Paul Easton: A few awkward moments, but generally a promising start

TAKING over the nation's most popular breakfast show from a long-standing broadcasting legend is never going to be easy, so it wasn't surprising that Chris and the team sounded nervous – and, perhaps, a little over-exuberant – at the start of their first show.

The first couple of links sounded scripted but as the show progressed, things seemed to settle down.

The music selection was a broad mix; two Beatles tracks and Frank Sinatra to begin, as well as Robbie Williams, The Seekers, Madonna, Paolo Nutini, Fats Domino and Ocean Colour Scene in the first hour. It helped to reinforce the point that the show – and Radio 2 – is targeting a wide-ranging family audience.

There was plenty of interaction with the audience, whether through e-mails or phone calls, including a seriously weird interview with someone who holds the Guinness world record for bursting hot water bottles. Don't ask. It was handled well, though, and was actually the sort of thing that made you want to keep listening.

If I have one complaint – and I know I'm not alone in this judging by several comments on Facebook and Twitter: it's the way that Chris will play a minute or so of a song and then trample over the rest of it. That is one my regular pet hates with radio presenters.

These are all random first impressions so I think a more considered review would be in order after a few weeks, by which time Chris and the team will have bedded in. Overall, though, I think it was a promising start.

What will be interesting to see will be how the audience changes, and by how much. The next audience figures, due out at the beginning of February, will cover only the last three months of 2009, so we'll have to wait until mid-May's round to see how things are shaping up – although such a major change will take considerably longer before things settle down.

• Paul Easton is a radio programming consultant with more than 35 years' experience, including spells with Capital and LBC.