I haven't really listened to any non-sport talk radio since talkSPORT (my station of choice - at least until last week!) became a 24-hour sports radio station in 2012, although I'd listened to the non-sport output on said station regularly for the dozen years before that. While I wasn't looking forward to talkRADIO as much as I was talkSPORT 2 (which has gotten off to a great start as far as I'm concerned), I've given the shows that caught my eye in the new talk station's schedule a chance and I've really enjoyed what I've heard.
Iain Lee, who I'd only heard good things about but had never really made a point of listening to at length, has been a revelation, so engaging and funny, working ever so well with both his co-host Katherine and the callers. I can see myself moving away from talkSPORT's Sports Bar to listen to him on a regular basis. I've always been a big fan of Ash Gould from his work on that show and with talk hosts of old in James Whale and Tommy Boyd, so I caught up with the first Brothers Gould show with Jonny on demand and really enjoyed that too I'll be dropping into that show when it doesn't clash with my sports watching and listening! I'd never listened to Jon Holmes before this week, but his opener on Monday was riotous. Like SoulBoy I'm a big Hawksbee & Jacobs fan, but on first listen Jon sounds like a really good alternative. Based on his talkSPORT work alone (not heard him on talkRADIO yet), I don't rate Sam Delaney at all - and as I don't rate talkSPORT's Drive show too, I'd love to hear either Holmes or the Goulds being moved to talkRADIO's 4-7pm slot.
I take my hat off to The Wireless Group - they've launched talkRADIO and talkSPORT 2 within a week of each other, and as someone who likes my sport and a bit of talk radio I think both stations are superb. Both new stations are actually overshadowing the main talkSPORT for me, which (live sport and off-peak magazine shows aside) has become very formulaic in recent years. I can see myself drifting away from talkSPORT and listening to these two new stations on a regular basis.