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The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
My grandmother grew up brushing her teeth with radioactive toothpaste
Yes, I did listen to a bit of radio. Even a spot of Radio 4 comedy. Brave, I know, but I do like policeman turned comedian Alfie Moore's It's a Fair Cop (currently broadcast on Monday nights in the 6.30pm slot). But nothing serious. Nothing with any gravitas. Or nearly nothing. I did stumble on the latest series on Radio 4's The History Podcast. Well, I say, stumble but, actually, I was given a nudge by its producer. Read more I'd rather slept on Joe Dunthorne's current series Half-Life. I think I'd read the words 'Nazi Germany' in the blurb and decided it wasn't for me. How much Nazi Germany do you need, after all? But that really wasn't what Half-Life was about, as the arresting opening line testified: 'My grandmother,' Dunthorne began, 'grew up brushing her teeth with radioactive toothpaste.' Strong opener. Better still was the information that it was his grandmother's father who had made said toothpaste. Half-Life is a family biography that - like all family biographies - weaves into the flow of history. Dunthorne's great grandfather was a Jewish chemist working in a poison gas lab with the Nazis. And that is just the start of it. All episodes are available on BBC Sounds and The Road Through the Mountains, the episode that aired on Radio 4 this week (on Wednesday) was a particularly tough listen. At the heart of it was a telling of the story of the Dersim Massacre in Turkey in 1937 and 1938, when the Turkish government killed thousands of civilians during a Kurdish rebellion; 14,000 is the government figure. Others suggest the death toll was three or four times that number. 'That's why most people say the river was flowing blood,' Dunthorne's guide told him. 'It was not water, it was just blood.' To escape the Nazis, Dunthorne's family had fled to Turkey. His great grandfather may have helped the Turkish government buy chemical weapons from the Germans. Poison gas was then used to kill those who had fled into the mountains. History, Dunthorne is telling us here, leaves a stain on those who come afterwards. In Half-Lifee you can hear it in his voice. Over on 6 Music Tom Robinson was celebrating his 75th birthday on his Now Playing show on Sunday evening. The BBC's present was to take the slot away from him. Mary Anne Hobbs is taking over this weekend. Tom Robinson celebrated his 75th birthday (Image: BBC) Robinson, who has been occupying Sunday night on 6 Music for the last 14 years - in fact he's been a regular on the station for 23 years, all told - drolly opened proceedings by playing Here's Where the Story Ends by The Sundays. What followed was an understandably slightly self-indulgent two hours in which he played quite a few of his own songs - as requested by his listeners - and, for the most part, displayed a commendably stiff upper lip. He did admit that the whole thing was a little bittersweet, though he encouraged his listeners to tune in to Hobbs's show when it started. At least there were plenty of birthday/farewell messages from his fellow 6 Music DJs and the odd musician - Lauren Laverne, Nithin Sawhney, Jason from Sleaford Mods and Peter Gabriel most notably. Tony Blackburn - still going strong at 82 - also offered his congratulations, as did The Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan. The latter was presumably prompted by that old social media meme of Robinson dancing around the studio to Tinseltown in the Rain. Understandably. That tune is one of 20th-century Scotland's greatest gifts to the world. I was at best an irregular listener to Now Playing, but rather like the late Annie Nightingale, it was always clear Robinson had built up a real rapport with his audience. We're promised a 'borderless spectrum of music' on the new Mary Anne Hobbs show. That's her USP, of course. But is that what listeners want at teatime on Sunday? Time will tell. Listen Out For: Bill Dare: Comedy Alchemist, Radio 4, Thursday, June 12, 6.30pm Talking of Radio 4 comedy … This tribute programme celebrates the career of the late radio and TV comedy producer Bill Dare, creator of The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Dead Ringers. Dare was killed in a motor accident earlier this year.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and assault
Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault at a court hearing in London. The broadcaster, comedian and actor appeared at Southwark Crown Court, where he formally denied the five charges for the first time. He faces one allegation of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two further counts of sexual assault. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1999 and 2005, and relate to four women. The 49-year-old will now face a trial, which is scheduled to begin on 3 June 2026. Mr Brand did not speak to reporters and looked straight ahead as he entered the court building wearing a dark suit and unbuttoned shirt. He is accused of oral rape and sexual assault against one of the women in July 2004, and is accused of raping another woman in 1999. He is also charged with indecently assaulting a woman by grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet in 2001, and with sexually assaulting a different woman by kissing and groping her in 2004 or 2005. He stood in the glass dock as he spoke to confirm his name, and replied "not guilty" after each of the counts were put to him. He walked out of the dock in his sunglasses and thanked the usher as he left. The media personality and influencer, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, will remain on conditional bail until the trial. A pre-trial review has been scheduled for 20 May 2026. After being charged in April, he released a video saying he was not a rapist and had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. "I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that," he told followers at the time. Mr Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and became a household name as host of TV shows like Big Brother's Big Mouth, and with his own radio programmes on stations including BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music. He went on to establish a Hollywood career, starring in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek.
The Herald Scotland
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Irreplaceable BBC radio legend confirms exit after 16 years
It comes as BBC Radio 6 shared its spring and summer programming with listeners. The 45-year-old who is known for presenting New Music Fix Daily with Deb Grant (Mondays – Thursdays, 7-9pm) and The Ravers Hour (Fridays, 11pm-12am) said it's 'been a blast' and "it's been a tough decision to make" as he steps down from both shows in a few weeks' time. Tom Ravenscroft to leave BBC Radio 6 after 16 years In a post on Instagram, he said: 'It's with a heavy heart that I announce that after 16 years I'm to leave Radio 6 Music at the end of May. New ventures, foreign travels and being around to do the school run beckons. "It's been a tough decision to make, I've met so many wonderful people as a result of this job and will be forever grateful. You couldn't ask for a more fabulous community. "Thanks to everyone who tuned in, sent music, recorded sessions, put together mixes and sent funny emails. It's been such a treat to have been able to do this job; listening to everyone's creations, building shows and sharing what I've found. "I'd like to think we all have bigger, better and more interesting record collections as a result of the time we've spent together. "Special thanks to all the producers, assistants, engineers and presenters I've worked with over the years. It's been a ball, thanks for having me." Tom's final New Music Fix Daily show will be Thursday, May 29, and his final edition of The Ravers Hour will be Friday, May 30. As he confirmed his exit from the popular station, Samantha Moy, head of BBC Radio 6 Music said Tom is 'irreplaceable' and 'quite simply a 6 Music legend'. She commented: 'On behalf of us all at 6 Music, I want to thank Tom Ravenscroft for his huge contribution to 6 Music over the years – for his work spotlighting formidable electronic artists with his own shows, including the peerless Ravers Hour, as well as shaping the sound of our evenings with New Music Fix Daily and his incredible series, Peel Acres. 'He is quite simply a 6 Music legend: iridescent and irreplaceable - we will all miss him.' Joining Deb to present New Music Fix Daily from Monday, June 2 (7-9pm) is Nathan Shepherd. Nathan will continue to present Indie Forever on Fridays (9-11pm), which was recently nominated for an Audio and Radio Industry Award (ARIA) and a New York Festivals Radio Award. Nathan shared: "All my life I've been passionate about new music. Without new music there's no future in music. 'I'm so excited to be a part of the New Music Fix Daily team and to present alongside the amazing Deb Grant." Recommended reading: Is Tom Ravenscroft John Peel's son? Tom is the son of the late BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, who was better known as John Peel. He was said to be the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until he died of a heart attack in 2004.
Rhyl Journal
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Irreplaceable BBC radio legend confirms exit after 16 years
Radio 6 star Tom Ravenscroft will be leaving at the end of May as new ventures, including "being around to do the school run," beckon. It comes as BBC Radio 6 shared its spring and summer programming with listeners. The 45-year-old who is known for presenting New Music Fix Daily with Deb Grant (Mondays – Thursdays, 7-9pm) and The Ravers Hour (Fridays, 11pm-12am) said it's 'been a blast' and "it's been a tough decision to make" as he steps down from both shows in a few weeks' time. In a post on Instagram, he said: 'It's with a heavy heart that I announce that after 16 years I'm to leave Radio 6 Music at the end of May. New ventures, foreign travels and being around to do the school run beckons. "It's been a tough decision to make, I've met so many wonderful people as a result of this job and will be forever grateful. You couldn't ask for a more fabulous community. "Thanks to everyone who tuned in, sent music, recorded sessions, put together mixes and sent funny emails. It's been such a treat to have been able to do this job; listening to everyone's creations, building shows and sharing what I've found. "I'd like to think we all have bigger, better and more interesting record collections as a result of the time we've spent together. "Special thanks to all the producers, assistants, engineers and presenters I've worked with over the years. It's been a ball, thanks for having me." A post shared by Tom Ravenscroft (@tomravo) Tom's final New Music Fix Daily show will be Thursday, May 29, and his final edition of The Ravers Hour will be Friday, May 30. As he confirmed his exit from the popular station, Samantha Moy, head of BBC Radio 6 Music said Tom is 'irreplaceable' and 'quite simply a 6 Music legend'. She commented: 'On behalf of us all at 6 Music, I want to thank Tom Ravenscroft for his huge contribution to 6 Music over the years – for his work spotlighting formidable electronic artists with his own shows, including the peerless Ravers Hour, as well as shaping the sound of our evenings with New Music Fix Daily and his incredible series, Peel Acres. 'He is quite simply a 6 Music legend: iridescent and irreplaceable - we will all miss him.' Joining Deb to present New Music Fix Daily from Monday, June 2 (7-9pm) is Nathan Shepherd. A post shared by BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc6music) Nathan will continue to present Indie Forever on Fridays (9-11pm), which was recently nominated for an Audio and Radio Industry Award (ARIA) and a New York Festivals Radio Award. Nathan shared: "All my life I've been passionate about new music. Without new music there's no future in music. 'I'm so excited to be a part of the New Music Fix Daily team and to present alongside the amazing Deb Grant." Recommended reading: Zoe Ball returns to BBC Radio 2 after quitting the Breakfast Show 4 months ago All the acts who made it through to Britain's Got Talent's final after tonight's show Celebrities wish Lorraine Kelly a 'speedy recovery' as she undergoes surgery Tom is the son of the late BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, who was better known as John Peel. He was said to be the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until he died of a heart attack in 2004.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC Radio 6 listeners devastated as star announces he's leaving the station
BBC Radio 6 listeners were gutted after Tom Ravenscroft announced his departure from the station in a heartfelt statement BBC Radio 6 listeners were gutted after Tom Ravenscroft announced his departure from the station in a sad statement. The presenter, who is the song of late radio star John Peel, hosts two shows on the station, including New Music Fix Daily as well as The Ravers Hour on Friday nights from 11pm. Tom's final shows will be on May 29 and 30, and he shared a statement about his departure. He said: "Argh man, this is a sad moment. It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to depart 6 Music but pastures new beckon. It's been a blast, I've met so many wonderful people as a result of this job and will be forever grateful. "Thanks to all the crew on New Music Fix Daily and Deb [Grant, his co-host] for the past two years in Salford, I think we did some cool stuff. Lots of love to the listeners and everyone who has ever sent me music. I will miss it all. Forever yours. Tom.' Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, said: 'On behalf of us all at 6 Music, I want to thank Tom Ravenscroft for his huge contribution to 6 Music over the years – for his work spotlighting formidable electronic artists with his own shows, including the peerless Ravers Hour, as well as shaping the sound of our evenings with New Music Fix Daily and his incredible series, Peel Acres. "He is quite simply a 6 Music legend: iridescent and irreplaceable - we will all miss him.' Tom shared the announcement on his social media page and his radio pals and fans rushed to the comment section to share their heartbreak over his exit. "Omg you really can do that trick! Sorry I didn't believe you, we'll miss you Thomas," DJ Deb Grant posted while Lauren Laverne commented: "You'll be such a miss! Loads of love and luck for everything that comes next." Mary Anne Hobbs said: "Peerless DJ and beloved friend.. i'll really miss your face-melting selections, your dry wit and your warm generosity on and off-side Tom." Meanwhile, in early June, Mary will be making her return to 6 Music to present a new show on Sundays between 6 and 8pm fron 8 June. According to the BBC, the show will feature a 'borderless world of music' and have open conversation with the world's 'most fascinating artists'. Mary Anne said in a statement: 'It's a joy to return home to 6 Music, and pull-up next to my teenage hero Iggy Pop. The new show will be a home for music across all spectrums, outliers to headliners. "Open conversations with the Artists we love. New experiments in storytelling and sound. Come with us.'
