The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

Why is it, whenever network use the end of the radio newsroom it looks vaguely presentable. E.g: Marr, Troubled Waters ect. but when BBC Midlands use it the 'studio' looks tacky.

Typical.

I take 2 days off work & Midlands Today turn up at my place of work to interview one of our directors regarding the 'missing' Euromillions lottery winner, as one of the stores we service is alledgley the store who sold the winning ticket!

http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2010/10/24/birmingham-bbc-star-accused-of-benefit-fraud-66331-27531768/

Hmmm. Another Asian Network presenter in deepo ****?

Didn't one get done a few years back for nicking computers?

Interesting podcast of recent interview/talk with Nick Owen

http://podcasting.services.coventry.ac.uk/podcasting/index.php?id=332

He's quite critical of some aspects of Midlands Today and the fact that it's more straight-lace and newsy than it used to be.

There's plenty more good stuff on the Coventry University podcasts site.

TVF-ers might also appreciate this older podcast of Wesley Smith and Dennis Coath talking about regional TV

http://coventryuniversity.podbean.com/2009/07/06/the-importance-of-regional-tv-wesley-smith-and-dennis-coath/

WM strike update : Phil Upton was in, but no Daz Hale. Jimmy Franks 'subbing' for Daz.

Joanne Malin not in, with Nikki 'Gospel Show' Tapper covering her. (Can she stop singing over the ends of records please?)

Can we play 'Spot the NUJ member' today then?

(Someone mentioned Franksy was on later, or is that wishful thinking?)

So we need to know whether Doolan, Danny Kelly, Franksy, Jenny Wilkes, Loyd Williams & 'Tracey's Jail Mail ' & their production staff are on.

(Edit : Nikki's mentioned Doolan & Franksy & Loyd Williams as being on! Is the Scouser on the picket line then? )

Further edit : The Scouser's working! No news headlines on the half hour so far.

Further edit : 'Network Gold'(a new(recorded) edition as it references the 9 November 1970 in the chart file section!) replaces Wilkesy Soul & Motown Show, which is also going out on Radio Stoke. Radio Shropshire & H & W taking the same show from Worcester, between 7 & 8, then both stations broadcasting 'BBC Shropshire Introducing' from 8.

Tomorrow, I'm guessing Mollie as normal(Matter of opinion, having listened to her off & on over the past few years!), Goldie not in(He wasn't on during the last strike, with Les Ross covering WM Breakfast!), Jimmy Franks on, but not sure Sport onwards(Unless Plattie prerecorded 'Network Gold' Thursday latest, I suspect that won't be a 'new' edition!), leaving 'The Other Side Of ' & the Keith Middleton Late Show'.

Further edit : Nikki said she was subbing for Mollie(Didn't think the Green was an NUJ member, as she wasn't on strike last time, so I suspect Our Moll's on a booked day off!).

There is a trail running for next Tuesday's programmes, as several past presenters are joining the current bunch on air, eg Les Ross joining Flupton, Boyden joining Doolan, Deadly Alancoat joining Malin, Gyn Freeman & Gaunty joining Franksy.

According to a comment on the main strike thread elsewhere, it appears only the local radio side of BBC Birmingham is managing any broadcasts, while local TV, as per lunchtime, was a visit to the 'local laundrette'(do they still have that set by the way?) of East Midlands Today.

The last strike gave us in the evenings, 'BBC Local Radio News', by someone we never heard of.

Wonder what will happen this time, along whether there will be anything out of the Birmingham TV operation today?

Further Edit : Pat Burns live in Birmingham at 630pm. Short bulletin more than likely.

What's happening in East Midlands local radio then?

How have they coped?

Is the Nottingham based Late Show going ahead?

Edit : Yes but with Amanda Bowman rather than Rob Underwood!
(According to Stoke/Shropshire/H & W feeds!)

Pat Burns must be the only one at Birmingham not striking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfpQrN7ocSI

But a great day to add on regional subtitles!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vn823/Midlands_Today_05_11_2010/

Goldie was working. as the strike a few years back, he was off!

Spotted on the picket line, thanks to National BBC News & the Birmingham Mail, Comrades Virdee, Pallet & Paduano. Comrade Owen has donated a tie to the cause!

Courtesy of Digital Spy(in other words 'nicked'!), details of footy coverage during the strike :

BBC WM

Paul Franks presenting WM Sport from St Andrew's

Premier League
Birmingham City v West Ham United - Paul Franks
Fulham v Aston Villa - Mark Regan (95.6FM commentary)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Richard Wilford (DAB in Wolverhampton commentary)

FA Cup First Round
Carlisle United v Tipton Town - Mike Taylor
Fleetwood Town v Walsall - Jonny Palmer (He is normally travel reporter for Flupton & Franksy!)
Tamworth v Crewe Alexandra - Tom Marlow

BBC WM don't seem to have been hit too badly by the BBC strike, although Paul Franks is both presenting and reporting from Birmingham while it's solo commentary shifts for Mark Regan (covering Villa on FM) and Richard Wilford (Wolves on DAB).

Richie Anderson was covering Tipton Town for WM in midweek and provided a pre-recorded preview for today's show, but isn't involved in the live coverage.

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire (94.8FM and DAB)

N-Power Championship

Sky Blues Live:

Coventry City v Leeds United

Host: Stuart Linnell from The Ricoh Arena

Special Guest: Claus Jorgensen

Commentary: Duncan Jones and Martin Winch

* Interesting in the Commentary Bit that Duncan Jones is one of the station editors at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire so the two regular commentators Clive Eakin and Geoff Foster must be NUJ Staff...

(Info courtesy of DS posters 'The Difference' & 'mw1')

Just watching 'Question Time' from this week & Gaunty's one of the panelists(along with Shami from Liberty. Didn't he describe her as a dangerous woman a few years back?). He's now involved in the EU refurendum campaign.

Lord help us!

According to a post on Facebook, 'Keithy Boy' is doing the BBC West Midlands cluster Saturday Late Show.

There was no evening news bulletins after 7pm on BBC West Midlands local radio yesterday(Normally it's bulletins broadcast from WM to all stations!). I guess, there were hourly bulletins today up until 1pm, then that's it until Breakfast tomorrow. (Think WM's first Sunday bulletin is 7am from memory)

A quick reminder it's BBC WM's 40th birthday tomorrow, with the promise of past presenters & surprises!

As far as I remember, it's Les Ross with Flupton, Deadly Alancoat, Sally James & Nick Owen with 'the Doctor's wife', Malcolm Boyden(currently residing at BBC Oxford breakfast during the week & C & W on Saturday mornings!) with Uncle Ed(and what's the betting 'Our Mol' will pop on to say hello? I'd be surprised if she didn't!), Rustie Lee(yes that Rustie Lee!) with the Scouser(When did Rustie Lee present on WM by the way?) & Gaunty , Gyn Freeman & if you're ever feeling ghastly(sorry couldn't resist! ), there's also Gordon Astley!

Unless there might be other appearences still to confirm, I'm surprised no Tony & Julie or 'Ugly Uncle' Chris Ashley?

(Is the 'old git' Butler contractually prevented from popping on, now he's working for Old, sorry Gold?)

Talking of Flupton, anyone noticed he's now having a report a week on 'Inside Out', however this week's, about the safer cycling, is the first one he's appeared in vision though!

Had a listen to that.

Didn't anyone teach those students to make sure the questioner could be heard as well?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/11_november/12/derbyshire.shtml