poptimists | Radio is Rich

You want news? Here be news. Actual 'pop' content may depend on yr point of view tho.

As UK poptimists probably know, BBC Radios 1 & 2 celebrate their 40th birthdays this year. The main R2 celebrations are this weekend. Up to now, the station has been marking the birthday with programmes that give the impression R2 was always hip to the rock sounds of 1967 that have since joined the canon. However, this weekend they are embracing their true easy listening past.

Things kick off at 7pm tonight with a half hour programme telling the story of the last days of the Light Programme and the birth of Radio 2 (told entirely in the words of the great British public). The main action however is this Sunday when the entire schedule is devoted to revivals or re-broadcasts some of its original shows: the schedule in full

Personally I'm looking forward to Paul Hollingdale and Kenny Everett... and sort of dreading 'Sing Something Simple'. As Radcliffe and Maconie* were saying only last night, for kids growing up in the 70s the latter programme, which for years was broadcast straight after the Sunday night Top 20 singles chart rundown, was the soundtrack to the sudden realisation that the weekend was over and you hadn't yet done your homework.

*I've done a bit of a 180 on them btw. They've had some terrific live sessions on their show of late.