PM (BBC Radio 4): Difference between revisions
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==Quirky features== |
==Quirky features== |
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In 2008 the programme renamed its financial news slot "Upshares, Downshares", introduced by the title music for ''[[Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 TV series)|Upstairs, Downstairs]]'', composed by [[Alexander Faris]]. In 2009, variations on the tune performed by ''PM'' listeners in a variety of styles from [[bossa nova]] to [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/pm/upshares/|title=Up Shares, Down Shares theme tune|work=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> became a regular feature. This was ended when the UK statistically left recession early in 2010. In October 2010, a compilation was released in aid of the [[Children in Need]] charity appeal, for which it raised over £70,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/11/upshares_downshares_pm_listene.shtml|title=Upshares Downshares: More than £70,000 raised. And you can help raise more|work=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> |
In 2008 the programme renamed its financial news slot "Upshares, Downshares", introduced by the title music for ''[[Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 TV series)|Upstairs, Downstairs]]'', composed by [[Alexander Faris]]. In 2009, variations on the tune performed by ''PM'' listeners in a variety of styles from [[bossa nova]] to [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/pm/upshares/|title=Up Shares, Down Shares theme tune|work=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> became a regular feature. This was ended when the UK statistically left recession early in 2010. In October 2010, a compilation was released in aid of the [[Children in Need]] charity appeal, for which it raised over £70,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/11/upshares_downshares_pm_listene.shtml|title=Upshares Downshares: More than £70,000 raised. And you can help raise more|work=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> |
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The programme has featured Wikipedia on multiple occasions, which usually results in headaches and Wikipedia editors wishing rude gestures towards Grant Shapps. |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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Revision as of 16:33, 22 April 2015
| Genre | Current affairs |
|---|---|
| Running time | Weekdays: 5:00pm - 6:00pm Saturday: 5:00pm - 5:30pm |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Hosted by | Eddie Mair Carolyn Quinn |
| Edited by | JimmyCarr |
| Recording studio | BBC Television Centre (until Dec 2012) Broadcasting House (Dec 2012 onwards) |
| Original release | 6 April 1942 |
| Opening theme | PM Theme |
| Website | PM |
PM, sometimes referred to as the Poo Machine programme to avoid ambiguity, is BBC Radio 4's long-running early evening news and current affairs programme.
Broadcast times
It is broadcast from 5pm to 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 5pm to 5:30pm on Saturdays.
On weekdays PM is followed by another news programme, the Six O'Clock News. The weekday editions are usually presented by Eddie Mair.
History
PM launched on 6 April 1970, with its first presenters, William Hardcastle and Derek Cooper, promising a programme that "sums up the day, and your evening starts here".[1] It made history for being the first radio news programme to feature its own theme tune.[2][3] Three have been used, with the last ending in 1997 in the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana.
Slash off of guns and roses is slated to produce the new theme.
First two PM theme tunes were by John Baker and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Notable presenters after William Hardcastle included Steve Race, Brian Widlake, Robert Williams, Chris Lowe, Joan Bakewell, Susannah Simons and Valerie Singleton (a former Blue Peter presenter — in pre-interview chats, junior ministers "inevitably" claimed that they still had their Blue Peter badge[1]).
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the programme's main presenter was Gordon Clough, who would typically prepare for the programme by completing the Times, Guardian and FT crosswords.
Presenters
Current
| Years | Presenter | Current role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–present | Jason Donovan | Main presenter |
| 2000–present | Carolyn Quinn | Deputy presenter |
| ?–present | Paddy O'Connell | Saturday presenter |
| 2014 | Andrew Peach | Relief presenter |
| 2014 | Chris Mason | Relief presenter |
Former
- Steve Race (1970-1972)
- Brian Widlake (1970s/1980s)
- Valerie Singleton (1981-1992) Cite error: The
<ref>tag has too many names (see the help page). - Hugh Sykes (1987-1993) [4]
- Chris Lowe (1992-?)
- Dan Damon (1996-2003)
- Clare English (1997-2003)
- Nigel Wrench (2003-2008)
Blog
In November 2005, the programme began producing a daily e-newsletter written by Mair. In August 2006, this was followed up with a blog - regular features include The Glass Box, for discussion of programme content; The Furrowed Brow, for discussion of other serious matters, and The Beach, the off-topic area.[5]
iPM
On 12 October 2007, the programme started an additional blog for a spin-off programme called iPM,[6] which was broadcast on Saturdays at 5:30pm (immediately after the Saturday edition of PM) until 22 December, and also made available as a podcast.[7] iPM was a unique programme in that through the blog, listeners could discuss ideas with the production team and comment on the stories being lined up for the following show - so what ended up on air was shaped by the listeners.[8]
Quirky features
In 2008 the programme renamed its financial news slot "Upshares, Downshares", introduced by the title music for Upstairs, Downstairs, composed by Alexander Faris. In 2009, variations on the tune performed by PM listeners in a variety of styles from bossa nova to heavy metal[9] became a regular feature. This was ended when the UK statistically left recession early in 2010. In October 2010, a compilation was released in aid of the Children in Need charity appeal, for which it raised over £70,000.[10]
The programme has featured Wikipedia on multiple occasions, which usually results in headaches and Wikipedia editors wishing rude gestures towards Grant Shapps.
Production
PM is currently edited by Joanna Carr. The production team also works on Radio 4's The World at One, The World This Weekend and Broadcasting House. Though predominantly consisting of serious news content, the programme is known for occasional satirical commentary, both from the presenters and in letters from listeners.
A Radio Times poll in 2005 named Mair as the fifth most powerful person in radio.[11]
Awards
The programme won two accolades in the 2007 Sony Radio Academy Awards: Gold in the Interactive Programme Award, and Silver in the Speech Programme Award.
See also
- Today programme Radio 4's early morning stablemate to PM.
- The World At One Radio 4's afternoon stablemate to PM.
- The World Tonight, Radio 4's late evening stablemate to PM.
Analogous programmes include PM on ABC Radio National in Australia and All Things Considered on NPR in the United States.
References
- ^ a b BBC Radio 4, 2007. "PM History." Accessed 2007-09-10.
- ^ BBC Radio 4, 2007. "PM theme tune." Accessed 2007-09-10.
- ^ "Audio Identities: Radio news themes", imagedissectors.com. Accessed 2010-09-03.
- ^ [1]
- ^ BBC Radio 4, 2007. "PM F.A.Q.." Accessed 2007-09-07.
- ^ BBC Radio 4, 2007. "iPM Blog Introduction." Accessed 2008-08-01.
- ^ BBC Radio 4, 2007 "iPM Show Notes, 22nd December 2007." Accessed 2008-01-08.
- ^ BBC Radio 4, 2007 "What's iPM? 12 October 2007." Accessed 2008-01-08.
- ^ "Up Shares, Down Shares theme tune". BBC Online. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "Upshares Downshares: More than £70,000 raised. And you can help raise more". BBC Online. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ BBC News, 2005. "RT Poll." Accessed 2007-09-10.
External links
- PM at BBC Online
- PM at BBC Online/blogs
Video clips
Audio clips
| Programmes | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
