tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744024699281834535.post474312227105433287..comments2024-03-18T20:52:42.375+01:00Comments on Random radio jottings: Radio Lives - Jimmy YoungAndy Walmsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647763223166778941noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2744024699281834535.post-88477272378674342632016-11-13T22:32:25.520+01:002016-11-13T22:32:25.520+01:00Interesting to read JY's comment in the second...Interesting to read JY's comment in the second paragraph here - today, a West Country accent is an active *disadvantage* in broadcasting, the first era in the BBC's history when it has not been favoured over other non-RP accents (which is a factor in its decline). I would say this comes partially from a conscious desire on the BBC's part to balance out its previous bias towards anti-urbanism and to develop more of a standing (and indeed a physical presence, c.f. especially the Salford & Cardiff developments - in January 1979, a fairly representative month, Granada & HTV were ITV's strongest areas) in areas of the UK where it has historically been less well-regarded, and partially because Northern English and Celtic accents are no longer associated in the present tense (as they very much were when JY first made a name for himself as a serious interviewer) with industrial militancy which is perceived, by some, as an active threat to the security of the state and maybe even people's very lives. Also, there is a greater need now to give Scottish accents, at least, more representation now that secession is so much more of a live possibility. I don't begrudge Northern English and Celtic accents their greater representation - God knows that rural working-class accents have dubious associations with feudalism (as does the former accent of feudal lords which has also greatly declined, c.f. how Princes William & Harry speak compared to their father and paternal grandmother) which other working-class accents do not, and which made them more appealing within Reithianism - but I hate what has become of the Dorset accent so much that I can't help thinking broadcasting organisations have thrown the baby out with the bathwater.<br /><br />Interesting to reflect on moments when JY let his mask slip, so to speak - there was an occasion when he interviewed Peter Hitchens who expressed his dislike for the Americanisation of Hallowe'en (and I'm with PH on that, certainly) and when JY announced "he's author of a book called Abolition of *Britain*!", there seemed to be a definite endorsement in his tone of voice. But then JY always showed disproportionate enthusiasm for the most mundane things - he once said "and then we will* have some *news*!" as if it were the most exciting thing in the world, and as if there had never been news on any radio station before.<br /><br />"That was Raymond Lefevre, "Soul Coaxing", coaxing JY in the general direction of the grave ..."<br /><br />*I think it was "will" rather than "shall", which makes it seem even more dramatic because in JY's generation at least "will" would only have been used after "we" to put a special emphasis on the importance of what you are sayingRobin Carmodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825645880870474801noreply@blogger.com