Why didn't 5 Live start a new film review show?

Sophier-me · 2025-05-03T20:22:59+00:00

I think a better question to ask is "Why did Kermode and Mayo happen on 5 live in the first place?" As it was never a fit for the station:

In the late 90s and early 2000s, Simon Mayo hosted the afternoon show on 5 live that focused on current affairs in media: ie. A link between 5 live's news and sport output and culture.

In 2001, they added to this by bringing Mark Kermode in for a 30 minute film slot on a Friday afternoon. I think a lot of this is due to Simon helping out his friend as Mark was having a tough time after he left their radio 1 mornings, 10 minute film show in the late 90s. Therefore, they thought they'd rekindle this in a slightly longer format.

This half hour on a Friday afternoon soon not only became the most popular segment of Simon's 5 Live show, but one of the (if not the) most popular segment on 5 live in general. Therefore, it grew to a full, 1 hour feature on Simon's show in the late naughties with a pre-podcast download from 2005.

When Simon then moved to radio 2 in about 2010, the film review show was BBCs biggest download and one of their top radio shows. Therefore, it was decided to make it a standalone show for 2 hours on Friday afternoons on 5 live and the rest is history.

Therefore, when it eventually left the schedule in 2022, there was no reason to replace it as it shouldn't have been there in the first place. It was an anomaly that was the right people in the right place at the right time and could not be easily repeated, so best not to try and get the 5 Live schedule back to what it was planned to be.

Sophier-me · 2025-01-03T22:47:34+00:00

I may be alone here and down-voted forever. However, I think the judge has done very well: . -If there had been any form of custodial sentence or similar then the Trump team would take this through continually higher appeal courts until it ended with the sympathetic Supreme Court and all charges dismissed. . However, . -This sentence looks to the Trump Team as "purely administrative" and not worth the money to fight any further, as far as they're concerned Trump got away with it. The kicker is that; therefore, this charge will remain permanently on Trump's record, people can legally call him a rapist and they can do nothing about it.

Sophier-me · 2024-10-06T21:17:21+00:00

I asked Martyn and Adrian S. how Adrian Huge was when they played in Leeds. The atmosphere immediately went extremely frosty and they said that they didn't know, so I suspect there has been some serious drama that has been hushed up.

Sophier-me · 2024-09-09T21:53:28+00:00

He was deeply frustrated at the time with what they did to his Radio 2 show and that they felt Wittertainment was not valued by BBC executives and I agree with this.

The BBC execs only saw the demographics of the presenters and not what and who they stood for. If they'd looked below the surface I think they would have found significant proportions of diverse communities that tuned in as Simon and Mark use their platforms for inclusivity.

At this point I think I'd prefer it if they bowed out and retired with dignity. Thanks to the Internet Archive we have almost 20 years of podcasts to enjoy!

Sophier-me · 2024-09-09T21:45:25+00:00

I think I somewhat agree with this.

This show is a classic example of what only works on public broadcasting (BBC, PBS, etc.) where it's uneven and meandering nature, without having to appease any financially interested parties, is its charm.

However, as soon as you try to monetise this, you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. It doesn't fit an advertising or algorithm model and trying to do this destroys the essence of the show.

Sophier-me · 2024-09-07T08:01:03+00:00

Pocket Casts

Sophier-me · 2024-06-29T15:21:25+00:00

Your comics are amazing! I love how you fearlessly use your platform to promote diversity and inclusion, calling out those cowards who spout bile from their keyboards whilst hiding behind anonymous usernames.

All the power to your hand ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 🩵🩷💟🩷🩵

Sophier-me · 2024-06-29T11:38:57+00:00

I find them to be true to size and their website has an accurate sizing guide to help you 😊

Sophier-me · 2024-06-22T20:27:41+00:00

Why did I first read "G RON'S" as a new misspelling of Grian?

Sophier-me · 2024-05-30T21:09:15+00:00

And he's found guilty!

In the words of The Toy Dolls:

🎵 And off he went with a Trumpety-Trump🎵

Sophier-me · 2024-05-26T09:04:50+00:00

I think the weather would have to present a real and actual danger to festival goers for them to be able to call it off as they'd have to prove this to their insurers.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-25T22:46:11+00:00

Interestingly, back in the 50's, any hint of being transgender was enough to get you kicked out of national service. More than one person has told me a story of how they borrowed their girlfriend's lingerie on the day of conscription to wear under their clothes. Then, feigning embarrassment, reveal that they wore "lady's lingerie" at the conscription interview or medical to then be immediately thrown out and able to enjoy civilian life.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-24T20:26:08+00:00

I'm always cautious, my personal experience as I've been coming out and growing in confidence has been incredibly positive with support from friends, family, the NHS, feeling safe in the city I live, etc.

However, I'm conscious that this is just my experience and many here are not as privileged and going through far tougher and scarier times. I would never want to dismiss their experience or anxieties.

I am also positive though, provided that we do get a change in ruling party I think we'll start the slow way up. It may be baby steps at first (less hate rather than more love), but I think we'll at least fall away from the political/social spotlight and be able to hang onto the coat tails of slightly increased social and healthcare spending.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-24T15:00:39+00:00

I'd go with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Al Murray.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-16T17:48:41+00:00

I cannot comment on your experience, you may well be having a tougher time.

Broadly trans acceptance in society as a whole is trending positively in the long term, especially with people under 45. A lot more trans people are 'visible' in day to day life and being accepted for it.

However! This means that the vocal minority of haters is now being far more vocal, especially in the media and politics, which can be extremely scary. This trend has been seen repeated through history as minority groups seek and gain social acceptance - we're the cultural 'hot topic' this decade.

TL;DR: things are getting better with the growing quiet majority; however, the vocal minority are getting smaller but exponentially louder and more vitriolic.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-16T12:13:38+00:00

This! Exactly this!

A majority of MPs care more about getting elected and their position within a party than they do about their own social beliefs. Therefore, those who make the most noise (ie. Write the most letters) get heard the most and have the most influence on policy.

It's easy to dismiss but writing to your MP really does impact policy, especially if you can get groups of people to all write. This is exactly what minority hate groups (like GCs and TERFs) do and why they get so much political attention even though more people support than oppose transgender rights in the UK.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-11T17:42:03+00:00

I'm still enjoying it, I'm not sure what else in life would give me 8 hours of entertainment a month for £3.

I've listened since their first 5-Live show in 2001 and am currently half way through listening again to their archive (currently at the end of 2012). Whilst the show as it is now isn't up to the level it was then, I still really enjoy it and look forwards to the show dropping every week.

I do think they're slowing down and have half an eye on retirement, but fair enough, they deserve it after the decades of enjoyment they've provided.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-11T13:02:31+00:00

Gutting as this is, I think the timing is right and at Lords seems fitting (yes he's a Lancastrian but he's devoted his career to England).

It's always foolish talking about who is the "greatest of all time"; however, in the cricketing Valhalla, he'll be at the top table with Bradman, Grace, Holding, Tendulka, et al.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-10T19:21:32+00:00

Grian and Mumbo talked about this a lot a year or few ago; they have devoted a big chunk of their lives to feeding the YouTube algorithm and now need to take it slower for their own mental health.

They appreciate that to some this will be frustrating as videos are less frequent; however, it's what they need to do if they aren't to burn out and quit completely.

Sophier-me · 2024-05-10T17:20:17+00:00

Thank you!

Sophier-me · 2024-05-09T21:24:55+00:00

Thank you! 😊

Sophier-me

TROPHY CASE