It is 3:16am in London (10:16pm in new yawk). I am listening to Tim “Midnight” Lichfield, a fine overnight presenter. One of the great joys of listening to the station has always been the “hand-off” between presenters. The repartee between Tim and Robin at the 4am hand-off has been priceless. Since most of you (as well as the bosses) are asleep at this hour you probably have not heard the conversation.

Early breakfast has been transformed by Robin into a programme with features to engage the early morning listeners. There are many milkmen, oil rig workers, and delivery persons already at their jobs who could use a laugh at this time of the day. Frequently, they are not attended to. During Robin’s tenure they have found a friend to help them through the odd hours of the morning while the rest of the Nation sleeps. The features “What’s the Story Morning Glory” and “the Workman’s Whistle” have galvanized these listeners. Not only that, but they have had the opportunity to win DAB radios as well.

I first started listening to Robin when he had a 2am programme on Sunday mornings. It was astonishing to me how such a young guy could be so professional. Perhaps the word progidy is what I’m searching for.

It doesn’t seem to me that he ever got a chance to move to a more suitable position on a regular basis. Yes, there are many talented presenters on the station. Maybe that is the answer.

In any event, I find it astonishing that a DJ in his 20s who has proven himself in every instance isn’t good enough to cut it at Absolute Radio.

I am sure he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do. It is Absolute Radio’s loss.

Bring on the Sony-award winning replacements.

Hope you get it right on his payslip!

Digging a bit deeper…. was the departure of non-sony-winning-djs a warning flare to the existing, and incoming djs? win or be binned?

In any event, there were two problems with Virgin Radio in my distorted mind, marketing and the constricted play list. The latter has been addressed and the former is a work-in-progress. The presenters weren’t the problem as far as I could tell. It’s disturbing to me to have presenters leave because they don’t have a Sony Award. Award shows are all bullshit. They are a function of marketing the award nominees among the judges. I don’t listen to a presenter because they have won an award. Maybe that’s impressive to other listeners, but not to me.

And what about Absolute Classic Rock, you don’t hear only classic rock when they simulcast the breakfast show and the drivetimeshow. So where is that good for?

B.t.w. I don’t hear the launch at 7.45, where can I listen again?

Well done David… oops, sorry Clive :-)

Good luck

Kind Regards from Italy

Giovanni