Show 5: 14 October - Gone Shopping
All that talk about John Lewis has meant that the 'meeting of death' after the show was very short this week as Fi and a few of the others felt the need to pop down to the Oxford Street store before the onsalught of the Saturday day-trip shoppers.
Thanks to Katharine Whitehorn for allowing us to follow her while she was having quality time out down at John Lewis. Thanks also to all our guests today including Dr Frank Barnaby who witnessed a nuclear test in 1953 in the Australian desert; poet Charlie Ottley whose poems you can read here, Louise Rennison who wasn't as keen on New Zealand as our podcaster of the week, Chris, evidently was and of course Dr Watson look-a-like Charles Miller. After the programme Charles told me that he always carries a false moustache and pot of glue in his pocket as opionion is divided as to whether Watson was actually moustachioed. There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer as to whether Watson eschewed shaving his upper lip or not - if you have any thoughts on this subject do let me know before I pass it on to the In Our Time team.
Here's a nice comment from Jeremy about one of Steve Punt's Inheritance Tracks;
"2 years ago (I think) we were up in Edinburgh and got 2 tickets to see Dave Brubeck at the Usher Hall. It was crowded out with all ages. Halfway through this extraordinary man got up and announced very slowly that he as his wife had been married for 64 years. The applause was thunderous. They then played Blue Rhondo a la Turk"
If you think you can beat that do let us know.
That's it for the moment but on my way out I will pop into Presentation to have a word with Zeb Soanes and Harriet Cass about that slight hiccup at the top of the show. What? You didn't notice it? Oh good.
JP
You can listen again to Saturday Live (14 October 2006)
Hello,
I could hardly believe that a public radio programme would broadcast a programme with such overt advertising contents for one retailer - and not even in passing but for several minutes!
If I didn't know better, I would bet that the said retailer paid a hefty sum of money.
And on the website it continues ... obviously with the intention to get people to consider a quick trip to the store at some point today.
Outrageous!
To be honest, this has just reconfirmed my bad impression of the programme over the last few weeks. Feeble attempts to be funny with no substance ... not even witty or engaging.
A good reason to get out of bed and the house before 9!
Please re-consider the format and contents !
With best wishes,
Complain about this postAnna
Nigel Bruce certainly had a moustache and since he is the quintessential Dr Watson then we ought to accept the facial hair.
Complain about this postThis programme epitomises everything that is bad about radio 4. Why do all of you down there in London think the rest of the country wants to hear posh voices talking rubbish about how eccentric they are or reading their poetry. At least Home Truths never felt like it was 大象传媒 Radio Home Counties. I don't want to listen to received pronunciation and boring chit chat on a Saturday morning. Sorry but I'm leaving you.
Complain about this postDefinitey a mustachioed Dr Watson!
Complain about this postSorry to be dull (it's never stopped me before), but the word 'enormity' describes an atrocity, not a Large Thing - and a cluster bomb is an object dropped by posh air forces (a bomb full of mini-bombs), not a down-market nail bomb. Always happy to make your day. D.
Complain about this postHi, I wanted to find your programme on the 大象传媒 website but couldn't remember what you had called it. So I did a search for Fi Glover and received no results, not a single one. Just makes me think are they paying you Fi? Great programme, love the poetry and the links. Any chance of a pod cast.
Complain about this postCan't stand all the hooray henrys and henriettas. Does everyone associated with the programme have to have had elocution lessons? It's quaint and so very English (southern) dear chap but "says nothing to me about my life".
Complain about this postI can confirm that the staff of John Lewis are indeed good in a crisis: my father died in the Edinburgh branch whilst doing his Christmas shopping six years ago. My distraught sister was very grateful to the staff who consoled her. Given the tradition in Scotland to name the exact place of death on the death certificate I will never forget the Registrar looking up the exact postal address for John Lewis in the Argyle centre, after much debate with her colleague the yellow pages was a useful reference.
Complain about this postRegarding comments posted by Anna, Hannah and Sandy: whilst I respect your right to moan about Fi's show, I feel a balance of opinion is necessary.
Home Truths (post-Peel) was a dirge. Saturday Live is a breath of fresh air. Fi, et al, your accents are smashing so ignore the humourless northerners and continue shamelessly plugging whatever you like.
Complain about this postIt's so dire! Like some local radio programme, a sort of Broadcasting House Lite. The name says it all really. Unfocused and unoriginal, its live and its on Saturday and Hmmm...well that's it. While 'Home Truths' was merely annoying, this is truly grating. Yes I do know where the off button is, and I use it. Fi Glover used to sound fresh, way, way, back in the day on GLR, now all her 'quips with everything' links are tired and just a little too smug. Send her to Radio Norfolk and get this trite nonsense off the air.
Complain about this postoh please .. john lewis is full of decent people , as is all stores does it matter ...please if someone can say something nice about something accept it , it makes a change from all the negative and criticism that the media is flooded in lets focus on good stuff, we want the world to be a good place not just a place to moan and complain all the time.
Complain about this post