Change at Late Date?

denishurley

I noticed a tweet from Lilian Smith today which mentioned unemployment, I wonder who's replacing her?

armchair fusilier

I thought as a presenter she was grand. So few people listen at that hour of the night, changing the presenter isn't going to change that - so why bother?. Unless, of course, it was her decision.

GSF

Confirmed by Alf tonight. Said he had no idea who the long term replacement would be.

denishurley

armchair fusilier wrote: »

I thought as a presenter she was grand. So few people listen at that hour of the night, changing the presenter isn't going that - so why bother?. Unless, of course, it was her decision.

The impression I got from her tweets, and others to her, was that it wasn't, but maybe it was

Scaramanga 4

I hope Val Joyce is coming back

HeidiHeidi

I (through the fog of near-sleep) heard her saying this last night :mad:

I thought she was the best presenter/DJ that RTE had, why on earth have they let her go? She gave no hint (that I remember) if it was her decision or RTE's, but either way, I'm very very sad to see her go.

Meangadh

Yeah last night she just said it about 45 minutes before the end of the show I think. Very odd. I don't see why RTE would have had to get rid of her- she was perfect for what she did, a great voice for late night radio and knew her music (well the genre that is played at that time anyway).

Alf McCarthy is on just there now and is reading out texts from lots of listeners who are very angry about it- he actually got a bit upset reading some out there. Must be quite awkward for him- especially as they broadcast from RTE Cork so I'm sure they all know each other very well down there.

I'm sorry to see her go anyway- definitely wasn't by choice going by her tweets. Pity.

danjo-xx

Couldn't stand the girl because she was a bit arrogant at times bring back maxi or John Creedon!

Meangadh

danjo-xx wrote: »

Couldn't stand the girl because she was a bit arrogant at times bring back maxi or John Creedon!

That's funny cos it took a while for me to warm to her too, I do know what you mean about her seeming arrogant but I don't actually think she is- I did like her in the end.

RadioAnalyst

It would seem that Late Date has been put out to Tender to the Independent Sector similar to The Business, The Media Show and others on RTE Radio 1. I presume that Lilian or Alf can pitch for the programme again through a production company etc but in the interim, it's sad to see the way the situation has been handled.

RadioAnalyst

heybaby

RadioAnalyst wrote: »

It would seem that Late Date has been put out to Tender to the Independent Sector similar to The Business, The Media Show and others on RTE Radio 1. I presume that Lilian or Alf can pitch for the programme again through a production company etc but in the interim, it's sad to see the way the situation has been handled.

RadioAnalyst

If that is the case it sounds like the decision was a financial one?

HeidiHeidi

heybaby wrote: »

If that is the case it sounds like the decision was a financial one?

But has Alf been kept on, and Lilian let go in advance of this process?

Wrong way round, IMO.

Scaramanga 4

Why on earth would you independently produce a show like late date ? It's a one man show playing a few tunes for 2 hours per night for gods sake.

armchair fusilier

Scaramanga 4 wrote: »

Why on earth would you independently produce a show like late date ? It's a one man show playing a few tunes for 2 hours per night for gods sake.

Is there actually any ads on these shows, I may be wrong, but I don't think there is. There would be a series producer, but the only person working when the show is on air is the presenter. How could it be viable for a independent to take this on? Any savings RTE would make would be negligible.

RTE are obliged under the [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Broadcasting Act 2009 to facilitate the commissioning of independent radio programmes. I'm guessing that this is a way of bringing up the number of these independent[/FONT] shows, but at the same time ensuring they are in the least valuable time slots.

Scaramanga 4

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

But has Alf been kept on, and Lilian let go in advance of this process?

Wrong way round, IMO.

Alf Mccarthy is a full time employee of RTE. I reckon Lillian Smith was freelance.

Red Fred

Scaramanga 4 wrote: »

Alf Mccarthy is a full time employee of RTE. I reckon Lillian Smith was freelance.

Alf said last night that as far as he knew her contract had come to an end. He got emotional and had to cut to an ad break.

Lady Chatterton

I'm so disappointed that Lilian has gone, I used to look forward to her shows at the weekend, I always preferred her presenting style to Alf's and her playlists were always very good.

I wonder who will replace her, I'm praying it's not Fiachna, Bryan Murray was excellent anytime he was on the show as a guest presenter but he is unlikely to be offered it I'd say.

Red Fred

MrsD007 wrote: »

I'm so disappointed that Lilian has gone, I used to look forward to her shows at the weekend, I always preferred her presenting style to Alf's and her playlists were always very good.

I wonder who will replace her, I'm praying it's not Fiachna, Bryan Murray was excellent anytime he was on the show as a guest presenter but he is unlikely to be offered it I'd say.

I quite like Aonghus MacAnally's style when he covered Late Date in the past.

Lady Chatterton

Red Fred wrote: »

I quite like Aonghus MacAnally's style when he covered Late Date in the past.

I like him too but he produces Derek Mooney's afternoon show so I can't see if taking on a permanent weekend presenting role too.

thesandeman

MrsD007 wrote: »

I like him too but he produces Derek Mooney's afternoon show so I can't see if taking on a permanent weekend presenting role too.

Think he left Mooney a few months ago.

Radio5

MrsD007 wrote: »

I'm so disappointed that Lilian has gone, I used to look forward to her shows at the weekend, I always preferred her presenting style to Alf's and her playlists were always very good.

I wonder who will replace her, I'm praying it's not Fiachna, Bryan Murray was excellent anytime he was on the show as a guest presenter but he is unlikely to be offered it I'd say.

I didn't hear the show too often but when I did I enjoyed in more than the weekday one. Sorry to see Lillian go.

Mykola

Foackna the fill in hosted the show last night, He hinted he will be doing it for the foreseeable future.

Oops69

Lillian always seemed a bit depressed to be there on a Sunday evening , glad to see her go , liked Brian Murray , no to Aoengus , he's completely painful .

P. Breathnach

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

But has Alf been kept on, and Lilian let go in advance of this process?

Wrong way round, IMO.

Agree fully, even though I actually prefer the music that Alf plays (it's the music I grew up to). But Lilian's cosy vocal manner is far easier to take, particularly late at night, than Alf's false camaraderie.

Skid X

I would agree with this article from Friday's Irish Times



http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2013/10/04/radio-silence-as-smith-moves-on/

Mykola

RTE Obviously didn't think she had much talent, She remained on the weekend graveyard slot for about 14 years, Never promoted and rarely used for cover work in recent years either.

denishurley

Or maybe with being based in Cork and family commitments or whatever, it just suited her to stay in that slot? Val Joyce did Late Date for years, hardly meant that RTÉ had no regard for him

Dwoogle

RadioAnalyst wrote: »

It would seem that Late Date has been put out to Tender to the Independent Sector similar to The Business, The Media Show and others on RTE Radio 1. I presume that Lilian or Alf can pitch for the programme again through a production company etc but in the interim, it's sad to see the way the situation has been handled.

RadioAnalyst

Any update on this ?

Dwoogle

denishurley wrote: »

Or maybe with being based in Cork and family commitments or whatever, it just suited her to stay in that slot? Val Joyce did Late Date for years, hardly meant that RTÉ had no regard for him

Val Joyce had worked with RTE radio for about 35 years before he was appointed host of late date

Evan DietrichSmith

Mykola wrote: »

RTE Obviously didn't think she had much talent, She remained on the weekend graveyard slot for about 14 years, Never promoted and rarely used for cover work in recent years either.

I'd say myself that was probably a lifestyle choice for her.

wouldnt listen too much to LD but she seemed well suited to the slot.

Alfie is a bit too lively and enthusiastic for that hour of the night, for me now.

I'm quite sure he has lots of fans and seems a very competent operator, so thats not a criticism,just a personal opinion.

Harry Angstrom

Lilian Smith was the perfect host for that show at the weekends. It's a shame that she's gone. The show has gone downhill since she went.

padd b1975

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

Lilian Smith was the perfect host for that show at the weekends. It's a shame that she's gone. The show has gone downhill since she went.

I agree.

In recent months I have noticed a prickly attitude creep into the way Alf deals with listeners texts, he is giving off a subtle 'my way or the highway' vibe to me at least.

Not cool Alfred:cool:

Homer Jay Thompson

What was the point dropping Lilian and giving yer man from the hot house flowers the gig ?

HeidiHeidi

Homer Jay Thompson wrote: »

What was the point dropping Lilian and giving yer man from the hot house flowers the gig ?

I don't mind the HHF guy, I like his mix of music - but I just wish they'd get rid of Alf and his endless reading of requests (none of which he ever seems to play) and his chitter chatter and laughing - not what I want to hear when I'm falling asleep. But maybe that's just me.

Bring back Lilian!

denishurley

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I don't mind the HHF guy, I like his mix of music - but I just wish they'd get rid of Alf and his endless reading of requests (none of which he ever seems to play) and his chitter chatter and laughing - not what I want to hear when I'm falling asleep. But maybe that's just me.

Bring back Lilian!

So annoying, also the way he attempts accents when mentioning a place, e.g. "John emailed, from Noo Joy-zee"

Losty Dublin

I actually enjoy his reading out the requests; he pays a little attention to what they say in them, even if he doesn't play their songs due to his playing them a day or so back. I do take perverse pleasure when he gets shirty at some of them It's stuff like this which makes Late Date unique; each presenter of the show has taken the presenters own charms and musical direction to the show over the years; it makes the show a worthy alternative to the generic playlisted and flashcard led output of other stations out there.

Evan DietrichSmith

Homer Jay Thompson wrote: »

What was the point dropping Lilian and giving yer man from the hot house flowers the gig ?

Did someone say Lillian was 'dropped'

Maybe there's more to the story than that?

danjo-xx

ok I'm 95 and late date to me was all about...well...surprise surprise....'music'
interspersed with a little chat or quip... When alf is on it seems to be all about,
'chat' interspersed with a bit of music here and there.

I know times have changed....but maybe its time for a Late Date for under 50's or 40's and one for over that.

HeidiHeidi

danjo-xx wrote: »

ok I'm 95 and late date to me was all about...well...surprise surprise....'music'
interspersed with a little chat or quip... When alf is on it seems to be all about,
'chat' interspersed with a bit of music here and there.

I know times have changed....but maybe its time for a Late Date for under 50's or 40's and one for over that.

+1

And I'm not even 95!

Harry Angstrom

danjo-xx wrote: »

When alf is on it seems to be all about, 'chat' interspersed with a bit of music here and there.

Alf has a huge ego. I remember him on Cork Local Radio and he was exactly the same. Lilian Smith let the music do the talking. She had the perfect voice and laid back attitude for a late-night music programme. I can't warm to Fiachra O'Whatshisname.

P. Breathnach

danjo-xx wrote: »

ok I'm 95 and late date to me was all about...well...surprise surprise....'music'
interspersed with a little chat or quip... When alf is on it seems to be all about,
'chat' interspersed with a bit of music here and there....

Not only that, but I find that the style of chat is exclusionary, starting with the tone in which he says "Welcome, my friends" in such as way as to suggest that the casual listener, or the listener who is not particularly a fan of his, is not being welcomed.

His ongoing conversations with a coterie of regular texters adds to that impression.

The programme seems to be the preserve of Alf and his buddies - and the rest of us are relegated to the status of eavesdroppers.

P. Breathnach

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

... I can't warm to Fiachra O'Whatshisname.

Fiachna Ó Braonáin: he's grand; inoffensive; no big ego.

Evan DietrichSmith

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Fiachna Ó Braonáin: he's grand; inoffensive; no big ego.

Blueprint for most Rte R1 DJs.

P. Breathnach

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

Blueprint for most Rte R1 DJs.

That's what I prefer; on a music programme, let the music content be the main attraction.

Evan DietrichSmith

P. Breathnach wrote: »

That's what I prefer; on a music programme, let the music content be the main attraction.

Good point, but a smidgen of personality is no harm either:cool:

padd b1975

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Fiachna Ó Braonáin: he's grand; inoffensive; no big ego.

Caught him a few times filling in for Creedon a while back.

Talk about chalk and cheese!!

I must say I was very impressed, tight links and a great choice of music.

thesandeman

Lillian is back next Monday covering for Alf. Don't know if it's just a once off.

HeidiHeidi

thesandeman wrote: »

Lillian is back next Monday covering for Alf. Don't know if it's just a once off.

Really???

Fantastic, must remember to text in and emphasise HOW MUCH WE MISS HER and hope that RTE take notice.

ford fiesta

Surprised she'd come back for a once off after she was let go

Going Forward

Don't like Alf's voice, bit too ingratiating.

Please don't let them change the sig tune!!

P. Breathnach

I'm enjoying Late Date tonight. Lilian has the ideal voice and personality for the programme. A big contrast with Alf's electric bunny rabbit. Pity it's a one-off appearance.