Ubiquitous Andy

[Lateralthinking1]

Re The Mirror article - There is the death thing I had mentioned. Message appears to be "you can overdo grieving". What does that reveal about him? It could be a sign of it having been done now or else not done enough. Let's hope for his sake it is the former. It is of course true that there is an Eastenders over-sentimentality among the public.

And, yes, it is also true that there is no conscription. But, surely, he knows better than many. All those years with Bragg. The many records from history. The international experience. Not everyone volunteers for the army with what we would see as choice. Naivety plays a part in it. Unemployment figures have often been relevant too. The dignified side of military life - the Wootton Bassetts - may not be the greatest ever gig but it is far better than leaving folk in the trenches.

I have a different angle on Diana too. Having walked from work to Buck House to look at the cards and flowers, I detected there a change in Britain, alas momentary. I am reluctant to use the words "pagan" and "Catholic" but there were hints of both. It was astonishing and moving. All spirituality has its minus points but there was really a feeling of being in a Spanish church as if that had been located by standing stones. Many might cringe but, in many respects, it was an improvement on the traditional ways.

Don't get me wrong. I like him. I think that deep down he is a great guy but what next I wonder? A stint with Ant and Dec on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here"? To choose the population as a target is to alienate sections of potenetial audience. This doesn't suggest to me that he is ready yet for extensive radio but I could be wrong. I generally am.

[johncorrigan]

Tell you what! Andy was on crackin' form on Richard Bacon on Radio 5 live this afternoon - not that I needed reminded but it makes me realise how much I miss him on the radio. Great humour - almost changed my opinion of Bacon! Sounded back to his best.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0128kl6

[Globaltruth]

Apparently he's got a job at the News of the World as their music reviewer... wait there's an update.

[johncorrigan]

Apparently he's got a job at the News of the World as their music reviewer... wait there's an update.

Great news! Can't wait to hear what he thinks of Bouncey's latest!
....and how jiolly decent of them to give away all the money this Sunday to good causes (Police benevolent fund I assume) - always thinking of others them Murdoch chappies!

[ian russell]

Tell you what! Andy was on crackin' form on Richard Bacon on Radio 5 live this afternoon - not that I needed reminded but it makes me realise how much I miss him on the radio. Great humour - almost changed my opinion of Bacon! Sounded back to his best.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0128kl6

~No Off Switch. ''I wonder why it's called that?''

You're not kidding. Jeez.

I'd almost like to see him and Danny Baker put in a room to see which one comes out first*. And why haven't they thought of giving him a job on Radio 5?

*not that I'd hang around to find out

[johncorrigan]

I'd almost like to see him and Danny Baker put in a room to see which one comes out first*.

Well Danny is a prog rock kinda guy - ELP, YES, PF - a couple of notes of 'Tales from Topographic Oceans' would have Andy reaching for the off-switch, I reckon, and he'd find out there ain't one.

[ian russell]

Is he? I can't remember. For a while, long ago, We owned an old banger which I had to commute from Hemel Hempstead to Maidenhead. It only had an AM radio and it was always the Danny Baker show - I don't know which station but it might have been the fledgling radio 5. Or GLR.

I only mean that Baker could be equally garrulous and egocentric.

[johncorrigan]

Is he? I can't remember. For a while, long ago, We owned an old banger which I had to commute from Hemel Hempstead to Maidenhead. It only had an AM radio and it was always the Danny Baker show - I don't know which station but it might have been the fledgling radio 5. Or GLR.

I only mean that Baker could be equally garrulous and egocentric.

I knew what you meant Ian - in fledgling radio5 days he had a morning show - not that there was much competition, but it was the thing most worth listening to even putting up with the AM hiss and cackle that would have done credit to the halcyon days of Radio Luxemburg - he regularly celebrated the delights of Prog , hard at any time, harder in the morning and even harder through the hiss of the radio and the clanking of my car - I think that DB could out-talk AK - 'talk the hind legs off a donkey', as me old dad used to say - and I do believe he is the more garrulous and egocentric - Andy always stops for the music, Baker doesn't even break for the news - I'm sure he talks in his sleep - not that I have been listening in to his mobile or anything.

[Globaltruth]

On Twitter his handle is #prodnose, and it is a medium which suits him perfectly.

In the main entertaining....don't think music plays a great part in his life and he got stuck with the stuff he grew up listening to. This happens a lot.

Anyone looked at the soasradio.org station yet, there's a self-styled World DJ on there (Russ Jones, HackneyGT [GlobeTrotter] I think) that I would like a biased opinion on...GTH certainly thinks music is important in his life.

[Norfolk Born]

AK was also a guest on 'Loose Ends' last night, and soon got up this Forum member's metaphorical nose - and, I suspect, that of at least one other person in the studio. By an amazing coincidence, all these interviews have taken place just as his autobiography has been published.