Welcome to The Listening Post, where each week we get an insight into the radio listening habits of a guest contributor. Once each person has made their picks, we ask them to nominate someone for the following week's Listening Post...
Last week Chris Sawyer, who produces The Matt Edmondson Show on BBC Radio 1 provided us with his listening highlights. They included Sir Terry Wogan on Desert Island Discs, Peter Allen on 5 live Daily and The Scott Mills Daily Podcast. You can view his full selections here.
Chris has nominated his BBC Radio 1 colleague Jacob Rickard to provide this week's Listening Post. Jacob works as an Assistant Producer on Annie Mac's Monday - Thursday night radio show (7-9pm).
Check out Jacob's selections...
Read moreA world tour without leaving the sofa
1. Gilles Peterson - BBC Radio 6 Music, Saturdays 3-6pm
"My favourite radio shows are full of surprises and I love that on Gilles’ show you never really know what to expect. It’s an easy, chilled Saturday afternoon listen, yet effortlessly pushes all sorts of boundaries (straight from Afro-Cuban composer Daymé Arocena into the 4.30pm news - you wouldn’t get that anywhere else!). Gilles’ knowledge of obscure jazz releases is terrifyingly encyclopaedic, yet he somehow still has room in his head for really new things of every genre (Sam Gellaitry is one of my favourite fresh discoveries). I don’t listen like a geek, I feel no pressure to try and keep up, and (notably for 6 Music) it’s inclusive; I’m not made to feel stupid for not owning the entire Blue Note Records back catalogue."
>> Listen here
Cattle, countryfolk and cliffhangers
2. The Archers Omnibus - BBC Radio 4, Sundays 10am
"I grew up in a household with no TV, so although I lagged behind in the league of playground pop culture references, my mind was instead broadened from an early age by two strong staples of family listening: 60s music & Radio 4. I’ve been aware of The Archers ever since I can remember, and I once went through a weird phase of obsession (including buying merchandise). I’ve chilled out a bit now, but I listen weekly: the current storyline about Rob’s abusive relationship with his pregnant wife Helen is a masterclass in scriptwriting, and makes for compelling listening. Our Sunday listening sessions are now accompanied by @ThePlarchers Twitter account (which immortalises the dramatic moments in Playmobil form - Rob is played by Count Dracula)."
>> Listen here
Hyperactive and hilarious
3. Toddla T - BBC Radio 1/1Xtra, Fridays 1-4am
"In the battle for winning the young audience’s attention, I reckon Radio 1 earns major points for its incredible night-time ‘specialist music’ personalities. Obviously I’m biased, but as a listener I love the way that Daniel P Carter, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart can make me fall in love with a new record in a really casual, yet completely endearing, way. Toddla T is very different but also incredible - his energy is infectious, his music selections are on-point, and he always makes me laugh out loud within seconds of hearing his Sheffield-tinged patois mannerisms. I’d love to see Toddla T get a more high-profile show - the way he can flip from dancehall to grime to drum’n’bass with equal amounts of knowledge and respect is impressive."
>> Listen here
The future of journalism
4. Serial
"I didn’t believe the hype when Serial was first around, so I recently went back and binge-listened to Season 1. Now I’m hooked on the new episodes (charting the true story of US soldier Bowe Bergdahl who was taken hostage by the Taliban for 5 years). Listening to Sarah Koenig’s whimsically intellectual presenting style, together with a really immersive narrative, is very inspiring… I’d love to make this kind of radio when I grow up."
>> Listen here
For taking your mind off things
5. Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour - BBC Radio 6 Music, Sundays 2-4pm
"My day job mostly comprises listening to vast amounts of brand new music, which means my ears get finely attuned to only appreciate music that might work for the specific show I produce. It’s important for me as a music fan that I don’t get stuck in that bubble, so it’s a lovely treat to hear a lot of songs that I’ll never need to know too much about, glued artfully together by Guy Garvey’s hilarious storytelling. Radio presenters of all kinds can learn loads from the way Guy spins yarns between all kinds of amazing classic music, with ridiculous anecdotes from his rockstar past and very charming listener letters. For me this show is an essential download, and it always does the job that radio is so good at doing: it removes me from my crowded tube carriage and transports me to weird and wonderful new worlds."
>> Listen here
Next Week's Listening Post:
"I’d like to nominate Rowan Slaney who produces podcasts for The Guardian (and is also by full disclosure, my girlfriend). I expect she’ll tell you about lots of amazing documentaries and begrudgingly also review something from Radio 1. Over to you, Rowan!"
Check back next Friday for Rowan's selections...
