I think it's generally acknowledged that that was one of Max Clifford's more imaginative inventions. Not sure about the prediliction shared with Sarah Ferguson, though..... 

smittims,

Yes but Mellor is at my level, and you criticised him for that which suggests an intolerance of the amateur music-lover who has a broadcasting ability.

Mellor has no reason to mis-inform (he is not promoting chart CDs in the most-wanted list), he plays works rarely heard elsewhere on the station and does more than read off the CD notes. He will say if he's quoting the notes, and then will say what is his opinion. His programme has a sort of catch-phrase 'if you liked that then you'll like this' which gives the show a continuity that will often capture one's attention for the whole duration of the programme.

I'm disappointed with Titchmarsh on R2, he 'witters', provides little in the way of information and his show is too broad - it can feature David Oistrakh, Janet Baker, Arthur Askey and John Travolta in one show 


Cheers


John W

I found Mellor bumptious and somewhat obnoxious as a politician...full of himself and a shameless self-publicist.

However, he was certainly one of the better things about the last Conservative government (and, let's fact it, there weren't many of those, were there?)....before his destruction by the press, he managed to stave off right-wing attacks on the BBC and would have probably made a very good Culture Secretary, had he been allowed to continue.  He would certainly have been more of a friend to the Arts than the God-awful Tessa Jowell.

Have the Tories improved since then? I hadn't noticed.

My feeling is that virtually all politicians from all parties are unscrupulous and hypocritical, and my comment on Tories should in no way be understood as implying the slightest support for Labour or the Liberal Democrats. It is however my opinion that, after the two world wars, the government of Margaret Thatcher was the third most catastrophic thing to befall Britain in the 20th century, and the more time goes on the clearer this becomes to me. I don't wish to start an argument either - I haven't yet heard the argument that could change my mind on this particular subject!

smittims, you criticised Mellor's knowledge because it was no more than A-level music. I thought that was unfair. For someone who just wants to share music on the radio I think that level of knowledge is sufficient.


For the audience aimed at, I think Mellor is more than competent.

John W

The knee-jerk leftism one encounters everywhere today is indeed very depressing.

The Tories are unpopular for several reasons: those with memories of the Thatcher/Major years recall them as alternately nasty or incompetent, when they were not being both simultaneously.

Younger people perceive them as a vapid alternative to Labour, led by an early middle-aged non-entity who seems happy to serve up a menu of Blair-lite.

Much as I loathe the present Labour government, their replcacment by the current crop of Conservatives would be a backward step: it's painfully obvious that Cameron has no policies.

I can think of two examples of politicians who became well-known, without seeking personal publicity: Donald Dewar and John Biffen.

Although i find David Mellor a bit creepy used to enjoy programme called Across the Threshold where he used to have a guest every week and they picked their favourite pieces of music (kinda downmarket Private Passions) -  i try and judge him as a person not a politician if thats possible