The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

What's happening about Clampy then?

Bet he wishes he never left the Mailbox(unless he had to?).

My mate at work was gutted that Jo Malin's left, until I told him she was coming to WM. (Mind you no one listens to WM at work, on the grounds it's a speech station!)

I've noticed that no one actually noted the reason for Nick's recent absence, due to his father dying, as far as I can see. (Suzanne did mention it on air at the time!)

My opinion on the recent / future changes at WM.

How have they managed to squeeze the budget to provide 3 shows of 2 hours each, instead of 2 shows of 3 hours each?

They've even brought back limited late night broadcasting from Birmingham during the week too, with 'WM Introducing' on Thursdays & Plattie's 'Network Gold' on Fridays!

Interesting to see all this has happened since Keith Beech returned from his year of Yeti spotting!

Obviously Bettison is/was as useful as a chocolate fireguard! (He certainly was over my text complaint!)

For the record, I still can't get through to Mollie, but when Tom Manners covered her recently, I got through to him, plus over the last week, I managed to get mentions on Franksy & surprisingly Flupton too, which suggests Mollie's set up is at fault, in my opinion. (Bloody Don from Edgbaston can still get through though!)

As for Mr Gaunt, serves the fat **** right! Did anyone go to his Merry Hill book signing recently & ask him for any 'tips in broadcasting' !

Pebble Mill was haunted?


see http://www.paranormaldatabase.com/reports/media.php

First time I've seen Michelle Robinson on MT for ages & on a Saturday too!

There are very few TV and radio stations which don't have some sort of ghost story. BBC Leeds used to claim one in Radio Leeds' Studio 2. I don't think that studio got much use in the latter years at Woodhouse Lane, but they used it for part of a breakfast show on Halloween.

Yes, she's not on often now, just the odd breakfast bulletin - she has been reporting on BBC London recently as well.
I think I saw her in the background of the 6:30 a couple of days ago?

Anyone else look at who they can see behind Nick & Suzanne? Fiona Trott with coat on & handbag is a regular feature.

She was in the newsroom at 4pm today. Still with BBC ID Card.

You're welcome I don't know what the situation is regarding Central East staffing, nothing has appeared in the local press here as yet, I shall have to pester my contacts....

Meanwhile Emma cryptically added this post today:


This triggered semi-serious speculation that EJ (for it is she) may enter I'm A Celeb next year

I feel a bit sorry for Steve in that respect. Perhaps he thought becoming anchor at CNE was a step-up from his role at Midlands Today; or maybe he was 'encouraged' to move on, as you say.

Not sure what's happening with Steve now though. I suspect he'll do the Central East opt-out, since Sameena "thousand-yard stare" Ali Khan will be hosting the main programme with Bob.



I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks he's a big-head! If it weren't for his newspaper column, he'd be a taxi-driver now

"That Charles Kennedy? I had that Guardian-reading, yoghurt knitting idiot in the back of my cab once-- sick all over the back seats he was. As for that Nick Griffin, he's way too libertarian for me guv. You want me to go south of Coventry? Not at this time of night, you're having a laugh"

I think the idea of the recorded East Midlands segment is that it'll be presented by one or more of the main presenters to make it as much part of the programme as anything else. Why would you employ someone to record something when you've got two presenters who will be doing the rest of the show and therefore ready for it anyway?

The two most famous haunted studios (and they both are in the Midlands so it's still on topic) was Radio Trent in Nottingham and Beacon in Wolverhampton.

The studios in Nottingham were built on the former Childrens hospital of the city, and it was said that at random times during the night sounds that sounded like childrens laughter/crying could be heard (even that is more listenable than the current playlist)

Beacon, had a couple of 'shadows' that wandered around the place. I know of one ex-dj, who refused to go down the stairs off the newsroom into the kitchen area (which was basically the cellar of 267 Tettenhall Road) because the only time he went down there it was a warm day, and whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, the area around him just went stone cold and he felt something tug at his shirt.
Apparently there is nothing there anymore as the sprits were 'exorcised' for a ITV2 ghost show a couple of years ago. There may be something in this, as the reception area hasn't burst into flames recently in 'unexplained' circumstances

Bad news for Steve Clamp it seems

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homenews/Shake-Central-Tonight/article-511042-detail/article.html

Before Calendar changed a couple of years ago, the main programme was typically presented by Duncan Wood and Christine Talbot-- with the sub-regional opts being presented by completely different presenters.

But of course that was then...