h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A227503 BBC Radio 4

A superb entry which goes into enormous depth. It might need paring down in places but is very informative. It's high time we had an edited entry on this subject, as there's several edited entries on programmes which exist on Radio 4.

I certainly agree that the Guide needs a comprehensive article on Radio 4. However, this seems to me to be based very much on the here and now. Radio 4 schedules have a reputation for being carved in stone, but in truth large parts of the schedule do change over time. The listings here will probably start to date very quickly. There is also no real sense of the development of the station. There is no reference to its creation (from the ashes of the Home Service, I believe) or to the developement of its unique (and thoroughly middle-brow) identity. This article needs a lot of extra material if it is to become truly comprehensive.

It is, however, a useful starting point, and the sections on existing programmes are definitely worth keeping in.

MDS

This a really huge and detailed article - which is great. However, I agree that it could do with more about the _history_ of the station, and other memorable events - such as the uproar when 'Women's Hour's timeslot was changed.

Not a mention of the Cricket(LW) coverage ?

I agree that it is a marvelous article - if only it mentioned my favourite show on Radio 4 - Dead Ringers!

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Aaaaargh! We have officially been assimilated!
I'm no Zaphodista, and I'm even quite pleased that the Beeb has stepped into the breech for h2g2 (is that the baying of a lynch mob I hear?), but do we really need to toady to the extent of giving them even more publicity on their own virtual turf?

If this entry were more about things like Radio 4 listeners and the "feel" of the station, it would be different. As it is though, a lot of it is duplicating raw information you can find just two mouse clicks from any page on h2g2 (using the menu at the top left of every page on the site).

Even more compelling, at time of posting there is a section on the Radio 4 website on the Hitchhiker's Guide. And is there a single link to this area, it's sister-site, in this section? Not as far as this researcher can see! If we're going to publicise their existence, let's at least make sure they publicise ours!

Maybe thi should be mover over to the writing workshop seeing as people think it needs quite a bit of revision and the author seems to have gone AWOL.

The article is excellent but I agree with the posts above

Orcus

A few pernickety points:
Broadcasting House is a "humorous" current affairs show
Peter Serafinowicz has done one wrong thing - lending his voice to Darth Maul. Not that Maul wasn't brilliant - but the rest of the film was, to quote Simon Pegg, "plops".
The Archive Hour, and I quote, "This to where the audio archives are trawled" - eh?
Archers addicts - Their website is terrifying in it's completeness.
GRRRR. A pox on unnecessary apostrophes.

Other than that, yes, at the moment the Guide is with the BBC. Who's to say this will always be so? So an article on R4 would be good. I agree that history and the "position" of the station relative to the other stations (i.e. its position as the primary voice based station presenting drama, comedy and current affairs) could be covered in a less date-specific manner. Good basis for an entry though...

Test Match Special ..!

Sorry I Haven't A Clue: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A490349 - duly Edited.

Is the schedule wise? It changes more often than we would like.

Where is Dead Ringers? This is nearly as funny as Sorry, I Haven't A Clue - especially their absolutely brilliant Tom Baker impresisonist. And how about those shows which have moved form R4 to TV - including They Think It's All Over (much funnier on radio, with Des Lynham and Rory Bremner) and Goodness Gracious Me (much funnier on TV).

And no discussion of the world's longest-running broadcast programme, Letter From America.

Worth mentioning that inclusion on FOOC is highly prized by newshounds, and that Woman's Hour is not just for women (Jenni Murray is very listenable). I'll see if I can think of any more info for you.

I think this should go off to the Flea Market - the article may have been put up for Peer Review by Peregrin but the author is long since AWOL (not returned since the interregnum).
Anyone else agree?

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'The Flea Market'.

Flea Market Clean Out:

Keep in FM.
Using the comments above this could be a really useful entry, and there is a BBC Radio 4-shaped hole in the Guide.

An attempt was made to rescue this entry that itself ended up in Flea Market: see: A2491274 and F74125?thread=497047

h2g2 still needs a Radio 4 article, though.

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Two other BBC Radio Four Flea Market threads:
F74125?thread=497047
F8668460?thread=6470242

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