St Paul's, Jarrow

THURSDAY 31 JANUARY

Having got a little hot under the collar yesterday, I’ve decided to calm myself down a bit today. I am therefore pleased to be able to guarantee that there’ll be nothing even remotely controversial about this posting. I promise.

BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE
There are changes to the weekend schedule from this coming Saturday and Sunday. The new Saturday timetable looks like this...
0600 - Howe’s Fishing
0630 - Simon Hoban
0900 - Sue Sweeney
1300 - Alfie’s Comic Cuts ( - the best bits from Alfie Joey’s weekday programmes)
1400 - North-East Sport
1830 - Jamie Wilkinson
2200 - Sue Sweeney
Sundays look like this...
0530 - Howe’s Fishing
0600 - Frank Wappat
0730 - Jon Harle
0900 - Sue Sweeney
1300 - Garden Mania
1400 - Kathy Secker
1700 - Paddy MacDee (Solid Gold Sunday)
1900 - Frank Wappat
2200 - Sue Sweeney
Sunday morning’s Nightshift will therefore start one hour later, at 0100 instead of midnight.

WINNING WEBSITES
As promised, here are the prize-winning websites I mentioned on Wednesday morning.
Best Ethical Website - thenag.net
Best Travel Website - worldreviewer.com
Best Innovative Site - moveme.com
Best Educational Site - friendsabroad.co.uk
Best Social Site - doggysnaps.com
Best Weird And Wonderful Site - facesinplaces.blogspot.com
Best Charitable Site - freerice.com
Best Shopping Site - nigelsecostore.com
Try them out - they’re awesome!

See? Nothing controversial at all.

CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or contact me in any one (or more) of these ways....
ian.robinson@bbc.co.uk
ianstuartrobinson@googlemail.com
text 07786 200954 (while the programme is on-air)
call (between about 0545 and 0630 Monday to Friday) 0191 232 6565
Ian Robinson, The Nightshift, BBC Radio Newcastle, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE99 1RN

NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.

8 comments:

Sid said...

Ian, I very nearly posed a question that may have been awkward for you to comment on, let alone answer, but nevertheless (another great word) I shall word my thoughts carefully.
Those in charge at the BBC seem determined to make changes to the program schedule whether it needed it or not.
Recently two very good presenters have left, and others have been moved to face new challenges, and this had caused me to wonder why.
I have to admit that I am finding it difficult "bonding" with the new presenters, and have indeed started to tune in to a new station that has appeared on the dial recently.....but always coming back for your show Ian.
The BBC has to remember that you, and others like you are not just presenters, you are our friends, and we out here share your joys, as well as your heartaches.
Dear me, I feel better already!

gillian said...

I agree too about presenters becoming friends ive just been venting my spleen for the last hour, do i feel better?
not really cos folk will now think "she,s off again". but sometimes you have to, "tell it how it is". warts and all.

If we listeners don,t speak up about changes, some really good and others not so good, nothing will ever change for the better.

ians like a pair of comfy slippers you can pull on late at night if like me you are a nighthawk truckshunter.

Anonymous said...

"BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE
There are changes to the weekend schedule from this coming Saturday and Sunday. The new Saturday timetable looks like this...
1300 - 1400 Alfie’s Comic Cuts ( - the best bits from Alfie Joey’s weekday programmes)"

Hang on,

What about the other 59 minutes?

Ian56 - a one time all day R.Newcastle listener.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ian,
I'm afraid I have to add my voice to the throng...I have also defected to that other station during the day, only returning to you and Paddys' programme at night and Simon and Antony on Saturday mornings. Seems to me that the online listeners in Australia and New Zealand are getting the best deal. Does anyone at the BBC care? I don't think so. Wondered if we could 'have'(!) you on listen again? I'm not getting any sleep and some of us have to work during the day!
Maureen

gillian said...

Ive already asked if truckshunters can be on listen again , no joy, which is sad, maybe if we all keep asking we may make a difference,
its the only way to make changes.
keep plugging away.

Kev said...

Quote:
" I am therefore pleased to be able to guarantee that there’ll be nothing even remotely controversial about this posting. I promise."
Ian, if schedule changes isn't controversial then I don't know what is.

On a lighter note; if you liked doggysnaps.com then try beedogs.com but can someone please tell me how a site like this comes into being?

Ian Robinson said...

Now then....
The item in this blog about the weekend schedule changes at BBC Radio Newcastle was intended to be a perfectly straightforward information-piece to be taken at face value. The changes were substantial and I thought that it would be of benefit to you simply to know what they were.
Without wishing to question your motives in making your comments on them, you should be aware that my employer may now - quite wrongly - perceive me as a focus for 'unrest' and resistance to the changes.
Please direct any comments you may have about schedule or presenter changes to the BBC itself and not to this blog.
You may inadvertently have landed me in very hot water indeed.

gillian said...

oky doky ian.
we are standing at the back of the class this very minute.
well i am.!
with hindsight you of course are right, some times when emotion runs high commonsense vanishes. soz.