11 December 2007

Radio review

Radio review
"Terry Wogan (Radio 2) was in jubilant mood yesterday following the success of Children in Need. He remained jolly even when his studio stopped working just before his show began. "They're having a bit of a tussle in the next-door studio," reported Sarah Kennedy.

Wogan's studio was beyond fixing ("The rubber band's broken," he quipped), so it was decided he should broadcast from Kennedy's. This led her into an extended flummox - "I'd better clear up quickly," she cried, "while Rod's on" - and brought a glorious image of Kennedy clearing her desk of, one imagines, knick-knacks and half-eaten pastries, to the stirring sound of Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?

The handover wasn't the slickest, with Kennedy still collecting her things as Wogan tried to start his show. "She carries a lot of equipment," he observed. Once he had the studio to himself, Wogan further described the shambles. "Sarah Kennedy's equipment is covered in mittens," he noted. The news headlines jingle crashed into the middle of 1973 by James Blunt, and rather improved it. Then it was back to happy tales of fund-raising antics. "6Music listeners knitted that Pudsey," said Wogan, referring to a giant, lonely bear left in the abandoned studio."

Titters and witters with Sarah

Titters and witters with Sarah
"Sarah Kennedy is an anomaly on grown-up BBC Radio: a female presenter d'un certain age who is neither an ex-performer nor born of News. Instead she brings with her the whiff of the home-mixed cocktail and the rustle of the Daily Mail - never happier than when giggling at modern life.

Her programme runs for just 90 minutes, from 6am to 7.30am; a job share with Wogan (7.30-9.30am), who is far too established to present a full, three-hour breakfast show. Though their styles are similar, Sarah can't help putting her foot in it. Her most recent gaffe was to report that she couldn't see a black man in the dark until he smiled. She apologised, but you fear that she doesn't know quite why.

On Tuesday she carefully read out a letter from a 53-year-old listener who'd taken her life in her hands and travelled on the tube. 'There was a group of Asian... erm... people,' said Kennedy, clearly worried that she might be using the wrong term. And, blimey, one of these 'people' offered the listener his seat! 'Their behaviour was exemplary!' read out Sarah. Hallelujah! Play them a record! And then wonder why anyone needed to know that they were Asian!

If you start your day with Sarah, your life takes on a butterfly quality. One minute she's treating you to her 'mazin' observations - 'I saw my first kingfisher up at Ludlow. They're tiny!' 'Why can't Ruth Kelly have a law that bicycles must have a light on them?' 'Everybody I know has got colds' - and the next she's wondering who the next record is by. 'Who have we got here? Terence Trent D'Arby? Ah.' Plus, she insists on reading things out - an Oscar Wilde poem (Tuesday), a letter about chicken feed (Wednesday), an entire news piece on shoes that cure sweaty feet (Thursday). If you heard this stuff on local radio, you'd feel short-changed. A small titter, a lengthy witter, that's Sarah's formula. It can't last."

Radio presenter special guest at Manderston charity fundraiser

Berkshire News: Radio presenter special guest at Manderston charity fundraiser
"BBC Radio 2 presenter Sarah Kennedy was the special guest at an Auction of Promises held at Manderston on Saturday evening by kind invitation of Lord and Lady Palmer.

SK on the stairs

The event was held to raise funds for CLIC Sargent Scotland (Cancer and Leukaemia in Children) and Christ Church, Duns, to help provide a disabled access to the church premises. The proceeds will be shared equally.

Promises for auction were varied and numerous, ranging from a piece of ham to a week in a holiday cottage in Italy and from dinner for two to a day at the races. There was also a silent auction and a raffle.

Mr Hugh Veitch conducted the auction in his own inimitable style. Sarah Kennedy also helped auction some of the items and kept the crowd well entertained.

Those present were welcomed by Kenn Webb, priest at Chirst Church, and he firstly introduced Hamish Aldridge, community fund-raising manager for CLIC Sargent who spoke about the work of the charity.

He then introduced Elaine Whellans from Duns whose son Aarron suffers from leukaemia.
Elaine gave a first hand account of just what it is like to have a child suffering from leukaemia and the help they receive from CLIC Sargent.

Finally Sarah Kennedy gave an amusing talk and invited everyone to put their hands in the pockets for the two worthwhile causes."

SK in the news again!

Independent: The gap in radio markets: Smashing the mould
"Recent high-profile episodes of racist overtures from Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time producer Trevor Taylor and Radio 2's Sarah Kennedy have exacerbated relations. Taylor presided over a three-minute discussion about the flower Rhodochiton volubilis being known as "black man's willy", while Kennedy received flak for implying that black people should keep their mouths open in the dark so that motorists can see them at night. Ofcom, the media watchdog, is now "considering" both incidents following a number of complaints."