that is almost brilliant news. Brilliant were it not for Zoe Ball, who will take up approximately 5% of the total airtime saying 'EEEERRRM', an annoying habit which makes here completely unlistenable to these ears. See also Sarah Cox and her slurpy noise.

The best bit is Danny Baker actually jokingly suggesting on 606 that he was more than happy to step in for Ross. Hopefully they'll make this into a podcast as well.

consider that to be a spectacular upgrade.

Great to have the Bake back on national radio but with Zoe Ball?? Not too sure that will work - he works best with his regular crew - Amy Lame, Baylen Leonard and David Kuo. Any *one* of those would be good as a foil, not the 'zoo' format though.

but not as good as Mark Lamarr and Jo Brand - they're roughly 18 times better than Wossy and his obsequious sidekick.

as long as David Kuo and his 6th form free market twaddle isn't allowed on air. Thought Zoe Ball was a "film producer" nowadays?

apart from Zoe Ball

Radio 2 probably believe Zoe will attract a younger audience. However, give her a chance! Great news that the Candyman is on though.

There was some bizarre mass hypnosis happening at one point where she was in all the lads' mags being touted as some sort of sex symbol, whereas I always felt that if she was serving carrots in Tesco, most people would think, "aw, poor thing" (Actually I think the same thing about Kate Moss - maybe it's just me...)

Great news otherwise though!

Amy Lame...never got her at all. He doesn't need a sidekick. He's the best broadcaster in the country. Closely followed by Radcliffe and Maconie.

He's the mediocre broker but he's in the know....

'Kashmir' on his first show.

The thing about Danny Baker is whoever he has as his sidekick, he brings out their characters and riffs off them brilliantly, so even if they're broadcasters who would be unexceptional on their own (like Amy Lame, Baylen Leonard and David Kuo), Baker somehow makes them great. See how he turns Issy Clarke into one of Five Live's highlights every Tuesday night. I have no doubt that anyone who's unsure about Zoe Ball (like me) will be pleasantly surprised.

it's better than his recent re-appearance on 606. It was dreadful (and I loved it when he did it 15 years ago).

I download these shows here in NZ and I am very pleased that Jonathan Ross has got the flick. A very funny man at times, but the show was a bit samey ("hold up - here's a story from the paper...") and his sidekick/foil seemed to be there merely to chuckle.

Coversely, Russell Brand's show will be missed because I think it was a one-off. The highlight being the on air banter with longtime friend Matt Morgan. This was not Smashy & Nicey-type banter at all. Full of Pinter, Clement/Le Frenais and Alan Bennett moments. It was if the third person (the anonymous listener) was fulfilling a silent role as counsellor.

The level of articulation necessary to carry off two hours of unscripted, freeform comedy is to be admired and it is a shame that Matt Morgan was not there when JR and RB took it too far.

Good to see Danny Baker in the slot, though - it is possible to listen to his 606 show without knowing a single thing about football. Hasn't quite reached the level of universal scorn dished out on Beadle (RIP) but I see him as a similar sort.
We should appreciate these people while they are still around.

Hannah Jane - Hootie and the Blowfish

No, no, no, it will be Fountains of Wayne. Possibly 'Hey Julie'...

...bloody time too...