Radio 2, what’s new?

What’s the point of yet more news on Radio 2 (Mail)? this is manipulating publicly owned space to extend platforms for politicians to thump their tubs.

Where’s the evidence that the public wants it?

Ofcom should listen to the many existing outlets and monitor how often Brexit, syria, famine, health scares, dietary advice, child abuse, failing education, accidents and disasters, stock market movements and Donald trump are mentioned.

Much BBC news is now dedicated to promoting forthcoming features programmes — and then there’s all that weather.

hours of important air space are lost in apologies for embarrassing dropouts and substandard phonelines, along with irrelevant quips and personal comment between presenters to fill the time.

Repetitive, distressing news bulletins are depressing the nation, feeding the latest self-serving news focus on the increase in poor mental health … ‘if you’re troubled by any of these issues…’. Responsible investigation of these concerns is important, but the BBC isn’t licensed as a daily therapist.

If adults want more news, they can access it 24 hours a day across thousands of radio, tV and internet channels, including many from the BBC. Most of it is highly repetitive at ten to 20 minute intervals, fattened out with sport.

With its mixed music and speech remit, and limited news, Radio 2 is now the only suitable public service radio conduit for children.

It carries the only public service speech radio for the under 14s, with the annual story competition 500 Words, and occasionally flags up the ten Pieces music project with Radio 3.

Ofcom should focus first on the needs of young listeners, who have been short-changed for decades, rather than newsaholics who are already excessively served.

SUSAN STRANKS, National Campaign for Children’s Radio,

address supplied. I DON’t share the concern others feel for Radio 2 (Mail).

I realise I’m probably in the minority (I wasn’t in the Nineties), but my enjoyment of the station faded about 20 years ago when controller Jim Moir engineered a dumbing-down in favour of an ageing Radio 1 following.

Radio 2 was unique in that it meant ‘variety’ — the Great american song Book (easy listening), country music, folk, jazz, Latin, songs from the shows and comedy.

It is now, with the odd exception, musically sterile.

My tastes are now satisfied by tuning in to such as Jazz FM and local stations. David Jacobs must be turning in his grave.

STAN HENDERSON, Kirkby Croglin, Cumberland.