Chris Evans Drivetime

Chris Evans Drivetime was a flagship programme on BBC Radio 2, which aired on weekdays between 17:00 and 19:00 in the United Kingdom.^[1] It was presented by veteran broadcaster Chris Evans, who moved to Drivetime from his Saturday afternoon show after Johnnie Walker left the slot after seven years in 2006.^[2] On 7 September 2009 the BBC announced that Evans would take over the breakfast show (now called the Chris Evans Breakfast Show) from the retiring Terry Wogan,^[3] from 11 January 2010, and on 15 September it was confirmed that Simon Mayo would replace Evans on Drivetime.^[4]

Ethos

Chris thanks Steve Wright or his substitute for his show, and then declares "now it's our go, and that includes you". Throughout the show, Chris plays a mixture of music both old and new, speaks to people that are making the more bizarre headlines, and reads listeners' texts and emails.

Unlike most live radio programmes, each show is given a title, usually of a quirky nature, and is dedicated to a person or group. Usually this group is all people who have done something that particular day, such as "resisted a craving".

The team

Chris is joined throughout the programme by three colleagues. Rebecca Pike, née Fox, brings listeners the business news.^[5] Jonny Saunders reads the sports headlines.^[6] Sally Boazman presents the travel updates.^[7]

Rebecca Pike

Rebecca Pike, formerly Fox, and known commonly as Foxy, reads the business headlines including the FTSE market data and exchange rates, at 17:20 and 18:20 each day. Listeners also send in their business-related questions, which Foxy must then answer in the second slot. This feature is known as Fox the Fox and is accompanied by Danny Kaye's Outfox the Fox, which acts as the theme tune.^[8] Fox the Fox does not appear on Fridays, when the 18:20 round-up is marked with an innovation slot.^[9]

Jonny Saunders

Jonny Saunders rounds up the sports headlines at several points during the show, and speakers to a sports personality every day at 18:50, who is said to be "in the locker". Chris tends to introduce the locker slot by asking Jonny: "Who's in the locker-cocker?" Jonny's Friday slot includes a talk about a "mad sport".^[10] Jonny also provides the voice for top tenuous, jukebox jury and gobsmackers. See below.

Sally Boazman

As well as her traffic duties, Sally is involved with various other aspects of the show's line-up. See below.

Features, Monday – Thursday

As well as business, sport and traffic; the line-up on most weekdays includes various features.

The Kids

Chris and Sally speak to a child each day, who has done something for the first time ever. Their achievements are awarded with a fanfare.

Woman's Minute

In a gentle parody of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Chris speaks to four women in quick succession. They are asked who they are, where they are and what they are driving, and for their answer to that week's question. In early 2009, Chris asked the question: "What do you do that's a bit nutty but effective?" and it was deemed so effective that it remained active until April.

Theme Time Radio Minute

A parody of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour, Chris plays a listener-requested TV theme tune.^[11]

Top Tenuous

Jonny decides the famous person whose listener associations are showcased. This is usually somebody who has been in the news on this day. The aim is for these associations to be as weak as possible, with the top 10 most tenuous being the ones selected.

Drivetime Jukebox Jury

Jonny also presides over the Jukebox Jury. A new track is played, and listeners are invited to text either "hit" or "miss", plus their comments, to the programme. Jonny reads The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of these comments (over said theme tune) before Chris announces whether the track was overall a hit or a miss. Sir Tom Jones was present at the judgement of his single "Give a Little Love", but Chris claimed that there were no negative texts received.

Gobsmackers

Immediately following the drivetime jukebox jury, two connected tracks are played, which are selected by a listener.^[12]

Monday Mince

Since 2009, a cheesy song has been played after the 18:00 news each Monday, dedicated to burly truckers everywhere.

Thirsty Thursday

Thursday's programme is known as Thirsty Thursday, and includes food with Nigel Barden.^[13] The daily clips of how to contact the show are also played simultaneously, as something of a special treat.

All Request Friday

On Fridays, each song is selected by a listener,^[14] and all features apart from sport, business and travel are suspended. The first track is selected on the blog, and thereafter listeners phone in their requests. All-request Friday is introduced by a hearty rendition of the song "Bring Chris Evans On". When the Friday show is cancelled, such as in Holy Week, Thursday is used as the request day.

The H Spot and The C Spot

Selected annually, the only songs not requested by listeners are played at 17:20 and 18:20. In 2009, the 17:20 tune is the theme to Happy Days, known as the H Spot. The 18:20 spot, which marks the beginning of the weekend, is currently Sammy Davis, Jr.'s "The Candy Man", having previously been occupied by the E Spot; Elvis Presley's "The Wonder of You"; and, in 2008, the "D Spot"; Tom Jones' "Delilah", marks the beginning of the weekend. The E Spot was chosen because a listener on the blog chose "The Wonder of You" as the first song of the show, on the week Lesley Douglas resigned. Chris announced that if he ever decided to end the D Spot he would replace it with the E Spot. Chris and Sally sing along, and listeners are encouraged to inform the show of where they sang along.

Mascot

Also selected annually is the drivetime mascot. The Rex Factor sees listeners' dogs battle it out to become the official mascot. The current mascot is Biscuit, a bearded collie/terrier X.^[15] As of 9 April 2009, Biscuit has 1,619 friends on his Facebook page.^[16]

Awards

At the 2009 Sony Radio Academy Awards, Chris Evans was awarded Radio Personality of the Year, and Drivetime was awarded the Entertainment Award. Additionally, Sally Boazman has received awards for her traffic reporting on numerous occasions.

U2 Concert

On 27 February 2009, U2 joined the show and played a 20-minute concert on the roof of Broadcasting House to 5,000 listeners.^[17]

References