Times Radio

I prefer the spoken word to music on the radio. Always have, always will. My digital tuning dial is usually set to BBC Radio 5 Live in the car, kitchen and office. Occasionally, I’ll tune in to James O’Brien at 10am on LBC. But the parade of idiots masquerading as the Average Joe that are permitted to impart their ‘wisdom’ live on air can quickly become tiresome. And I don’t tune in to other LBC shows or TalkRadio because I’m not a Nazi.

There’s a new player on my dial though. I happened to have been rostered an early turn on Monday, so I caught the launch of Times Radio. I subscribe to the digital version of the Times newspaper so I’ve read a lot of what most of the presenters have to say. Now I get to listen instead. Or as well as…

I have to say I’ve enjoyed Times Radio this week. This evening I’ll listen to the first Michael Portillo show. There are a million political reasons that I should really rather detest Portillo. Yet I don’t. Perhaps it’s his rail shows that I have enjoyed for so many years. Perhaps it’s just his ability to discuss any issue, no matter how controversial, with a sense of civility and good humour. Perhaps it’s just the sound of his voice. Familiar, unique, trustworthy, authoritative.

And perhaps this evening he’ll remind me of a few of those reasons I should detest him and I’ll tune back in to BBC Radio 5 Live.