Beeb’s phone-in hang-up

By Marion Bull

The invitation from BBC London 94.9 was effusive: “We’d definitely like you in on the show. We’ll send a car to pick you up.”

I’d been chosen from several others when BBC London’s The Late Show wanted travel writers on Christmas Eve to talk about Christmas customs abroad.

Travelling alone and independently to remote places, I had lots of story ideas. I told them I’d once encountered a mixture of Catholicism and witchcraft at Midnight Mass in the Ivory Coast.

I’d done live broadcasts before – a travel documentary on North African TV (I lipread French) – but I explained that with no hearing at all, for a phone-in, I’d need someone to jot down the questions quickly. I envisaged a slight delay, but it wouldn’t be difficult to fill in for a few seconds. Or mention that the speaker is deaf.

But apparently that wasn’t acceptable. The reply came. Sorry, but it wouldn’t be possible after all, because it was going out live. “But let us know when you’re next in London…” I’d already said I’m there every week.

Perhaps Auntie is being protective, or possibly unwilling to try the unknown. It’s a shame the producer didn’t recognise that people’s capabilities can be greater than a corporate imagination.