go public with the gripes about his employer. Save it for the pub like everyone else. Even his commentary on the Eurovision has descended from witty banter to sour and bitter ranting on the unfairness of the voting system. It used to be that the Europeans didn’t get the absurd humor of the contest Terry, now it’s just you.
For a far more interesting, intelligent, and above all hilarious take on the BBC and the license fee make sure you listen to Stephen Fry’s recent Podcast on the subject. Now there’s another reason to pay the license fee in itself. To misquote Braveheart – You may take our Laurie’s, but you’ll never take our Stephen.
I now return you to the lull.
Apologies go to the chronically foreign who will have only understood every third word of this, and also to Neil and Rachael who are a ITV employee and Terry Wogan fan respectively.
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
And yet I wouldn’t want to get rid of him, for most of the other reasons you’ve stated above.
I may not like what he says; I may not agree with what he says; but I will fight to the death for his right to say it. Only I’d prefer it if he didn’t say it as I’m waking up, as that just makes me cross.
I wholeheartedly agree with Stephen Fry’s reasons for keeping the BBC – we CAN afford to keep the BBC, simply because we can’t afford not to.
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Dan Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I stopped listening to Wogan when his producer Dr Wally died. i think he’s been allowed to run away with things. There is no breakfast DJ I can tolerate currently so i tend to listen to CDs. Even radio 4 has the today program which often winds me up.
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Oli Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
If my CDs had time checks appended to them, I’d go for that option too.
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
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Dan Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
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Dan Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
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Dan Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Arjans last blog post..Over There theme
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Dan Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Anyhoo, he was a right cantankerous so and so, and he seemed very frail and, well, old. So it doesn’t surprise me to read he’s moaning about something he worsens. He’s as bad as Eastenders, but due to similar viewing figures still gets hansomely paid.
Look, you have such an imfluence on me, I’m now unsure what point I was trying to make.
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Dan Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
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Oli Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Well, that and pointouttheobviousitis.
Oh, and pedantry.
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Avitables last blog post..Huge Announcement
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Dans last blog post..We interrupt this lull in order to bring you a rant from our sponsors.
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on Aug 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Eastenders keeps me sane.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Up periscope II
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Who….
Damn, I’m too apathetic to think f a rhyme for Limerick. I was nearly too apathetic to work out how to spell rhyme properly.
Dans last blog post..We interrupt this lull in order to bring you a rant from our sponsors.
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on Aug 13th, 2008 at 8:47 am
However, don’t mess with the Tel or I’ll ‘ave ya!
(The Today programme winds me up to – in my humble opinion it’s a ‘poshed up’ version of “Wanna step outside? Car park? Come on!” And local radio is what will be played – non-stop – in hell.)
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Dans last blog post..We interrupt this lull in order to bring you a rant from our sponsors.
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on Aug 13th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I hardly listen to Radio 2 at all now, with the exception of The Jeremy Vine Show now and again mainly because it is full of “jobs for life” right through the day – never is this highlighted more than when the highly paid “jobs for life” boys take another holiday – Johnny Walker in Wogans slot last week was a breath of fresh air as was Lisa Tarbuck and that Johnny that she drags around with her sitting in Steve Wrights slot a few weeks earlier.
Wogan, Bruce and Wright need to take a long hard look at themselves.
Garys last blog post..Goodbye, goodbye, we’re leaving you goodbye…
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:24 am
As for Jeremy Vine, any program that invites the audience to ring in with their views often has me wanting to throw my radio through the window so I tend to give it a miss.
Dans last blog post..We interrupt this lull in order to bring you a rant from our sponsors.
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on Aug 13th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Expect a sparkling season on ITV1
The autumn season on ITV1 is underpinned by top football action, exciting event television, sparkling new entertainment, great original drama and factual programmes together with new talent – timely for nights in on shoe-string budgets..
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:25 am
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on Aug 13th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I also like Chris Moyles, although I didn’t at first but no I get him I think he is very funny – but I also think Terry is too – except I’d rather listen to the music on Radio 1.
Gosh it’s rather hot and sweaty here in Florida – how’s it in Huddersfield?
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Dans last blog post..We interrupt this lull in order to bring you a rant from our sponsors.
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on Aug 13th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Becs last blog post..Far Far Better
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:29 am
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on Aug 14th, 2008 at 4:01 am
See, I didn’t understand that either.
On a positive note, I like your new comment reply format, or did you change that two months ago and I’m only now noticing?
I hit myself in the head with a piece of drywall last week and now everything in the world looks shiny and new.
Phils last blog post..Own Up And Be A Dad
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Dan Reply:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Dans last blog post..We interrupt this lull in order to bring you a rant from our sponsors.
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