I was genuinely excited walking into reception this morning. Things are happening at a rate of knots throughout the station and it’s without question the most exciting time since I’ve been here (a while).

Reception in 2000

Bearing in mind the various re-incarnations our “shop window” has gone through over the years it is finally turning heads outside… which is what we should be doing in every aspect of this new brand surely.

In the past we’ve gone through various designs in reception. From the days of Martin sat outside reception in a cold corridor with just a Christmas tree for company once a year. To the increasing height of the reception desk (every time we needed a new one another plank of wood was stuck on top to make it look new). Oh yeah…a few sofas have come and gone too, one has even ended up in the living room of someone on the Sales floor!

Reception in 2003

We’ve had a few misguided ideas that have gone up on the wall too…such as the nothing short of terrible wallpaper behind the reception desk that was supposed to look like shelves full of CD spines. It looked like a mess, literally gave you a headache if you looked at it, and lasted about a month [Note: Sadly, we don't have a picture of this].

Funnily enough the person who came up with that idea was the same person who came up with the idea of “Beau the dog” for one of our past TV ads. I would’ve loved to be in that brainstorm;

“Right people, how can we advertise our radio station and really get across the essence of the brand to the nation?”

“I know lets stick a dog in the back of a cab in a denim jacket. That’ll do the trick”

“Great idea! Midas anyone?”

Are you kidding me?? Rowan’s little girls could’ve come up with something better than that! And don’t even get me started on the god damn eggs…WTF??

So, no pressure, but can we please have a TV ad that rocks and not one that makes us look like cocks. If what they’ve done with reception is anything to go by I get the feeling it will be the former.

Reception in 2007

Which brings me back to reception. I know you’re not going to change it after filming…are you?!

If so, shotgun the Space Invaders machine.

Luke

[Note: You're going to have to wait until our new TV ad airs and is online to see what reception looks like just now! Watch this space...]