Edinburgh
On the train to Edinburgh this morning I realise I've become one of those loud and annoying people who has one mobile phone conversation after another. Of course I would blend in with all those suits in business class, except the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ doesn't allow us to travel by anything other than standard fare. Quite right! Anyway, Gareth Hydes calls. He's the Senior Producer of Topical Programmes and Events and is planning a big health campaign in January. We want to gets lots of listeners involved and Gareth suggest we make it a challenge format with involving a big prize. We can't get involved in commercial sponsorship, nor can we spend too much of the licence fee buying a prize, so we discuss a "money can't buy" prize. I suggest mentioning it in this diary to see if listeners have any suggestions.
I go to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ studios at The Tun and, as ever, have forgotten my little security fob to get me through the various double-doors. Luckily my colleagues take pity on me and let me in. I'm here to talk to the Arts & Features teams who are all working flat out on programmes for our Christmas schedule, including a gem of a programme which tells The True Story of Whisky Galore. The Radio Cafe team tell me they have unearthed some archive material involving Rikki Fulton and Frank Sinatra. We talk about a special programme - Sinatra in Scotland. I've already commissioned a programme on the Beatles in Scotland. I wonder what other big names have arrived on our shores. I guess the story of Elvis at Prestwick has been told too many times.
