I can't bear JV. I do put it on in the morning whilst I am pottering around, as I like to see what public opinion is on the sorts of things they cover. I think Vine is rude to a lot of people who phone in, and whenever he quotes a working class person he uses a silly accent - a bit like Agatha Christie when she gives dialogue to servants. He irritates me when he goes on (and on and on) about just scraping into the Gen X category, so he's not a 'Boomer', and is clearly so proud of that. It's quite offensive. He's also what my mother would call 'very pleased with himself', and the ridiculous clowning around makes things worse.
Sadly, I'm not that keen on Susan Calman either, and turned it off after a while this morning. I liked it when Ann Diamond took over, and like Alexis and Matt. They all recognise that callers are not media trained and are more forgiving than Vine. They also hide their own opinions a lot better when discussing controversial issues. I don't care for Dawn Neesom either - she's ok as a panellist, but I'm not keen when she steps into the chair.
I do like Storm though, and hope she's not being sidelined by sharing her slot with Alexis. Maybe now she has two children she recognises that she might not be able to be there so early, so they will share the time between them? I think the show would be best with Storm as the lead, Vine gone, a revamp of the panelists and maybe rotating the others so Storm gets a day or two off a week until the children are a bit older, although that might not be enough to keep them on the books. Vanessa was ok when she stood in, too, but I can't bear her new show, and switch off before she comes on. If the Beeb had a decent alternative I'd defect, but as it is I watch JV grumpily, as the format suits the morning 'in and out and doing other things at the same time' nature of my mornings.
All my cars have had names.