The official 'Ask Aled' thread (Part Eight)

[Aled]

I'm sorry. I'm limited on what I can comment because I was too ill to stay in the studio so was puking up in the toilet so missed it.

We apologised twice on air. Dizzee was spoken to again once the mics were closed and we took it out of the iPlayer to ensure no-one else was offended.

[Jill]

Hope you're feeling better Aled!

Is Chris going to mention whats been said about him and Sophie in the papers on tomorrows show?

[biggspuds]

Hope you're feeling better Aled!

Is Chris going to mention whats been said about him and Sophie in the papers on tomorrows show?

you nosey parker... mind your own!! it is no one buissines but his.

[Jill]

Calm down Hippo - only asking.

[Yudster]

I'm not sure I could do what Chris has to do here. Its bad enough when you're in pieces in private, but to have everyone watching (or listening), wondering if you're going to say something, how you're going to sound - I know its his job, but I don't think I could do it.

[MK Chris]

Aled, do guests get appearance fees? I don't reckon they do because essentially you are helping each other out - they get to plug whatever they're plugging and in return they hopefully pull in listeners (or viewers for TV shows), but Cat thinks they do.

[mcmahonman]

When songs are chosen for the playlist are expected sales taken into consideration? The past two weeks number ones have not been playlisted and in the case of Olly Murrs you could claim it was a surprise but for Alexandra Burke, surely you must have known it was going to sell bucket loads? It's exemption from the playlist seems strange (not that I think the song has any artistic merit.) Also do you get access to the midweek charts when compiling the playlist?

[fish heads]

On a slightly related note, Aled, how come the same rules don't seem to apply to radio and TV as regards the watershed and swearing? Why would something played at say 10 or 11pm still need special permission (if I have interpreted you correctly) even though after 9pm on TV, there seems to be no problem with language?

Know this was a bit back now - but I was told there is no blanket watershed for Radio like there is for TV, and there certainly isn't an official one. Stations have a responsibility to broadcast appropriate material depending on the demographic they appeal to - thus music stations - especially one aimed at young people like Radio 1 - have a blanket "watershed" for pretty much the entire time they are on air. As long as they act responsibly they shouldn't be too much trouble - ie OFCOM are probably more likely to let the F-word go if it was accidentally on at Midnight, rather if it was on the opening link at Breakfast even though both are under the same "watershed".

Stations with older demographics that kids aren't likely to listen to - such as Radio 4 - are more flexable with this. You can often hear "sh*t" and the like as early has half 6 in the evening on the Comedy shows. However stations like 4 are few and far between which is why there generally isn't any swearing on the radio on the same scale as post-9PM tv.

[Aled]

When songs are chosen for the playlist are expected sales taken into consideration? The past two weeks number ones have not been playlisted and in the case of Olly Murrs you could claim it was a surprise but for Alexandra Burke, surely you must have known it was going to sell bucket loads? It's exemption from the playlist seems strange (not that I think the song has any artistic merit.) Also do you get access to the midweek charts when compiling the playlist?

There are many many factors taken into consideration regarding a song chosen for playlist. We tend to work to a additions onto a playlist up to 3 weeks before a song is out so even though chart positions is relevant and we do have midweek charts it's only as a safety net that a song hasn't passed us by (like Basshunter or Arctic Monkeys were).

Alexandra's track is intensely political and her fans already tried to complain about me to BBC bosses (as some people see me as solely responsible for Radio 1 playlist - God Help us all! That is NOT the case!) so I'm not going to comment on reasons why her track did not go on playlist- especially as I was someone who voted for it to be added.

It's a democratic process with 10 producers and a music team, and we consider many many factors. There are many radio stations that just work off the top 10 singles in the chart - they're commercial radio.

[Yudster]

If you listen to Iko Iko by The Belle Stars you can sing it to Alexandra Burke's record without making any changes at all...........

[biggspuds]

Aled can you stop all the cheesey crap that r1 play. keema nann wave the flag. please get rid of that crap

[Stimpy]

Cos I rarely post I'm going to pick up this part of this thread:

>>>>>>>>>>>>
dimtimjim wrote:
icom102 wrote:
Aled the team join into the carpark catch prase jingle how come it seems like so much hassel or way below you to join in ?


Oh dear. Thats a perfectly good joke wasted on you then!!



Ok, so its like this.

Chris plays a jingle with bum-bum-bum etc sound on it.

Chris then encourages the rest of the team to join in, calling it 'bumming', yeah? With me so far?

The joke is, Aled doesn't join in with the 'bumming', because "he doesn't do that"......? Y'see?!?!?!

The only gay member of the team claiming he doesn't do 'bumming'......

Jeez.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<



I listen to the catchphrase bit almost every day - I find it brilliant - but mainly the fake conversation with the recording of Roy Walker - total genius.

The bumming bit before the quiz didn't have to make me think much to realise what it was all about - ie asking Aled to join in only for him to answer 'No, I really don't do that' or similar.

It's quite obvious that it's about Aled not 'doing the uphill gardening bit' - if you get my drift.

On one day he DID join in and the way the conversation then followed on made it obvious what the 'bumming' was.

Thereafter he stays out of it again - suggesting that he tried it up the wrongun and did not like it (one must presume he would take the 'female' role if you get my drift.

I've thought - in the past - how many gays include those actions in their relationship (although it's none of my business of course).

I must say though - why should every listener need to know what one of the team does with his 'bits' because of his differences with the rest?

Mustn't grumble though - when Aled 'kept the homo thing secret' the show was great. Then after 'coming out' to the public the show often turned almost into a gay interest show on occasion. Now it's just the catchphrase bumming and the occasional reminder to us which team he's in. Which makes it much more enjoyable (I almost changed stations when it got really out of hand). Can't fully blame Aled since Chris 'prodded' the topic lots of times.

I'm not a prude or a Daily mail reader or anything - but sex and sexuality is hardly a great topic over the breakfast or while you struggle into work on the M25. Talking about bumming is another level, I make sure I'm not eating anything at the same time as the 'reminder'

Of course most of the above is the good ole 'IMHO'

[Emmy]

when Aled 'kept the homo thing secret' the show was great. Then after 'coming out' to the public the show often turned almost into a gay interest show on occasion.'

Any examples of this? Because as someone who has heard almost all of every show since the breakfast show started (and before), I can't see any truth in this statement at all. If anything, to me it seemed like Aled never talked about his relationships as much as everyone else up to a couple of years ago. Now he discusses his lovelife a similar amount as the rest of the team talk about theirs.

I'm not a prude or a Daily mail reader or anything - but sex and sexuality is hardly a great topic over the breakfast or while you struggle into work on the M25. Talking about bumming is another level, I make sure I'm not eating anything at the same time as the 'reminder''

For god's sake, it's a vague, gentle, and 'IMHO' amusing reference to 'bumming', they're not spelling out anything crude or unsuitable. You make it sound like Chris is asking 'Who's going to join in taking it up the arse today'! And if you think sex and sexuality isn't a great topic for the breakfast table, then I take it that you also disapprove of Dave talking about nipples, or Chris shouting that Tina 'has had the sex' with her new bf, or Chris asking Fearne Cotton if they 'can have the sex?' etc. Or is it just bumming you have a particular aversion to?

[chrysostom]

i was always of the opinion that 'bum' was the noise of the baseline. and the verb for this would be 'bumming'.

also, i'm a big dr. who fan - and when barrowman came in, the spin-off (torchwood) was very gay-friendly. this didnt bother me in the slightest, so why does if bother you?

(not directed toward emmy. i'm clearly trying to get into his/her pants)

[corsaboi]

So we've had one poster who is a possible mail hack, and now we've got littlejohn himself posting.

The bumming bit before the quiz didn't have to make me think much to realise what it was all about - ie asking Aled to join in only for him to answer 'No, I really don't do that' or similar.

It's quite obvious that it's about Aled not having sex.

On one day he DID join in and the way the conversation then followed on made it obvious what the 'bumming' was.

Thereafter he stays out of it again - suggesting that he tried it anal sex and did not like it (one must presume he would be the bottom.)

Erm, I've fixed your post a little, cos your innuendo is so squirmish, its uncomfortable to read. It would also have been far easier to say I find the gay innuendo a little uncomfortable so early in the morning, but you've dug your hole and still got a hold of your spade.

I've thought - in the past - how many gays include those actions in their relationship (although it's none of my business of course).

Would you believe it, there are gay people who don't enjoy anal? There are also those who are exclusively tops and those who exclusively bottom. I could draw a diagram, but I presume you get the picture.

I must say though - why should every listener need to know what one of the team does with his 'bits' because of his differences with the rest?

Mustn't grumble though - when Aled 'kept the homo thing secret' the show was great. Then after 'coming out' to the public the show often turned almost into a gay interest show on occasion. Now it's just the catchphrase bumming and the occasional reminder to us which team he's in. Which makes it much more enjoyable (I almost changed stations when it got really out of hand). Can't fully blame Aled since Chris 'prodded' the topic lots of times.

One of the many things I like about the show is that gayness is just treat like its another part of someone's character, there's no promotion or denegration of it, it's just treat as normality. As it should be. And that means that gay life takes equal place with straight life.

I'm not a prude or a Daily mail reader or anything - but sex and sexuality is hardly a great topic over the breakfast or while you struggle into work on the M25. Talking about bumming is another level, I make sure I'm not eating anything at the same time as the 'reminder'

It's a cheap tacky little bit of innuendo, thats played for a laugh (its not even overtly referred to in that manner either, you have to be thinking on a dirty wavelength to even get the joke). It's not like there's excessive detail, or further jokes. (tbh I was waiting for someone to say 'aled, did you use protection?') If it bothers you that much, then something wrong

[Aled]

Aled can you stop all the cheesey crap that r1 play. keema nann wave the flag. please get rid of that crap

No deal.

[David]

Christ, how to read far too much into something that I'm sure the team haven't even really thought about themselves.

Dom has "bummed" along to that bit for years, because of the bass line. The gay connotations were started by Aled himself, and only latterly.

But like I said, reading far too much into it all.

[Aled]

I'm not a prude or a Daily mail reader or anything - but sex and sexuality is hardly a great topic over the breakfast or while you struggle into work on the M25. Talking about bumming is another level, I make sure I'm not eating anything at the same time as the 'reminder'

Of course most of the above is the good ole 'IMHO'

And that post makes it all the more important that we do talk about it. IMHO of course.

[Yudster]

A lot of passive-aggressive rhetoric that I can't be bothered to trawl through to find the bit I want to comment on

I know a few gay couples,and I know lots of straight couples. None of the gay couples I know does anal, loads of the straight couples do. I wonder if you're actually more misogynist than homophobic. Or something else.

[biggspuds]

A lot of passive-aggressive rhetoric that I can't be bothered to trawl through to find the bit I want to comment on

I know a few gay couples,and I know lots of straight couples. None of the gay couples I know does anal, loads of the straight couples do. I wonder if you're actually more misogynist than homophobic. Or something else.

hahaha do you?

[Yudster]

Do I what?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

It does sound like coffee at your house is an enlightening experience. I'm slightly worried how well you know Topher and Cat.

[catherine]

What happened the weekend Yuds and Zoot visited isn't spoken about.

[Yudster]

It does sound like coffee at your house is an enlightening experience. I'm slightly worried how well you know Topher and Cat.

Not that well, but my guess would be that they don't do anal. Topher would be far too scared to suggest it.

[Stimpy]

Any examples of this? Because as someone who has heard almost all of every show since the breakfast show started (and before), I can't see any truth in this statement at all. If anything, to me it seemed like Aled never talked about his relationships as much as everyone else up to a couple of years ago. Now he discusses his lovelife a similar amount as the rest of the team talk about theirs.

I think that the others do say 'benny hill' style sauce - but not deeply into one of their's sexuality. Well apart from one. Which was my main moan.

For god's sake, it's a vague, gentle, and 'IMHO' amusing reference to 'bumming', they're not spelling out anything crude or unsuitable. You make it sound like Chris is asking 'Who's going to join in taking it up the arse today'! And if you think sex and sexuality isn't a great topic for the breakfast table, then I take it that you also disapprove of Dave talking about nipples, or Chris shouting that Tina 'has had the sex' with her new bf, or Chris asking Fearne Cotton if they 'can have the sex?' etc. Or is it just bumming you have a particular aversion to?

I think the bumming thing is their 'in talk' secretly talking in code about the subject. They get away with it due to it being coded. But isn't it flippin obvious?
The occasional random naughtiness is ok - just concentrating on one particular type is odd. I think 'comedy dave' has a similar opinion but has to hide it (something aled once said on air).