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Betty and Beryl of Humberside are northern - and local - stars Betty and Beryl of Humberside are northern - and local - stars
(about 1 hour later)
Local radio, which is one of the Guardian Northerner's favourite things and the subject of one of our recent campaigns, has covered itself in glory at the Sony Awards, especially in the sprightly persons of BBC Humberside's Beryl and Betty.Local radio, which is one of the Guardian Northerner's favourite things and the subject of one of our recent campaigns, has covered itself in glory at the Sony Awards, especially in the sprightly persons of BBC Humberside's Beryl and Betty.
Their joint age may be 176 (Betty Smith has 90 of those years; her friend Beryl Renwick who she met at a lunch club has 86), but they are every bit as lively as Radio 1 DJs, far less solemn than Radio 4 presenters, and a good deal more 'real' than both.Their joint age may be 176 (Betty Smith has 90 of those years; her friend Beryl Renwick who she met at a lunch club has 86), but they are every bit as lively as Radio 1 DJs, far less solemn than Radio 4 presenters, and a good deal more 'real' than both.
Admittedly – and speaking as a Sony judge in years past who wasn't altogether impressed by the process – a pair of such broadcasters is a tempting shoe-in for a panel trying to select between all sorts of chalk and cheese. But Betty and Beryl are good. Above all, they have that sense of the genuine article, people just talking naturally, which the artifice inevitable in high quality broadcasting all too often removes. Admittedly – and speaking as a Sony judge in years past who wasn't altogether impressed by the process – a pair of such broadcasters is a tempting shoo-in for a panel trying to select between all sorts of chalk and cheese. But Betty and Beryl are good. Above all, they have that sense of the genuine article, people just talking naturally, which the artifice inevitable in high quality broadcasting all too often removes.
You can read lots more about them online, and there'll be plenty more to come, but here's what the Sony citation says:You can read lots more about them online, and there'll be plenty more to come, but here's what the Sony citation says:
A joyous, entertaining double act, having fun with the medium and unconstrained by any ingrained ideas of what works and what doesn't.  They give a voice to a sector of society unrepresented on radio, and do it with a joy that puts many of their fellow broadcasters to shame.A joyous, entertaining double act, having fun with the medium and unconstrained by any ingrained ideas of what works and what doesn't.  They give a voice to a sector of society unrepresented on radio, and do it with a joy that puts many of their fellow broadcasters to shame.
Good to see those two references to joy, which is so often excluded from our contemporary media's obsession with life's downside. Another virtue which could do with a similar airing, and which Betty and Beryl show in their own, robust way, is kindness.Good to see those two references to joy, which is so often excluded from our contemporary media's obsession with life's downside. Another virtue which could do with a similar airing, and which Betty and Beryl show in their own, robust way, is kindness.
Radio Humberside's station manager Simon Pattern, says:Radio Humberside's station manager Simon Pattern, says:
They have a real local sense of why certain things are important, they are straightforward, pin sharp and will give a view on anything. The show is unscripted, sometimes they'll just have a giggle and other weeks there will be something quite poignant they'll want to discuss.They have a real local sense of why certain things are important, they are straightforward, pin sharp and will give a view on anything. The show is unscripted, sometimes they'll just have a giggle and other weeks there will be something quite poignant they'll want to discuss.
Every one of those points was made by the first station manager of BBC Radio Leeds, Phil Sidey, both in his work and in his under-read story of those years, Hello Mrs Butterfield. The book's name came from an inveterate phoner-in, who had much in common with B&B.Every one of those points was made by the first station manager of BBC Radio Leeds, Phil Sidey, both in his work and in his under-read story of those years, Hello Mrs Butterfield. The book's name came from an inveterate phoner-in, who had much in common with B&B.
Tribute is and should be paid, too, to David Reeves who runs the show with the pair and acts with due modesty. That's the third of the graces which distinguish most of those working in the UK's local media.Tribute is and should be paid, too, to David Reeves who runs the show with the pair and acts with due modesty. That's the third of the graces which distinguish most of those working in the UK's local media.