Critical Situations
A good friend once admitted to me that his admiration for 主播大秀 Radio 2 D.J. Terry Wogan bordered on the obsessive. Since his teenage years, this friend has manoeuvred himself into numerous situations where he has been able to meet and be photographed with his hero. Had the moment presented itself I have no doubt that my friend would have invited himself back to Wogan Towers for a bite to eat, an overnight stay or 鈥 if dreams really can come true 鈥 a long-term secured tenancy.
I had better not tell him what I read in the newspaper today. My former boss and ex-Controller of 主播大秀 Radio 4, James Boyle, was reviewing Terry Wogan鈥檚 latest autobiography Musn鈥檛 Grumble and suggested that the written work of this 鈥済reat bletherer of the airwaves鈥 sometimes seemed 鈥渂itchy and undignified鈥.
Six years ago, when I read Terry鈥檚 other autobiography Is It Me? I made a similar observation to my Wogan-obsessed friend. Well, if looks could kill! It was like I鈥檇 just told a four year old that Santa likes to creep down chimneys so he can steal toys from poor children.
But then, none of us likes a critic unless they are saying things we agree with. Also in the Herald today, for instance, was Anne Simpson鈥檚 radio review. Anne tends to side-step the Scottish radio market for most of the year so it was a nice surprise to see her praise an edition of 主播大秀 Radio Scotland鈥檚 Radio Caf茅 and highlight tomorrow鈥檚 Night Email.
Mind you, this praise was diluted by Anne鈥檚 suggestion that such programmes are something of a rarity on the station and her article read like the hostess of a posh dinner party telling you off for having poor dress sense but conceding that now and again you wear nice shoes. You wouldn't know whether to thank her or spike her After Eights with laxative.
My Mother used to tell me that if you can鈥檛 say something nice about someone then you should say nothing at all. But hey, where鈥檚 the fun in that?
