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Chris Moyles slates 'boring' radio and BBC rules

Chris Moyles
  • Posted at 1:42pm
  • 14 July 2009
  • by PaulJones-RT
  • 7 comments

In an interview with Radio Times, outspoken BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles has branded radio "boring" and slammed his employer's editorial policies.

"The BBC is in a very weird state," said Moyles. "They just don't want to upset anybody. Everything now needs to be signed, sealed and approved 18 times.

"We're not trying to change the world, but because radio is so dull, so boring and so formulaic, anyone different - me or Jonathan [Ross] - stands out.

"The BBC is throwing down the rules and regulations and then the newspapers are saying certain things and you're just trying to juggle everything while keeping everyone happy at the same time. And the reality is you can't keep everyone happy at the same time."

A BBC spokesperson responded to Moyles's comments, saying "Chris is never backwards in coming forwards but, while he is entitled to his opinion, we think that lively, distinctive and risk-taking radio is alive and well at the BBC.

"We have a duty to ensure all our programmes are editorially compliant, but that doesn't mean our producers and presenters can't take creative risks if it means better programmes for listeners."

Do you agree with Chris? Is radio "dull"? Are there too many rules and regulations for broadcasters? Or are the BBC policy-makers just doing a necessary job? Post a comment below and let us know.

**

Find out more about the latest issue of Radio Times magazine.

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Comments

  • Posted on 11 August 2009
  • at 8:50am
  • by Jane

Chris Moyles is entitled to his opinion, the reason he is able to express this is because the BBC is democratic in its approach - that gives him a platform for a voice amongst millions of listeners, some who like his style and some who like others - freedom of speech is a powerful thing but Chris's voice is not the only one!

  • Posted on 05 August 2009
  • at 6:21pm
  • by Nadia

Yes Chris is right.

  • Posted on 04 August 2009
  • at 8:29pm
  • by StevenP

I'm no great fan of Chris Moyles but I do agree with his criticism of the BBC. The BBC seems to have lost its confidence since the Hutton report criticised it after it honestly reported the important comments from Dr.Chris Kelly on the Iraq war. I live in abroad now and have been quite surprised how well people from other countries regard the BBC for its news and programmes, compared to their own country's broadcasters. The BBC earns respect in the UK and internationally for being unbiased and strong. Bowing to every public and government whim does the corporation great harm in the short term and also risks losing long term support.

  • Posted on 29 July 2009
  • at 5:57pm
  • by ublado

you must never forget the BBC is the envey of the broadcasting world both TV and radio. Yes, you should be able to "take risks" but do not loose sight of a quality product for the mass market that is the BBC. By the way, who is Chris Moyles?

  • Posted on 15 July 2009
  • at 1:07pm
  • by GrumpyOldMan

I agree with Chris. The BBC dates back to the days when the only radio and television was provided by them and paid for by the licence fee. We now have commercial radio & tv, the Internet, DVDs, more cinema screens, etc. Either the BBC has to improve in order to compete with these other sources of entertainment or provide something the others do not supply. At the moment the BBC does neither of these but instead is just a PR agent for the Government, increasingly obsessed with the ridiculous notion of political correctness.

  • Posted on 15 July 2009
  • at 11:32am
  • by Dave

What Chris says is just the tip of the iceberg for an organisation thats far too full of self serving middle management. These people 50 years ago would have been the broom pushers and now we have elevated them beyond their limited brain cells capacity. Bring back the brooms and lets get some common sense. Its worth £25 off your license fee!

  • Posted on 14 July 2009
  • at 8:09pm
  • by lastgang

In the 90s we had Smashie and Nicey who were later cited for the replacement of DJ's such as DLT, Tony Blackburn, Bruno Brookes, etc, bland and irrelevant DJ's talking nonsense over intros and who were too much in love with their own egos. Fast forward to the present day and we now have Chris Moyles, Fearne Cotton, Russell Brand, etc... another page has turned over but the story is still the same.

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