SOS Shows
How Quickly Has the last Two Weeks Gone
It hardly seems like two weeks since Mr Bean helped with Chariots of Fire and Her Majesty parachuted into Olympic Park, but believe it or not London 2012 will be drawing to a close this weekend.
Yes there were some teething problems and the media seemingly couldn't wait to jump on every little issue that needed to be sorted, but when it all started and especially when Team GB started winning, that all seemed to have been forgotten and to me it seems that London has delivered an Olympic Games the whole country can be proud of.
I was in Hyde Park for the Women's Triathlon where the crowd was huge and the atmosphere was amazing. From what I've heard, it was the same at all the events and venues. I was also at Wembley where despite the fact that the match was apparently sold out, there was a huge number of empty seats, and I think that is the one issue that has stuck around right through the games. Previous games have had problems with empty seats though, maybe Rio can learn from 2016.
Having said that, I didn't see any empty seats in the main stadium.
So as we come to the end of the games, all of us who have been watching from the start have some great memories of the last two weeks. Don't forget though, the Paralympics are still to come and should offer just as much excitement and drama. Get ready for London 2012 part 2!
THE SOUND OF SUNDAY this Sunday 1.30 – 4pm.
Olympics – 2nd Weekend
We've been waiting for this fortnight for 7 years, and they are going alarmingly quickly! If things don't feel totally flat after the closing ceremony on 12 August, they certainly will in September when the Paralympics come to a close.
It was great to go to London last weekend and sample the atmosphere of London 2012. So many thousands of people out and about making the most of the summer sunshine and being part of the event. After a few hours of that or even watching the action on TV, I defy anyone to say they haven't got in the Olympic mood!
I'll be going to London twice in the next few days, Hyde Park for the Triathlon on Saturday (it's free to watch most of it), and to Wembley for the semi final of the football on Monday – the match which may well feature Team GB.
On the show on Sunday we will of course feature all the news from London 2012, although the BBC;s outstanding coverage is tough competition.
All the regular fun and features though live from 1.30 right after Paul le Feuvre is live from Switzerland for an hour from 12.30pm.
Why was the fountain turned off?
In the week when contracts were exchanged for the sale of the best known TV centre in the world, our guest this week is former BBC video tape editor Chris Booth.
I met him recently at the Froyle Fete and he told me the real reason why they turned the fountain off as well as reminiscing over the time he spent working at BBC Television Centre amongst the likes of Sir Jimmy Saville when he worked on Jim'll Fix It.
It was a fascinating chat about a truly fascinating building – hear it this Sunday afternoon as well as the rest of our usual fun and features as we come to the end of Memory Makers – The Olympic Years by remembering 2008.
We're live this Sunday from 1.30 – 4pm. HRB Out and About at the Froyle Fete is on Friday 27 July at 5pm.
Olympic Fever
It hardly seems a week since 16 million people sat down to watch Andy Murray try to win Wimbledon, as well as the rain affected British Grand Prix. With both of those out of the way, the excitement ahead of the Olympics has climbed up a notch with 2 weeks to go.
That excitement came to Basingstoke during the week with thousands of people lining the route through the town as the Olympic torch came through on its way to London. Part of the route was used the last time the torch came to Basingstoke, in 1948.
HRB was there recording the event of course, and a third chance to hear this historic event will be on Sunday right after this week's show at 4pm.
The Sound of Sunday itself returns after an unscheduled break last weekend with all the regular features live from 1.30.
Big Sporting Weekend
A couple of weeks ago, there was talk of moving Wimbledon to be one week later. Surely if this means that the Mens final avoids the British Grand Prix, this would be a good idea – especially if Andy Murray getting to the final becomes a more regular occurrence!
Both events happen on Sunday this weekend. We're taking a week off. Instead you can hear what happened at the 2010 Froyle Fete ahead of the 2012 event next weekend.
The Sound of Sunday returns live at 1.30 next Sunday.
Back to Normal
After two weeks of being air for slightly shorter than normal and then slightly later than normal, it’s back to the regular 1.30 – 4 time this Sunday.
We’ve got all the regular features including the continuing Memory Makers Olympic Years feature, which will be turned into a special show later this month for the Olympics.
The 1940s episodes of Superman returned to the show last weekend. We’ve played over 100 episodes in the series over the last two years, but with over 1100 in tota, there’s some way to go yet. Superman still carries on today of course although the character is very different. In the 1940s series, he was a bit of a secretive character, with Clark Kent not wanting people to know much about him, quite different to the story today. How the character has moved on over the years will be the subject of another HRB special later in the year.
Out and About at Hampshire’s Big Day
The Alton Show is Hampshire’s biggest Agricultural show and happens on the first Sunday of July at the Alton Showground near Froyle.
That’s lots to see in the arena shows and side stands thousands of people come along to sample what’s on offer.
Each year, HRB is part of the event at the pedestrian entrance. We take money from visitors and give them their tickets. It’s very enjoyable despite the early start and we get to see around the show afterwards.
Last year Alan Titchmarsh was the special guest, although we didn’t manage to speak to him. We always hope that the weather stats nice. Last year is was nice and warm, but we have had wet cold days and although we’re in a tent, it can act like a wind tunnel.
So if you’re coming along this Sunday via the pedestrian entrance at the Hen and Chicken pub, we’ll see you there!
If you’re coming by car, it’s a good idea to take special note of where you park That comes from personal experience!
It also means this week’s show starts at the later time of 2pm, but we do have the return of Superman 1940s style with a double episode at 3.35 and 4.15.