Time Shift: Whatever Happened to Radio 2?

Billed as "An insight into the specialist side of BBC Radio 2, revealing how the network covers an extensive range of genres."
First broadcast on BBC Four on 5 October 2007.
For more about Radio 2 and other UK radio history please visit my blog Random Radio Jottings.
andywalmsley.blogspot.com

[@GMN360]

How I miss the old format of Radio 2. It was never off, except for sleeping! I learnt so much, laughed a lot, even had some tears, and was kept in touch with the world. I even listened to the Barbershop Singers on Sunday afternoons! Is there anyway it could be brought back? Dream on I guess...

[@robertbarker5981]

I used to love listening to Desmond Carrington down the Gym on a Friday night. That was around 2014/2015. It was still a quirky station even then. Something has changed recently and not for the better

[@bernardevans1]

You and the Night and the Music!

[@BackToTheBlues]

As he recorded them, there must be hundreds of Desmond Carrington's shows - they could've kept playing them!

[@trumptonshirenationalist5276]

Sing Something Simple, anyone? Loved the old Radio 2, just another death of what made Britain so excellent a place to be, where the public subsidised what was not mass popular, but enjoyed by a minority. WTF happened to the comedy that used to be on R2?

[@sannimcable]

Friday night 🌙 is music night

[@Deedee-ee1sg]

Just read in papers that Radio 2 wants to stop playing music from 60s and 70s, and wants younger listeners. So that begs the question, WTF is Radio 1 for???

[@GMN360]

Oh yes. That will pull their ratings down even further. I never listen to Radio 2 anymore.

[@tonyworrall7379]

I remember Desmond presenting 'Album Time' on Radio 2 in the early seventies. Obviously on Emergency Ward 10 in the the sixties too!

[@GMN360]

If I win Lotto my dream is to start a station based on the same format as Radio 2...a station that was listened to by so every age group.

[@markg6860]

Try Boom Radio: www.boomradiouk.com/

[@nickclarke1908]

A lovely programme. So nice to see the must missed Desmond Carrington. I only wish it had covered Malcolm Laycock as well.

[@BackToTheBlues]

Yes - I used to enjoy his show.

[@marsultra7032]

What a fantastic television show

[@listenhealthily]

What is this? Radio2 trying to cover up the fact that it's now nothing but a bunch of safe crap hosted by former Z-list tv personalities? All the interesting niche programmes have been axed. The station is now a 24/7 snooze-fest aimed at the brainless, and its a disgrace.

[@stephennaghi2453]

Heres a tip then Ron - DON'T listen!

[@craigr9881]

What station do you listen to?

[@davejenkins744]

hes got a point,,,, ball... winkleman.... rylan.... riley.... not R2 presenters... sorry

[@anthonyperkins7556]

Radio 2 should have stuck to what it good at - relaxing middle of the road music and easy listening programmes NOT youth related stuff and young people's interests, that should stay with Radio 1

[@alexmorgan9501]

Radio 1 narrowed it's target audience in the early 90s. So the BBC needed to cater for 35+.

[@adamsblog2161]

21:50 shutters are closing

[@sannimcable]

Im not old enough yet for radio 4

[@davidjanson9900]

Radio 2 have never been one to leave a winning formula,culling well liked presenters,in favour of the next big thing,the only trouble is there are very few presenters I care for anymore I'm now a radio 4 man

[@johnmangham2802]

When they got rid of Jimmy Young and installed that vacuous Nobody Jeremy Vine... that said it all.

[@davidgardiner6123]

What happened? Like the other BBC channels, it became narrowly focused as the BBC sought to appeal to specific 'demographics'.

[@MM0SDK]

Oh yes, the 5% demographic.

[@craigr9881]

Farage Bot.

[@markie1990123]

that pub just sounds perfect! very jealous

[@baronmeduse]

Blimey, I miss The Organist Entertains.

[@adamsblog2161]

21:57 fully fully shut

[@adamsblog2161]

21:55

[@adamsblog2161]

21:52 screw shutters shut

[@gavinreid8937]

The feeling was there was a big gap between Madonna & mantovani & Radio 2 had to change too. . but now it seams a rest home for radio one djs, most told Matthew Bannister to f-off.

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes indeed so then too of course alas?!

[@stephenholmes1036]

Radio 2 is now dreadful, it used to be so good

[@amyclarke41]

ok

[@sannimcable]

Radio 4 yawn

[@adamsblog2161]

21:56

[@adamsblog2161]

21:51

[@adamsblog2161]

21:53

[@adamsblog2161]

21:54