So, Christmas Eve I switch on LBC and the topic is "have you ever had a misscarriage". Switch off. I switch on again Christmas day afternoon whilst in the car and it's JOB on child abuse.

FFS LBC, if I didn't feel fekkin depressed enough before, I do now.

I'm not one for sticking my head in the sand and ignoring issues in real life - and I know these things don't stop for Christmas - but I have to ask why anyone would want to listen to this?

Surely it can'take be for entertainment? It doesn't fit my description of entertainment. Its like taking a cheap trip in other people's miser, to quote the Sex Pistols.

I can only think and hope that perhaps it's of help to those affected by such issues but from my own experience it doesn't really.

I don't know. Perhaps I'm just not similar to your average radio listener, but is that what people really want to hear on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Really?

Evening all

Why have they sent someone too young to know that Pepsi and Shirlie were part of Wham! to cover the terrible news of George Michael's passing? Surely they could have found someone older who would have more to add? (Although I understand they would have to be sober at such an ungodly hour on Boxing Day ).

Morning all

Steve doing a good job this morning

LBC have gone Princess Di on George Michael's passing. Almost blanket coverage since the news broke.

Was anyone listening to NA last night when the news of George Michael broke?

It seems like he was told to abandon his A to Z and talk only about George. He really didn't sound happy about it at all. He was honest in saying he knew nothing about him and callers would have to fill in the blanks for him.

After going to the news a good minute early, he returned sound terribly frustrated.

It made for a few awkward listening moments.

I agree SA is doing very well this morning.

Well, that depends on one's point of view of course. We are all sad when someone dies but I don't think Michael's passing warrants day long eulogies from any radio station, does it?
I briefly turned on Vallen, as I did yesterday morning but both then and today warrants instant clickey off, I'm afraid.
This is why I dread the passing of really significant people such as the Queen/Prince Philip as all broadcast media will then enter their truly silly mode.

I'm inclined to agree HHGTTG. I meant given the fact that SA was probably told to devote his show to George, he was doing a good job. Very sad news of course but no I don't think we need every presenter eulogising either.

I don't usually listen to NA but I heard him last night when the news broke. I thought he sounded really grumpy when having to switch from the A to Z to cover George Michael. I appreciate he didn't know anything about him, but he didn't even want to be adaptable by the way he exclaimed to his producer. Miserable old git.

Oh yes I heard Nick last night
Out of his depth really

Yes I heard that! I found it highly amusing. He was still doing the A-Z when a female phoned in and said: "Why are you still doing the A-Z? I don't want to talk about that I want to talk about George Michael."
He said 'but I don't know anything about him'.

I drifted off after that but woke a few hours later with Matt Standlen and the blanket coverage was in full swing. I quickly switched off.

Good god. I just dipped in and out quickly. Fanny's taking phone calls!!

Well, that still won't entice me to listen to Vallen unless he's got Roger Bisbey or Gerard Sauer with him!

Well said. This blanket coverage is completely over the top. The Princess Diana syndrome. I have to switch off.

I don't listen to him, but tbf to NA, he and his producer probably spent a lot time and put in an awful of lot of effort to compile that A-Z compliation, so I'm not surprised he might've felt a little miffed by that. I don't know if he will have a chance to do it later on. Still, when doing a live radio show, you've got to expect the unexpected that requires you drop the regular schedule.

SA is doing a good job because he has the callers to bat off from, which puts that LBC "it was before my time" reporter to shame. Their stories helps fill in the airtime. I doubt SA could do this w/o them to be fair.

Happy Boxing Day to all

Hopkins is coming up next. I wonder how she will handle her show. Will they let her take an opposite point of view or ignore the Michael story on such a "big" news day?

Did they not have blanket coverage when Bowie died?

At last at 10am LBC have realised there was other news to report in their bulletin. At 9am I switched over to BBC London just to hear if there was anything else happening.

10am role of Royal family
11am fox hunting
Noon the United Nations

I am sure some people will appreciate a distraction.

James Max (formerly of this parish) is having a good show over on talkRADIO.

Steve Allen this morning, finding it really difficult to have a natural conversation with anyone who rang in.

Steve seems to have a few stock lines he reaches for like, 'I often think that when something like this happens...'

Then there's slence as the person on the udder end of the phone goes, 'err', yeah, yes.'

And moves back to what he was saying about George.

The A-Z thing is one of the most boring things Nick has ever done. It's interminable.

Painful. I avoid.

Wow, thanks, I'm over there straightway.

Put him on and he was talking about George Michael, switched to 5Live and they were playing clips of commentators screeching at the Olympics. Ended up on LBC.

Love my Amazon Echo so am finally able to listen to TalkRadio on something that resembles a radio!

Agreed. Thank God for talkradio as it's the only listenable talk station there is at the moment.

It was quite brief, though.