>Believe it or not, the following was actually posted by someone to one of BBC Online's message boards.
>
>
> Re: Danny Baker Sam Lowry - 12:54am Fri 08 Sep 00
>Apes,ivory and peacocks to you,Sean, for quite rightly encouraging Radio 2 to hire the comic genius that is Danny Baker.On his day Danny is surely the most inspired,innovative presenter on radio and R2 would benefit greatly by bringing him on board.
>

When he's on form (which I grant you, hasn't been for some time) there's no one to touch him. Given R2 currently employs Steve Wright (who just sounds so so tired) and Jonathan Ross (ditto), why the hell should Baker not be taken on board?

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

Baker's Morning Edition on Radio 5 (1992-93) was the best breakfast show on UK radio. So there.

In complete agreement - Baker's radio shows are untouchable. Many see him as the classic 'Cockernee Wankah' but he is smart, witty and *knows* his popular culture, he loves it and understands it - his brief appearances on the I Love the 70s shows demonstrated this alongside the know-nothings like Theakston, Flett, Burchill et al.

Danny Baker - second only to the great Morris Man in my not so humble opinion. And I am a radio enthusiast of longstanding.

Hmmmmmm.....clearly I'm in the minority here. A piece in one of the papers once suggested that one reason he gets fired so often is his Estuary English doesn't travel well north of the Wash. I won't comment.

>Hmmmmmm.....clearly I'm in the minority here. A piece in one of the papers once suggested that one reason he gets fired so often is his Estuary English doesn't travel well north of the Wash. I won't comment.

An interesting remark, given some of the comments on this forum about Londoncentric media types not giving non-Londers a fair crack of the media whip. And Mark and Lard's Manchester twang hasn't lost them listeners down South. Go figure...

"Baker's Morning Edition on Radio 5 (1992-93) was the best breakfast show on UK radio. So there."

But didn't he once read out a letter from you, Justin? You're not exactly impartial, are you?

I never really listened to him, but I thought he was a self-important twat over the "Release The Peace" tape affair (1994)

>I never really listened to him, but I thought he was a self-important twat over the "Release The Peace" tape affair (1994)

Whatthat?

After the Remebrance Day service in '94, Baker had to put on a jingle advertising a R1 show called "Release The Peace", a discussion about the merits of war, apparently. Cue Baker to pull the tape out halfway through, say "who said to put that crap on on a day like this, no wonder this station's losing listeners etc.", make statement to the press about how he "sets great store" by events such as Remembrance Sunday.

I didn't hear it, but I heard Nicky Campbell taking the piss out of him a few days later (tearing out a perfectly inoffensive tape and shouting "That's appalling!").

I just thought: "What a phoney". He must have known it was coming up, and anyway the only point of making a scene would be to draw attention to his own righteousness, not to make any point for Remembrance. If not, why "set great store" only by the official memorial, when there is an anniversary every day of the year?

Hmm. I like Baker but I have equal disdain for these show off, aren't I a man of the people gestures.

But I did hear the original incident and I wouldn't be *too* surprised if Baker didn't know what was on the tape before he put it on... some of his finest moments on radio have ages of dead air as he roots around for a particular jingle... it's not the slickest production, let me put it that way.

Also this trail was scheduled on Remembrance Sunday itself, and probably not too long after the minute's silence. I think Baker was right to make the point that playing it in full would have made Radio 1 sound stupid, insensitive and crass.

They were exactly the kind of thing that gives Daily Mail writers the excuse to call for the end of the BBC, so full marks to Baker for paying attention.

>"Baker's Morning Edition on Radio 5 (1992-93) was the best breakfast show on UK radio. So there."
>
>But didn't he once read out a letter from you, Justin? You're not exactly impartial, are you?

Two letters, one of which was mentioned in passing during an item which lasted approximately 45 seconds. Not as if I *worked* on the fucking show, surely.


>I never really listened to him,

Don't let Pets Win Prizes and his patronage of Chris Evans fool you.

but I thought he was a self-important twat over the "Release The Peace" tape affair (1994)

Didn't hear it, can't comment. That was Radio 1. I'm talking about the backwater of Radio 5, before he believed in his own hype. (To be fair, he's been quite happy to say since that he didn't really belong on R1.)

Well, let's be fair to him, he's the man that got "Bingo Master's Breakout" by The Fall released by Miles Copeland's label BEFORE all the other labels were interested, and he saw the talent in Spandau Ballet when they were a top 10 band. How can one man be more prescient than that?!?

>Apes,ivory and peacocks

Ah, that's it is it? I always thought he was saying "Eight Siberian peacocks."

No doubt someone will educate the ignorant me on where it comes from....

I _think_ Apes, Ivory and Peacocks comes from a poem about boats full of riches by John Masefield.

The "Release The Peace" jingle came in straight after the minute's silence, which I too thought was rather distasteful, and frankly I didn't blame him for kicking off. As someone who has worked in radio, I can confirm that presenters have very little choice over or knowledge of the jingles and trailers that are shoehorned into their shows...

And I too not only had a letter read out on Danny Baker's R1 show, but also performed a stunt live on air, something that I wish I had a tape of...