The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

Nice shot of the VT clock just there on Central Tonight... "Late Night Titles", counting down before cutting to a shot of Victoria Davies. Anyone catch it??

Caught a bit of Elliott this morning.

Is there a place where they clone these regional commercial jocks, because if I hadn't known, I could've sworn I was listening to Flupton!

Anyone hear a funny noise on 95.6 at lunchtime?

I was waiting for a bus from Wolverhampton to Bloxwich & I couldn't get a WM signal on my phone radio!

(Could get everyone else including Radio Shropshire!)

Came back on when I got on the bus, which led me to think I was in the 'wrong place' (which didn't explain how I got BRMB, Smooth & Fart sorry Heart?)

Digital Spy are discussing it too!

Patrick Burns presenting the West Mids opt out of the Politics Show today.

(The first time for a few years, as he was the main presenter of 'The Midlands At Westminster' (well the main one I remember!), before being relegated to OB presenter when PS took over. (at this point Adrian Goldberg took over as studio presenter!)

Any idea why Pat was presenting today, as it's normally either Sarah or Mike presenting?

(I could ask Lib Dem MP John Hemming, as he posts on 'The Stirrer' forum as well as me!)

According to a post on Digital Spy, WM managing editor Keith Beech will finally be taking calls from the listeners on February 11th during the Doolan show.

(It appears that people at WM are aware of the previously mentioned Digital Spy thread & appear to be taking notice. Wonder if they're taking notice of comments on this thread & 'The Stirrer's' forum as well?)

Asked Hemming & he didn't know.

I hear that Michael has left The Politics Show to continue with his other freelance projects, so its now just Sarah and it makes sense that Patrick being the Political Correspondent is the other 'relief' presenter.

Worth noting, he is a biased Political Correspondent, he is an 'out' conservative supporter. I think they need to get people that favour nobody.

*shakes fist* Okay, maybe he isn't biased, but he still shouldn't favour one party over another.

Still wonder why he was dropped in favour of Goldberg anyway?

Anyway, onto other matters.

WM & Midlands Today have been concentrating on the Cadbury situation today, with Flupton gaining an extra half hour, to 10am, so he could have a phone in on Cadbury.

(Anyone hear Chinnie with his opinion? I must admit I was humming 'Land Of Hope & Glory', as he got into his stride!)

Jo Malin only ran 10 till 12, with her early words being 'I've got 2 bars of Dairy Milk with me in the studio!'

I texted in (which didn't get a mention, so what's new!), 'Ain't you on a diet then?'. (The WM thread on Digital Spy came up with better comments, refering to her sanity, or lack of it!)

At least she didn't mention the bloody dog!

Ed of course commented on it(which you would expect him to!).

Danny Kelly decided to ban all things American on the playlist(No Beyonce, no Billy Joel etc) & asked for British or European music to play. ('Oi Danny got any Quo?')

He also had a natter to Peter Franklin aka 'The Gabby Cabby', who makes a few appearences on various parts of the radio dial.

Franksy had a 'News Hour' between 5 & 6.

MT had Suzanne on location at Bournville, with contributors including Pat Burns, plus Joanne Writtle on location at Chirk, North Shropshire, where there is another Cadbury facillity.

Back in the studio was Mike Collie, with Shefali doing the weather as usual.

Tomorrow the Flupton Brekky Show comes from Bournville, plus Ladywood, as jobless related information is released.

I think it goes with the territory that any political journalist, in order to be enough of a politics anorak to be effective in that role, will have been following politics from an early age and probably got involved in the "junior" branches of a party, or an association when they were at University.

I don't think anybody who is totally without political allegiances either exists or could be effective as a political journalist.

True, but I find he can word things in a way that make the tories seem like the only answer (much like Nick Snobinson of the nationals.

A few notes from today.

Nick back presenting MT tonight with Suzanne.

Danny Scouser was absent from WM today due to a bit of emergency dental work(insert your own DK insult here!) so 'Our Mol' stepped in.(God help us! Mind you I did get a mention when I texted in, 'Surprised to hear you. Do you need the money?' 'Yes' was the on air reply)

Could be worse. Could be Jo Malin, who's getting a lovely slating on Digital Spy at the mo, I noticed, due to the banality of the show. (I never watched her on the telly. Was she this bad? I would've expected some hard news but all you hear about is food & dieting. It appears she's been told to knock off the continual mentions of the dog & husband.)

I suppose we'll have the Villa win rammed down our throats tomorrow on the Brekky Show courtesy of Flupton(he being a fan of course!)? Still we need some cheer round these parts due to the Cadbury situation!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/22/wm.shtml

Slightly off topic, but I spotted BRMB at Merry Hell today, giving out pink related things!

Not that it matters thesedays, but isn't Merry Hell technically Beacon territory?