The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

a rather nice xmas eve midlands today with mike collie - he told us that the next midlands today was on sunday ... leaving only father christmas busy somewhere in the midlands.

... and moments later santa appeared behind michael ...

SANTA IN THE BBC MIDLANDS NEWSROOM

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-santa.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-santa1.jpg

this is the most festive bbc midlands have been for years, i wonder if central will do owt.

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/midlandstodayrandomwoman.jpg
http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-santa.jpg
she must of got changed, and this time seen the ON AIR sign! lol

unusually central news came from the main set today - they usually use the virtual on xmas eve. nothing as spectacular as the bbc midlands santa - but charlie was in fine festive spirits on central weather, i do love her hat!
http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/central-xmas1.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/central-xmas2.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/central-xmas4.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/central-xmas3.jpg

WM now. (Groans & from everyone else, but it's Xmas & I don't give a **** !)

Goldberg Brekky show - A bit of a shambles technically(even someone (not me!) texted to say so.), at one point Goldie having to 'pass' the on air mic round to Doolan, because he couldn't get the other mic to work ! (Bring back the tech ops! (Only joking Goldie !))

There was a text poll on the Post Office staff working till 4pm as well, but as reported later, they walked out anyway !

They also asked for Xmas verses, & who would you kiss under the miseltoe. Predictable answers of Sean Bean & Mel Gibson came in, then someone suggested Sarah Faulkland(why? Sophie or Sharuna maybe!), so I texted in anonymously Cayte & Mollie, but it didn't get read out. (Swines! That's the last time I waste 10p texting a bl**dy Baggies fan !)

Doolan had some religous bloke(Bishop of Brum?) on, along with Birmingham Council dustbin supremo & Chinnie, plus a repeat of the Other Side Of Ken Dodd.

Danny Kelly invited listeners passing the Mailbox open space to partake in some egg nog, plus you had to guess the tune he was 'gargling' (I know !)

Mike Taylor in for Franksy & Keithy Boy Middleton doing the 'proper' Late Show.(Midlands Masala & Jail Mail are on Monday night instead!)

Tomorrow, you've got Tom Manners, Doolan & Santa(!), Jimmy Franks counting down the recent WM / Evening Mail chart, but the outright winner was ELO, with Mr Blue Sky, as championed by Doolan, followed by a repeat of the carol concert transmitted tonight, then 3 hours of Brolly & his Irish Xmas & all the craic?), then Platty with Network Gold, something which totally escapes me, then Keithy with the Late Show again.

Boxing Day, there's 8 hours of football. Whoopee do !

Doolan wasn't on today(Chinnie standing in!), but he made a brief appearence by mobile on Danny's show, 'reporting' on Brum's jams.

Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the radio, Shabina Athkar(minus the 'Haley' !), is in for Franksy on Drivetime this week, apart from tomorow, as it's footy,.

She said, she's 'lost' a few brain cells, due to pregnancy etc.

I'm saying nothing, as I suspect Javiln 007 is tech oping for her, so she doesn't put the station off air !

(I'm fairly sure Javiln will put me right if not !)

a few nice captures from tonight's midlands today ...

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio1.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio7.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio8.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio9.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio10.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio2.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio6.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio3.jpg

http://www.tvmercia.co.uk/midlandstoday-studio4.jpg

was hoping they might show a few clips of the live d-day anniversary programme they did from the french beach this year, it really was a fantastic show, sadly they didn't

Im glad that news programmes can behave like this, with the disaster in Asia. Even though its regional, they should have a little respect than rather showing the presenters looking gay.

oh yes, i mean i don't know about anyone else, but i have put my life on hold completely - i'm tempted to throw myself into the sea, so i can feel at one with the people of ceylon.

get a grip. yes the tsunami was awful, but life does go on.

Any chance you could tell me what all this item was about?

It was a part of a small review of the year package by James McDonald - it naturally featured the move to the Mailbox and Pebble Mill's history.

I must say, I think the stuck on weather symbols should still exist - I think it's very Pebble Mill (or should that be BBC Birmingham after December 31st? ) - along with the bearded weather presenter...although I do think Simon Keeling comes a close second.

And also interesting to see two different maps for the West and East, during the old pan-regional Midlands Today programmes, rather than a single weather map...although didn't the weather move to be within the opt period when Nottingham started a 7-minute East Midlands Today service?

Is the bearded weather presenter, John Bannister ?

(I thought he was just ATV/Central, along with Ian McCaskill, Alan Brown etc?)

I didn't think MT had a weather presenter until Shefali ?

Quick question for anyone 'in the know' ?

I know not everything is kept from the likes of Midlands Today, ATV Today & Central News, basically the location reports, but what does exist in the way of odd studio sequences, such as that bit of 70's MT tonight?

Are there any complete editions archived, for a special reason?

(Presenter's last show, move of studios, change of broadcast technology etc?)

Another question, which I don't think has been asked yet AFAIK, can the Mailbox opt on BBC2 analogue still? (I know there's not much call thesedays, apart from the likes of Wimbledon etc!)

I see Shabina's still on, but did I notice the old WM news jingle being used at 530 tonight?

Naughty naughty !

Its a shame you didnt get caught up in it, although you wouldnt be able to tear yourself away from TV would you. But never the less, its not everyday you see pratts on the TV, aka Nick Owen. Not a bad carrer eh, being demoted to a respectless regional news programme.