[Red Moon]

Becks on Radio 2: celebrity worship goes too far

David Beckham. Kate Thornton. Radio 2. Christmas Day. Why? Why?!

Individually, I like them all. But why is the thought of their gestalt - in the form of a special broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day - so unpalatable?

For two hours the network will host Line of Enquiry...David Beckham. Listeners have until Friday to post questions and song suggestions for this "unmissable Christmas Day special".

No doubt the station will be mystified by my response. It is still so pleased with its programming "coup" that - four days after the announcement - a photo of Becks still dominates its home page, obliterating the usual comforting Radio 2 fare, such as what Nigel Ogden is serving up on The Organist Entertains, or where Clare Teal presents Big Band Special from this week (Birmingham Town Hall, if you must know).

But what is slightly worrying about all of this is Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas's increasing tendency to prostrate herself in front of the altar of the false god of the celebrity.

There has been the shunting aside of specialist music programmes in the evenings on Monday to Thursday in favour of the ghastly incessant witterings of Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie - Smashy and Nicey redux.

Then there was Davina McCall's grating stint standing in for Ken Bruce. The chatter about herself was incessant: Why she always wears black on Big Brother. Fascinated? Her tendency to flash her bra at Wogan. How hilare!

The exception: Brad Pitt's documentary on the late Nick Drake was a thoughtful examination of a brilliant underrated artist who deserved wider exposure. But that worked because of the Hollywood star's deep appreciation of the folk singer-songwriter's talents.

Returning to the Christmas special, Radio 2 is all about melodic music - not Becks' specialist subject. While I might be fond of the man - this is in the realisation that he has nothing much to say. And as for Kate Thornton, yup, got it, I realise that she is a polarising influence on many of you, but she was a very good host of The X Factor and I think has the warmth to be a real success on Radio 2.

I should get too worked up - I will be tucking into my Christmas lunch at the time this is on and any attempt to lay a place at the table for Radio 2 will be met with extreme hostility.

Lesley, if you do get this far, please resist the temptation to turn the station into Heat FM.

Source: Guardian Blog