Radio 1 launches cull that Owen Paterson might think a bit much

There's been the sort of cull of Radio 1 presenters which, in the past, would have triggered a thousand 'whither pop radio' think pieces but seems to have slipped by without much comment at all.

There's some big names going, too:

BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra are to axe DJs including Edith Bowman, Rob Da Bank and Nihal in a schedule shake-up driven by the need to cut costs.

Controller Ben Cooper admitted that the cull of presenters – which includes Mike Davies, Jen Long, Ally McCrae, CJ Beatz, Crissy Criss and Robbo Ranx – have been driven by cuts across the corporation introduced after the last licence fee settlement.

This boils down mostly to Huw Stephens being asked to pick up a lot of the slack, with him getting a programme that sounds a bit like Colin Murray's post-Zane Lowe slot.

Da Bank going is something of a hit; and in terms of losing interesting people do worthwhile things, Davies' punk show has been a quiet gem in the Radio 1 schedule.

Difficult times at the BBC, of course, but it's a pity that the savings are coming at the cost of the diversity which makes Radio 1 worth keeping.

Glastonbury 2013: Rob DaBank: It wasn't me

I've updated the iDiot with an iPad story to reflect this, but just to clarify - Rob DaBank wasn't the bloke who was using an iPad to video from the Chic stage on Friday; indeed, the video he shot from the stage captures the bloke using the iPad.

Apologies to Rob for the misidentification, both of him and his video technology.

Glastonbury 2013: We're reconstructing a faux pas

Westwood's Tweets

Anyone doubting the authenticity of Westwood's tweets might like to visit iPlayer and listen to last week's Rob DaBank show, where the man himself reads some of his pieces out. And explains how he's "reinvented" Twitter by using it post random thoughts.

Bestival battered by blustery blows

Bestival has been suffering an almost Glastonbury-like weather battering: the BBC Introducing stage has had to be axed in the face of storms.

Rob Da Bank is confident everything will turn out alright:

"Obviously people are going to moan about the rain but but I've been to enough muddy Glastonburys to know that things always come good in the end. I've had loads of people come up to me and say this is actually the best Bestival they've ever been to. Onwards and upwards!"

Bestival attempts to capture the original spirit of Glastonbury; Da Bank is even chanelling the insane optimism of Michael Eavis.

Ronson hooks up with Mac The Mouth

Mark Ronson's grim determination to work with everyone, ever, takes him to Liverpool tomorrow, where - as part of the Rod Da Bank curated Bandstand event at the old L2 building - he'll hook up with Ian McCulloch.

McCulloch has trotted out some words for the press release:

“I am really looking forward to performing with Mark Ronson - I love the way he works, and he seems a cool dude. It's a pity, with a name like that, we're not doing a cover of ‘Light My Fire’.”

We spent twenty seconds going "eh?" before the enormity of the pun dawned on us. Like the lighter company. Ouch.

Rob Da Bank: Can remember when Glastonbury was all fields

Rob DaBank has paused to brush a nostalgic tear from his eye and recall the good old days of Glastonbury - all of ten years ago:

"When my wife and I used to set off on the spur of the moment and go fence-jumping into Glastonbury 10 or 11 years ago, it felt so crazy and exciting.

"I think, unfortunately, Glastonbury's lost some of the feeling now. It's still the best festival in the world, but it all has to be planned and organised."

Actually, we were there ten years ago, and the rot had already set in. Mobile phone companies flogging their wares in the market place and ATMs set up next to the toilets.

But still, Rob, if the vibe has left Avalon, is there, perhaps, somewhere we can still recapture that feeling?

Why, yes:

"With the fancy dress and the inflatable church and just our general crazy, eccentricity, I think we've got that old vibe back at Bestival."

How fortunate!

It's live. On tape.

We know what they mean, but how, NME, can you manage this:

Tonight’s (February 12) leg of Shockwaves NME Awards Tour in Nottingham will be recorded and broadcast live on Rob Da Bank’s Radio 1 show.

Recorded to be broadcast live at another date? I know NME's stablemate New Scientist predicted that time travel was going to happen this year, but who knew it would arrive so soon?

Still, it does mean tracks from Ting Tings and Does It Offend You, Yeah? on Radio One this coming Sunday. Unfortunately, also Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong Ying Tong Yiddle Aye Yo, but you can fast forward through on listen again.