[peel] Digest Number 203

[Stuart McHugh]

I've just finished reading "The Nation's Favourite", Simon Garfield's book
on Wonderful Radio One. There are many appearances by much (and rightly)
maligned characters such as Simon Bates, DLT etc., though they don't come
across too badly - having presumably thought what they were going to say
before actually opening their mouths. And the likes of Matthew Banister and
even Andy Parfitt come out with their reputations fairly intact.
The one person who comes from behind the scenes is one Jeff Smith who comes
across as perhaps more close to being Radio One's antichrist than anyone
else. He is in charge of playlisting, and goes in a right little strop if
dj's deviate from this or dare to make fun of any of the records he's
chosen. He clearly HATES Mark and Lard, and beileves that they talk too
much. However, he thinks Chris Moyles is the bees knees. It's my guessing
that he is actually behind the recent sacking of Kershaw, perhaps because
he also has a northern accent. So presumably he has some incriminating
photos of Andy Parfitt. That would explain the vague answers we all got
from him.
I'm listening to a woman called Sarah HB (?) at the moment, as Jo Whylie is
off on a post-Glastonbury holiday. Must have overdone things, eh. She is
utterly utterly LAMNETABLE, seems to have no knowledge or interest in music
at all, and of course completely devoid of personality (to be fair, a
prerequisite for new dj's at the station). It's like listening to Beat106.
I can only assume that she knows someone high up at the BBC (and you can
insert your own quotes round the word 'knows' if you like). Though she does
read out emails in a nice Home Counties accent without stumbling too much.
Not much Peel content here - now, I saw a fair bit of the Glastonbury
broadcasts but the only sign of Peel was when Billy Bragg mentioned that
he'd locked himself out of his car. Was the man actually at the festival at
all?

Stuart