Author Topic: Engaging enthusiastic broadcasters on dull technical subjects (Read 6486 times)

Biggsy · « **on:** 02 October, 2011, 11:09:41 pm »

A video from this bloke was mentioned in the Kindle thread. He's rekindling (no pun intended) my interest in electronics engineering - that I never learned enough about to be much use.

http://youtu.be/0NSd_dbBZlU?t=9m17s

What other broadcasters are doing it for you?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #1 on:** 02 October, 2011, 11:23:21 pm »

I once did a live radio commentary lasting about an hour and a half on a chess game played between two BBC Essex presenters. This was from about 7.30 to 9 a.m.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/essex/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8176000/8176805.stm was one of the presenters. I've forgotten who the other one was.

It was a pretty dire game - Etholle (pronouced "Ettollie") George scarcely knew the moves. The other chap was OK but not brilliant.

Several people I knew happened to hear the broadcast, which was given no prior publicity, and were very polite about how it went.

citoyen · « **Reply #2 on:** 03 October, 2011, 01:12:29 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 02 October, 2011, 11:23:21 pm

Etholle (pronouced "Ettollie") George scarcely knew the moves.

Ah! Thanks for that - I knew how to pronounce her name but never knew how to spell it. She used to be Etholle Pegram/Pegrum/Pegrom/Pegrem until she got married. Must be Cornish, I reckon.

d.

Kim · « **Reply #3 on:** 03 October, 2011, 01:41:35 pm »

I think I want one...

http://www.zazzle.com/i_only_give_negative_feedback_tshirt-235418768503010114

Biggsy · « **Reply #4 on:** 03 October, 2011, 02:03:13 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 02 October, 2011, 11:23:21 pm

I once did a live radio commentary lasting about an hour and a half on a chess game played between two BBC Essex presenters. This was from about 7.30 to 9 a.m.

Do you have a recording of it? Could make a killing in the insomnia treatment market.

border-rider · « **Reply #5 on:** 03 October, 2011, 02:07:26 pm »

I was thinking when reading Wow's post of Saturday's Dr Who finale, the one with the chess pieces charged to 4 million volts if you don't move within a certain time

it'd make for a more interesting commentary...

LEE · « **Reply #6 on:** 04 October, 2011, 08:42:43 am »

Does Fred Dibnah quality? He's a hero of mine. A triumph of enthusiasm and practical examples by the man himself.

One episode of his show I remember was about joining two boiler plates together using hot metal fastners. It was rivetting.

Biggsy · « **Reply #7 on:** 04 October, 2011, 08:52:47 am »

Fred Dibnah was a great example. Although steam engines aren't dull to anyone, are they?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 October, 2011, 08:55:51 am »

Fred Dibnah's subjects, although often technical, were far from dull. Steam engines are fascinating things - relics from a bygone age and the fact that they work at all is a wonder in itself. As for demolishing chimneys - every toddler knows the satisfaction to be had from knocking down a pile of bricks. Fred just never grew up.

Clare · « **Reply #9 on:** 04 October, 2011, 09:02:43 am »

Johnny Ball.

Biggsy · « **Reply #10 on:** 04 October, 2011, 09:20:44 am »

Johnny Ball's another good one. What's he doing now?

Back to the bloke in the OP: he's making a living purely from the advertising on his YouTube videos. What an exciting concept that anyone now can become a popular broadcaster without the help of television or radio, just as long as they have a likeable style of communicating.

LEE · « **Reply #11 on:** 04 October, 2011, 09:30:33 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 04 October, 2011, 08:55:51 am

Fred Dibnah's subjects, although often technical, were far from dull. Steam engines are fascinating things - relics from a bygone age and the fact that they work at all is a wonder in itself. As for demolishing chimneys - every toddler knows the satisfaction to be had from knocking down a pile of bricks. Fred just never grew up.

Always good to see again in my opinion. Is there anyone who can watch this without getting sweaty palms?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/3R3-YwDZrzg&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/3R3-YwDZrzg&rel=1</a>

All done without a Hi-Viz vest..who knew it was possible?

pcolbeck · « **Reply #12 on:** 04 October, 2011, 11:30:25 am »

Jim Al-Khalili did pretty well on Chemistry a Volatile History.

citoyen · « **Reply #13 on:** 04 October, 2011, 11:37:51 am »

I like Jim Al-Khalili a lot. He's much more interesting on science matters than Brian Bloody Ubiquitous Bloody Irritating Bloody Cox. Mainly because he doesn't aim his stuff at the lowest common denominator audience.

d.

Biggsy · « **Reply #14 on:** 04 October, 2011, 11:54:49 am »

Jim Al-Khalili? Never heard of him. *Looks on YouTube* Have now. Thanks!

That's exactly what I was hoping this thread would do.

citoyen · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 October, 2011, 12:00:21 pm »

Biggsy, I recommend you check out Little Atoms on Resonance FM (broadcast in London area, also available as a podcast). I think that was where I first encountered Jim Al-Khalili.

http://www.littleatoms.com/

d.

Biggsy · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 October, 2011, 12:04:02 pm »

Thanks citoyen.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 October, 2011, 12:51:46 pm »

You might like Marcus du Sautoy too then.

urban_biker · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 October, 2011, 01:29:09 pm »

I always like Julian Richards when he did the meet the ancestors series - really brought stuff alive.

http://www.archaemedia.net/

clarion · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 October, 2011, 04:00:50 pm »

Can anyone beat the late, great Eric Laithwaite?

pcolbeck · « **Reply #20 on:** 09 January, 2012, 08:32:56 pm »

Another one, Andrew Graham-Dixon art historian and critic.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #21 on:** 09 January, 2012, 09:40:32 pm »

Robbie Coltrane did a pretty good series a few years ago. He even managed to explain a crossplane V8, which would make most people's brains melt.

redshift · « **Reply #22 on:** 09 January, 2012, 10:21:22 pm »

Any of the above, plus Michael Mosley, Sir Patrick Moore, Fred Talbot, Mark Williams. Possibly even Brian 'amaaazing' Cox, although that Oldham accent is starting to grate a bit even here.

Rhys W · « **Reply #23 on:** 10 January, 2012, 12:06:56 am »

Any Horizon-type programme about cosmology or the search for the Higgs Boson will be watched by me (tonight's one presented by Jim al-Khalili I found to be rather lacking in depth) anyway... and I like Michio Kaku (his books are great as well).

I find Michael Mosely and VS Ramachandran very good because they get me interested in subjects that normally don't excite me (medicine and neuroscience respectively).

rower40 · « **Reply #24 on:** 12 January, 2012, 03:46:20 pm »

No-one's mentioned Adam Hart-Davis yet.

Trademark yellow and pink Brompton. I remember his attaching a minature jet engine to a Windcheetah for a blast along an airfield.

Author Topic: Engaging enthusiastic broadcasters on dull technical subjects (Read 6486 times)

border-rider

LEE

LEE