The BBC Light programme

[Ted Kendall]

Of course Reith was flawed - he was human. He was a son of the Manse who knew himself to be prenaturally damned and thought the only way to avoid damnation was by labour. He served an engineering apprenticeship in the early years of the last century, was wounded in the war, served as a consultant to American arms manufacturers, and after being ousted from the BBC was chairman of Imperial Airways and was instrumental in the adoption of the ring-main for domestic wiring. From 1938 until his death the conviction that he was not being fully stretched gnawed at him. For all his pettiness and other character flaws, he fashioned public service broadcasting out of whole cloth. Came the hour, came the man.

And you don't have to invent a maxim to find it good enough to live by.

[Restoration73]

I think it's now called "Sounds" !

I seem to remember certain popular programmes were broadcast on Light and Home at
different times. This rarely occurs now, unless it's archive in content.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bulgaria

]I recently heard Richard Dimbleby's report from Belsen[, and was struck by how rare it is nowadays to have a radio presenter talking really seriously about a subject that matters. There is no unsophistication there. What a presenter.

I once bought a job lot of 78s from a sale room. Included in them were some large aluminium disks with a BBC label. Unfortunately they had been stored in damp conditions and the surface, which appeared to be an orangey coloured acetate was crumbling away. One of them was labelled "Belsen Talk". I wonder whether this was a copy of the same report.

I managed to play some of the others with bits of acetate crumbling as I did and they seemed to be copies of typical Light Programme programmes. The only deck I had which was big enough to play them was a Goldring GL75!

[PaulM]

Ted,

Reith undoubtedly had positives, but his astounding negatives are revealing and Marista's book is a fascinating read. It presents an insightful view of him and his legacy.

I just wish that Sarnoff could be given more credit for his insight which is so brief yet so defining.

Historians like to speculate with 'counter factuals' - taking out a key figure or event and imagining what the result might have been. It's complicated - and some say pointless - but taking Reith out may not have made as much difference as might be thought.

The question of advertising is an example - would that have happened on the BBC without Reith? On balance probably not as the American experience was painful to see.

Furthermore, the GPO did not want a plethora of broadcasters as in America - it feared an administrative and technical nightmare and they would have been right. The government took the GPO's advice on that. The need for one broadcaster only was important to them and Reith or no Reith that view would likely have prevailed because of the GPO's demands.

Reith was a complicated figure - of that there is no doubt - but the BBC may not actually have been that much different without him. The factors shaping its formation and early running would be the same and that's what set the tone. Reith was of his time and the times would have shaped it much the same. The BBC's response to the General Strike may have been different - that's for sure - but much else would likely have been very similar to how things grew as we had the benefit of seeing what was happening in the USA.

During the war and immediately after, things lightened up. Society had changed and the likes of the 'Light Programme' became a necessity for the BBC to survive - it had to become more 'populist' to use the modern jargon. Reith and his world had been out-evolved.

Do read Marista's book if you have the time - it's a wonderful insight.

Best regards,

Paul M

[Ted Kendall]

The Belsen despatch is a masterpiece. Dimbleby drew a word picture which conveyed the enormity of what he saw and heard without ranting or hyberbole, and its very restraint makes it the more powerful.

[PaulR]

Such a pity that the disk was too far gone to play - if it was the same one.

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by Nuvistor

Don Black has a series of about 24 shows a year on Radio 2, I enjoy listening to him. Not to everyones taste but suits me.

Don Black's show is being axed.

To experienced Radio 2 watchers this will come as no surprise.

Originally Posted by Ted Kendall

As for the current Radio 2, I'm all right with Ken Bruce

Ken Bruce has always appealed to the older set. His wit has much to do with it. There was a plan to remove him from the morning show over a decade ago. There's a very interesting Radio Moments (David Lloyd) podcast made in April where Simon Mayo talks about how he was intended to replace Ken.

Link below: The whole interview is very interesting but the relevant piece is 41 minutes in.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7554377-...ngham-brighton

[music-centre]

As a 63 year old (how did that happen!) I think Radio 2 does a pretty good job of catering to a wide age group, I find it hard to believe they really are trying to cater to an average early thirties age group, Radio 1 or Absolute surely?

They play music that I remember from when I was younger and fairly "safe" modern stuff so its the station I listen to most , personally I wouldnt listen to it if it was like it was in the late 60s or the 70s now.

We didnt really have the light program/early radio 2 on at home when I was young,the chart show Sunday evening when they paired up with Radio 1 so you could have it on FM and then I seem to remember sing something simple came on and it went straight on Luxembourg!
I used to listen to the comedy shows on Sunday Lunchtime as a kid, Navy lark/Clitheroe kid ect.

The good thing I think is with internet broadcasting as well, all music tastes are catered to.
Steve.

[AC/HL]

Originally Posted by PaulM

During the war and immediately after, things lightened up. Society had changed and the likes of the 'Light Programme' became a necessity for the BBC to survive - it had to become more 'populist' to use the modern jargon. Reith and his world had been out-evolved.

One word that seems to define all the criticisms here (which are no longer about the Light Programme). Populism means giving the masses what the masses want at that instant in time. As with some other threads here, we are not representative of today's masses. They do want news to be warts and all, and "shouty" presenters command the highest listening figures. Incidentally, the news seems to metamorphising into confirmation of yesterdays "rumours" with as many breaking stories as the financially crippled newsrooms can muster. Chin up and bear it is an admirable quality for as long as it can be maintained, but times change.

[stevehertz]

For me, BBC R2 started going really downhill when the likes of Chris Evans joined. From that point onwards it became laddish, silly and 'loud'. I particularly liked listening to John Dunn and then later Johnnie Walker in the Drivetime slot. But when CE took over.. Notwithstanding that, for a good few years R2's playlist largely consisted of hits from the previous four decades together with some of the more mainstream new pop releases. But in more recent times it has followed the trends of modern pop music and often sounds more R1 at times.

I wish the BBC would bring in a programme like the old R2 with evergreen pop songs and 'non-laddish', non-sensationalist presenters. Yes well, it's not going to happen and so I mainly now listen to my own local radio, Cannock Chase Radio FM that does play evergreen pop records and the presenters, albeit slightly amateurish in an endearing kind of way, exhibit our local 'black country' accent.

I like R4 although - correct me if I'm 'wrong' - it does seem to have a female bias in topics and (perhaps as a result) listeners.

[Station X]

BBC R4 is fine by me apart from "Woman's Hour" and "You and Yours". They have me instantly reaching for the OFF Switch.

Each to his or her own though. I never criticise other people's choice of listening.

I also hated "Sing Somethng Simple". I listen to repeats of old Light Programme shows and even allowing 0fr the passage of time, their just as dire as I thought they were when originally broadcast. Better not name any examples though!

[PaulM]

Just thinking about this a bit more and the 'populism' tag.

It occurs to me that the left-over pre-war Reithian mandarins at the BBC must have been responsible for the title of the new service in 1945

'The Light Programme' comes across as a slightly condescending name, possibly implying (in a gentle way) that its listeners were only capable of appreciating 'that level' of programming. The 'Third Programme' (begun in 1946) was something for them to aspire to?

I grew up in the 60s and I have to admit that I was an ardent fan of the pirates, especially Radio 270, which we could receive very well in Lincolnshire. Rarely did I listen to the BBC - call me a heathen . . .

These days I have Lincoln City Radio on in the workshop, even though it's a bit marginal out here in the sticks. Great mix of music from before, during and after the 'Pirate era'.

Best regards,

Paul M

[Nuvistor]

Originally Posted by Junk Box Nick

Don Black's show is being axed.

To experienced Radio 2 watchers this will come as no surprise.

Oh
Still I will enjoy it while it lasts, Don is getting on in years so perhaps he feels it’s time to go.

[dave walsh]

Hi Steve [post 29*] actually it's not at all difficult to see that the Beeb is trying to cater for the trendy "YOOF" market [eg BBC "ZOUNDS"]. They are caught between the usual rock and a hard place! It's the fixed mindset that believes they must be expansionist and competitive in order to survive. Without good ratings and a similar populist output, they know they are always vulnerable to their very existence being questioned [as it is now] in certain quarters. That's why there is a tendency to give in to government pressure [not a good look for an "Independent" organisation!]

To this end, they are pursuing an active BBG [British Broadcasting Global] management strategy/expansion along pseudo International Lines. This is very questionable. Our iconic national treasure is NOT a private company [that was back in 1922]. It's still a Public Service Broadcaster [admittedly like no other] that is supposed to be ours. Unless this dichotomy is addressed, the usual circular polarised arguments will continue to to be endlessly advanced to no real purpose... ie "keep it" or "sell" it off". A bit like another huge organisation perhaps. I support 'my' BBC despite all the mis-steps. Direct funding from taxation would take away all the License Fee and Ratings diversions. We could then get a much clearer look at the national asset we award a huge subsidy to, in order to then work out what could be achieved without trying to be a commercial competitor for everything else. A broadcaster, in fact, that concentrates on what it does best [rather than running after Net Flicks].

Craig [post 16*] recognises that [in many ways] BBC4 has been the new BBC2. Yes Craig I was delighted to recognise that factor when the channel was opened back in in 2002. ...by the Monarch no less! Typically for the Beeb, success does not always bring it's own reward! The 10th Anniversary in 2012 was barely even noticed when I'd expected a week of tribute programs to feast on.
On the contrary, it's clear that whenever there's a financial shortfall, BBC4 one of the best and cheapest content providers, is immediately targeted as low hanging fruit. Ironically one of the things that 2 and 4 really have in common is that they both suffered great abuse and derision [especially from the Tabloids] when they first appeared eighteen years apart. CH4 had some flack from the Philistines at first, as well, in 1982.

I agree with Paul M [Post 25*]. Reith was a seriously conflicted individual [as his daughter indicates] and [arguably] only became DG by a form of deception and opportunism. The resemblance in attitude between himself and a later appointee [Marmaduke Hussey] is quite striking but only one of them used a stick I believe. I can say more about the "Light" Program, which would have led out of the earlier period as suggested but the title is ironic in view of the looming influence Reid continued to exert, even after he left and then agonised about about his resignation. He needed to be wanted.

"The arrogance of office." [Hamlet]

Dave W

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by stevehertz

But in more recent times [Radio 2] has followed the trends of modern pop music and often sounds more R1 at times.

I wish the BBC would bring in a programme like the old R2 with evergreen pop songs and 'non-laddish', non-sensationalist presenters.

Harking back to the Light Programme I don't miss the likes of The Clitheroe Kid but I do miss the more measured 'grown-up' version of Radio 2. I miss John Dunn, Terry Wogan, Ray Moore, Johnnie Walker, Bob Harris, the easy listening style with a scattering of current pop hits of the mellower and melodic kind, and the many specialist programmes that expanded my knowledge of music and entertainment beyond pop.

If we accept that Radio 3 is classical music and culture channel, the BBC's four national music/entertainment channels are just four versions of Radio One. My view is that three 'Radio One' channels ought to be enough to cover all the pop genres and age groups and the styles of delivery that goes with it. And if listeners don't like that there is Heart, Smooth, Virgin, Radio X, Absolute and its various decade spin-offs, Magic and its various spin-offs, Greatest Hits Radio, Gold...

There has been controversy around Radio 2 for a while. Around ten years ago the BBC Trust, in answer to protests about the dumbing down and Radio One-isation of Radio 2 said "Thus far and no further". Of course the Trust has now gone.

Under lock-down I've been in email contact with many friends. One, about 62 years of age, who is an accomplished musician in his spare time with daughters in their twenties and an appreciation of modern pop music up as well as the likes of Mahler sent me an email last week about a long journey from which I quote: we swapped to Classic FM (Radio 2 was out of the question because of the inanity that is R----). I hear this sort of unsolicited comment about Radio 2 increasingly frequently.

However the reason for the BBC's populist approach is quite simple. The BBC are obsessed with yoof and are pushing Radio 2 'younger' because of the need to defend the licence fee. In an era where, in terms of TV, the BBC is now a minor player amongst very many Freeview and satellite channels, never mind Netflix and the rest, Radios One & 2 are probably the most prominent products of the Corporation for many people. Thus the BBC feels it can no longer fill the minority gaps and be complementary to the commercial sector – it has to outdo them and uses its superior resources and lack of (irritating) advertising to do so.

Originally Posted by stevehertz

I like R4 although - correct me if I'm 'wrong' - it does seem to have a female bias in topics and (perhaps as a result) listeners.

Going even more OT: Radio 4 has become narrower and has an editorial agenda and a selective policy with regards to news and current affairs. I no longer rely on it as I once did. Five live is dumbed down. I have found the advent of Times Radio refreshing.

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by Nuvistor

Oh
Still I will enjoy it while it lasts, Don is getting on in years so perhaps he feels it’s time to go.

Don has been ill with CV-19 but recovered. Likewise I assumed that he wanted to call it a day. I haven't listened to the most recent show - R2 is off my presets and at 11pm I'm in bed - so I use Sounds player but apparently he intimated that it wasn't his choice.

[Hartley118]

I always found one of the most enjoyable and technically excellent Light Programme shows was 'Friday Night is Music Night'.

In an age when BBC recording was analogue, there was a distinctly audible quality loss in recorded programmes compared with live broadcasts. In those pre-CD days, the live broadcasts from the Golders Green Hippodrome were arguably the finest quality source of well-presented entertaining orchestral light music available to the home listener. The wide bandwidth, experienced professional mike positioning and careful balancing with only modest use of limiting and compression provided a programme quality that reassured the home enthusiast that their investment in a good stereo system hadn't been wasted.

Whatever happened to 'Friday Night is Music Night'? It seems to have been retired.

Martin

[Nuvistor]

Originally Posted by Hartley118

Whatever happened to 'Friday Night is Music Night'? It seems to have been retired.

Martin

Sunday Night Is Music night, perhaps, 1900 to 2100 tomorrow.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ldtj

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by Hartley118

Whatever happened to 'Friday Night is Music Night'? It seems to have been retired.

Friday Night is Music Night has come to a halt because of CV-19.

Never waste a good crisis. It has been moved to the Sunday night 'graveyard' where repeats are being aired. Once these have run their course my guess it will be 'rested'.

Those with a BBC dictionary will know: rested adj axed.

[Graham G3ZVT]

A thread of 38 posts about the Light Programme and no one has mentioned JY.
<crossed with Nick, 40 posts now>

He was Radio 2's best asset in my opinion, and I've hardly listened to it sine his show was axed.

I see Ken Bruce is still on, that Popmaster Vocoder countdown always made me cringe, and Ken never seemed to enjoy doing it.