The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

Sorry - I meant on Central News West

Surprised noone's noted Mike Collie & Shefali doing the 630 MT last night !

Nick back tonight with Shefali though.

Slightly off topic, anyone following the Cheltenham racing at the mo?

The 520pm race yesterday had a horse, as pointed out by my boss, called 'Hairy Molly', so he suggested I put some money on it, knowing how much of a fan of a certain Ms Green I am.

I had an each way on it & it came in first at 33 to 1 !

Texted Mollie the good news this morning !

Her response : 'You make me laugh Westy !'

A few BBC Brum people out & about over the next few days.

I'm sure TVM will correct me if I've remembered this wrong, but Nick & Ashley are at Merry Hell tomorrow, with the 'Sofa Tour'. (I guess this is similar to whats being mentioned recently on the Yorks thread with the Levy fellow!)

Also tomorrow(I think!), BBC Hereford & Worcester are having an open day too, with appearences from Nick, Satnam & Shefali.

As mentioned both on air & the Beeb press office web site, Mollie's taking next week off to do her collecting for the WM animal appeal, so Mike Rimmer(Doolan's Sunday 'warm up') & Satnam are covering for her apparantly(I'll have to try & wake up early either Thursday or Friday to listen to Satnam, to see how she does radio, as I'm only used to her doing MT, plus I don't listen to Masala either!)

Talking of Mollie, tonight's 'Behind The Mic' feature, in the Birmingham/Black Country Mail profiles her. The only 'new' information is that her feller works off air at a commercial radio station & no plans for any kids !

Anyone catch Satnam doing the 'Early Show' ?

Back on tonight, she says, with Masala.

(Hope she got time for a kip!)

According to my mate at work, Dicky & Ginger from Wolverhampton's 107.7 The Wolf are at Hooty's in Willenhall tomorrow morning!

WM news now ! (I know, but tough !)

First official show today for Robert Beckford on Sunday morning WM Brekky, taking over from Ed Doolan, who retains 'The Other Side Of'(Today was Jess Conrad, he of 'This Pullover' fame !), as well as his weekday shows.

Marverine Cole has taken over the Saturday evening show instead.

Jimmy Franks sat in on Saturday breakfast, despite not going to bed till late(so he said!). His 'Where Are They Now' guest was Jane Tucker of 'Rainbow' & 'Rod, Jane & Matthew (Corbett)/Roger(Walker, who went onto 'Eldorado' !) / Freddy (?)', depending on how old you are!

Les took the day off, to go off on a choo choo trip.

He returned this morning, complete with dodgy stomach, or diaorhea, as he originally refered to it.

(I did try to wind him up by text, with comments like 'Is this diaorhea topic going to run & run !' & 'Is 'Keep On Running' on the playlist today!', but he didn't bite ! )

He also replayed a section of yesterday's Janice Long show, where the April Fool gag was they were going to rename Birmingham Airport after Ozzy Osborne!

Oh, & Mollie's back tomorrow too(I hope!), after her week on the Animal appeal.
(ISTR it's her birthday on May 1st too !)

Oh my word that was poor.

A couple of WM quickies.

Mollie's back & pics of her week out can found on the features section of the BBC Birmingham website.

(Her competition prize on Monday - A bottle of Vaseline handcream & a pair of fishnet tights ! )

Goldie's off this week, & sitting in, is Franksy, a fair few years since he last did the show, & sitting in on Drivetime is the ex Heart man, Nick Piercey.

http://www.itvregions.com/NR/rdonlyres/A036A6BE-67FA-4288-8051-013845A8540C/2942/NewsSatTruck2006Small.JPG

well as it's a central van I have a pic of I'll post here.

I really do not think much of these new regional vans. Very cheap looking. I saw a Border one in Kelso the other day parked next to a crowd of people who had collapsed at the sight of a Border News van outside Carlise and they just look rubbish.

Now the other week a Border News Zafira was parked behind my own Zafira and it looked splendid with the old blue squares on it.

Just thought I'd mention this.

I see Chris James has become the new Jonathan Ray of Central News - doing all the "amusing" stories - but perhaps without the charisma, humour or likeability.

Oh well, keep at it!

J-Ray is now working at Nottingham University, chief of PR/press office. When he left CNW, he moved to East Midlands Today becoming Political Correspondent; he then became Head of Communications at East Midlands Development Agency, finally winding up at the uni.

He is still as humorous as ever (I'm acquainted with him)

no-one likes a name-dropper

Did Michael Winner tell you that maxim at The Ivy?

J-Ray is hardly an A-list celeb!! Just letting trivia fans know what the legendary J-Ray is up to now.. I mentioned that I was acquainted to him, so people didn't think I was a stalker or owt.

Sorry I upset or irritated anyone