It’s been quite a week - what with Gollygate, the collapse of Project Kangaroo and yesterday, an unedited profanity on BBC Breakfast that left viewers choking on their toast. However, the highlight for me was hearing internet radio’s potential to become a viable alternative to FM move another step closer with the launch of Wight FM on the Isle of Wight.
These are indeed curious times, for as über radio group Global prepares to roll out another clutch of stations under the Heart brand, its smaller cousin The Local Radio Company has just announced plans to scrap networked shows across its group of stations. Of course, radioheads across the land are thrilled at the prospect and have already been quick to trumpet TLRC as the true saviours of local radio. But hold your horses - I’m not sure it’s quite as simple as that.
More sad news this morning - this time about bon vivant and raconteur Dai Llewellyn, who died yesterday at the age of 62. Dai was a regular contributor to the Talk Radio UK Breakfast Show back in the mid-90’s and in those heady days of supposed shock-jockery, I always looked forward to him appearing in the studio to stir up another hornets’ nest on whatever topical issue had happened to catch his eye.
I was sorry to hear that Alex Dyke is set to leave Isle of Wight Radio in January after 15 years with the station. His bright, enthusiastic and sometimes jagged style of broadcasting may not be to everyone’s taste - a bit like Marmite - but there’s no doubt that his presence on the local airwaves has made him as much a part of island life as The Needles.