- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber (1 Nov 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0571194354
- ISBN-13: 978-0571194353
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
219,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Radio > History & Criticism
- #43 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Film > History of Film > Britain
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The clue is in the title. "The Nation's Favourite". Radio 1 has always held a unique place in broadcasting, providing a soundtrack for several generations of children growing up in Britain. For "unique", though, perhaps read complacent, and in the 1990s the competition offered by commercial radio--allied to an unease as to who exactly Radio 1's target audience was--led to a realisation that the station had a fight to retain relevance and listeners. Enter Matthew Bannister. This book is essentially a chronicle of his time as Controller of Radio 1 from 1993 to 1998, taking the form of a series of interviews with the key protagonists, interweaved by Simon Garfield to produce a coherent narrative that shows up the bitchiness and back-stabbing behind the banter and japes. Normal office politics, in truth. We are witness to the axing of the "dinosaur" DJs, the hurricane that was Chris Evans, the mistake that was Mark and Lard on the breakfast show--all discussed with maximum acrimony. Bannister comes across as a likeable man in an impossible job, who by the time he hands over to Andy Parfitt has imposed a distinctive identity on the station, despite the falling figures. The BBC was brave to allow such an account to be written, and the result is a gripping depiction of the self-regarding world that is the media, constantly fighting the urge to eat itself. --David Vincent
Product Description
Five years ago, BBC Radio One gained a new controller. Matthew Bannister vowed to reinvent the station, the most popular in Europe. The station lost millions of its 100 million listeners, its most famous DJs left, and their replacements were disasters. Radio One's commercial rivals regarded the internal turmoil with glee.
In the middle of this crisis, Radio One allowed Simon Garfield unprecedented access to management meetings and to DJs in their studios. Everyone interviewed spoke in passionate detail about their struggle to make their station credible and successful once more. The result is a touching, exciting, and often hilarious portrait of a much-loved national institution as it battles back from the brink of calamity.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I find myself re-reading this book several times a year and I've lost count of the number of copies I've given to friends.
Insightful, well-written and very amusing.
If you think that Smashey and Nicey ARE the best characters Enfield and Whitehouse ever wrote then this is certainly the book for you.
Great interviews about the rise of Radio One, the era of the 'personality DJ' (I honestly used to listen to DLT every Saturday morning and LOVE 'snooker on the radio') the rebirth of the station in the early 1990's, the Chris Evans period - it's a great read, even if you have no interest in Radio One.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dipping into this compelling book is rather like discovering a lost world. In place of the dinosaurs you'll find the equally colossal egos of the "disc jockey". In some ways this may be an uncomfortable read for those over 40, evoking as it does all sorts of queasy memories of "The Bit in the middle", "Willie on the Plonker" and "Our Tune". this was an age when the Hairy Cornflake only had to finger his beard to be invited to open yet another supermarket/hospital wing/garden fete.
For those two young to remember the bloodletting at Radio 1 this is a valuable work of history ( they won't believe that the current Radio 1 was actually once this cosy, safe institution which had the playing of Status Quo and Cliff Richard ( who were they?)5 times daily as an article of faith.
Only the late John Peel ( and perhaps Nicky Campbell) emerge with any credit and this gem of a book also gives some insight into the survivalist instincts of Steve -when you read out a listener's e-mail always prefix it with "Love the show Steve"- Wright, Cull evader extraordinaire.
Sure to raise at least a wry smile in people of most ages. Enjoy it
For those two young to remember the bloodletting at Radio 1 this is a valuable work of history ( they won't believe that the current Radio 1 was actually once this cosy, safe institution which had the playing of Status Quo and Cliff Richard ( who were they?)5 times daily as an article of faith.
Only the late John Peel ( and perhaps Nicky Campbell) emerge with any credit and this gem of a book also gives some insight into the survivalist instincts of Steve -when you read out a listener's e-mail always prefix it with "Love the show Steve"- Wright, Cull evader extraordinaire.
Sure to raise at least a wry smile in people of most ages. Enjoy it
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book takes you on a trip through the recent life of Radio 1 - a rollercoaster ride whose path seems to be guided primarily by statistics, egos, and politics.
The scene is the last 10 years of Radio 1, and we see the station, with new head Matthew Bannister at its helm, battling to defend its listener figures against rising commercial competition, whilst at the same time trying to preserve its public broadcasting heritage.
The book gives a fascinating insight into this world which lies behind the voices we hear everyday. We read about hirings & firings, personality DJs & anti-personality DJs (yes, they exist), PR successes & media drubbings, and the fall & rise of the station's play-list - enforced with draconian vigour by the end.
If I have one criticism of this book (and I should point out that this does not make it any less enjoyable), it is that reading it, one might believe that Radio 1 IS the Breakfast Show. Even the chapters seem to correlate suspiciously with the high turnover of presenters it has witnessed.
Flagship product maybe, but I personally would have liked to have also read more about the station's increasing credibility in 'specialist' music areas such as dance & MOBO. I felt Tong, Westwood et al were dealt with rather briskly, eventhough to many listeners, they now define the station's ethos more than the likes of Zoe Ball.
However, to those for whom Radio 1 crafted the sound of their youth, for those who have merely a passing interest in the media circus and its colourful characters, or even for those who just like to see Chris Evans getting bad press, this book is well worth a tenner.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great ? Not arf, mate !
Tantrums! Tears! The story of gargantuan egos being exploded and crashing in flames! How new controller Matthew Bannister culled the Big Beasts of Radio 1 and set the station on... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Red not Dead
The Best Sound in Britain Poptasmagorical 1FM
A highly entertaining minute by minute account of one of the most turbulent periods of our No.1 stations history for any young folk out there who listens to Radio 1 and didn't know... Read more
Published 20 months ago by M. L. Richings
Be a fly on the wall as the station gets dragged into the 90s
I wanted an insight into how a top radio station runs but I wasn't expecting it to be so entertaining.
The book is a series of quotes from the people involved. Read more
The book is a series of quotes from the people involved. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by C. J. mockridge
Great mate...
very good glimpse inside the broadcasting industry. If you've ever wondered how things operate at BBC radio this makes a fascinating read, and if you've ever worked in broadcasting... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2004 by A. Charles
A must for all showbiz or media followers.
Garfield explains brilliantly his year at Radio One and does not asume the reader knows all the faces. Great descriptions of how the BBC works and what the stars are like. Read more
Published on 29 July 2000
Larding it Up!
A simply wonderful account of how minor celebrities become corrupted by the thrill of being in your homes. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 1999
An interesting insight into the decline and fall of radio 1
Simon Garfield perfectly captures the ego's and personality clashes of those who have worked at Radio 1 in the last ten. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 1999
Fascinating...
This was the most interesting book I've read in a long time... the story of the transformation of Radio 1 in the words of all the main protagonists. Read more
Published on 23 July 1999
Fascinating and revealing behind-the-scenes look at Radio 1
Quite amazing book, with an eye-opening statement virtually every other page... and very up to date, too - even dealing with Chris Moyles. Read more
Published on 20 May 1999
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