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Stories from around the UK as Tony Livesey sits in.
Saturday 18 May 2013, 18:21
After a hat-trick of awards for Gareth Bale, we've got award fever of our own in the 606 office and are currently building up to the inaugural 606 End of Season Awards.
As part of 5live's Big Day Out on June 1 we'll be celebrating the best calls, fans, teams, trips, designated drivers and football tweeters of the season with you for company. If you haven't got your tickets yet go here.
The 606 judging panel* will decide the majority of the awards but call of the year is going to be voted for by you. We'll announce the shortlist on the show on Saturday 11th May and you'll be able to vote for your call of the year by text.
In the meantime - do you know anyone who should be recognised as 606's Fan of the Year? Is it their dedication and the work they put in behind-the-scenes? Are they the ones that get the chants going? Or are they just the biggest fan of your club? We want you to nominate your fan of the season. Fill out this quick form to nominate who you think deserves it.
A shortlist will be announced a week before the Big Day Out, with the winner being announced on the night.
We’ve had a different non-league team of the week on every show throughout...
Read more about The 606 Awards
Friday 17 May 2013, 11:48
Netball? On the radio?
Earlier this year, we did something that had never been done before: 5 live Sports Extra broadcast the very first commentary of a game of netball on UK radio.
Last summer, during the London Olympics, 5 live and 5 live Olympics Extra tried its hand at most sports. Remember back to August, when Peter Allen and Colin Murray seamlessly steered 5 live's coverage from Stott and Bailey's slalom canoeing gold, Peter Wilson's shooting triumph, to Gemma Gibbons' silver in the Judo? All in the space of five minutes of magical radio.
The Olympics brought us many firsts. We had full commentary of dancing horses in the Dressage. Jade Jones and Nicola Adams winning Britain's first Golds in taekwondo and women’s boxing. We even brought you live gymnastics.
But netball isn't in the Olympics. The pinnacle of that sport is the Commonwealth Games.
So, after a year in which female athletes and women's sport was so successful, it seems strange to think that there had never been netball commentary on the radio prior to 2013.
But a home series against the old enemy - Australia - looked like a good opportunity to redress the balance.
England were looking for...
Read more about Superleague Netball: bringing you another radio first
Thursday 16 May 2013, 17:39
This week on 5 live has seen the start of our new schedule changes.
As I write this our late night news team are busy planning the first of our new Thursday night politics shows – 'Question Time Extra Time'. This is a chance to partner with a great brand like Question Time and showcase how we do politics on 5 live. Stephen Nolan and John Pienaar are the hosts and, within the programme, they will simulcast BBC 1’s Question Time and then will continue the debate after the show. If you can, join the show tonight from 10pm and have your say.
In other changes we’ve also added a 'Late News Hour' between 10.30pm and 11.30pm Monday to Wednesday hosted by Phil Williams and, in typical 5 live-style, the running order was ripped up and put back together for the very first show as news came through of Roberto Mancini’s sacking from Man City. It was also great hearing Tony Livesey settle into his new role on weekend breakfast, with Eleanor Oldroyd on Saturday and then Sam Walker on Sunday. He already sounds at home.
We were very happy earlier this week to get recognised by our colleagues across the radio industry at the annual Sony Radio Academy Awards. Danny Baker triumphed...
Read more about Question Time Extra Time, the Sonys and Rajars
Tuesday 14 May 2013, 15:20
Some people have told me that I have one of the best jobs in the world as the producer of Test Match Special.
It is true that I get to sit at international cricket matches, listening to my favourite radio programme with an almost constant supply of cake!
But then again I do also have to work with Geoffrey Boycott.
However, there is no doubt that I feel especially fortunate this summer with such a potentially thrilling six months of cricket ahead.
Later in the summer we of course have England’s defence of The Ashes so look out for details of our exciting coverage across the BBC.
There is also...
Wednesday 1 May 2013, 09:29
No current footballer divides opinion like Luis Suarez.
There are no grey areas. You’re either with him or against him.
Given the outrage triggered by his bite on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic – the second of his career, remember – it seemed highly likely that former colleagues and team-mates would all go to ground.
A friend of mine, a Liverpool fan since the Shankly era, emailed me in the aftermath of the Chelsea game, “media hype succeeds and judges a peck on the arm, which didn't mark or break skin, a worse offence than lunging two footed challenges and violent stamps.”
I knew...
Read more about Footballer of the Year or a savage and a lout?
Monday 29 April 2013, 14:21
I thought long and hard about how to describe the great, yet fatally flawed Italian cyclist Marco Pantani.
In the end, a quote from writer and journalist Matt Rendell summed up everything I was trying to say:
“Italy adored Pantani as England did Paul Gascoigne, and as with Gazza, that affection evolved over the years: initially, he dazzled with his sporting talent; later, he surprised with his vulnerability; finally, he appalled with his transgressions.
“Pantani, the great climber, full of subversive trickery, with his bent nose, ears which stuck out and bald head wrapped in a bandana...
Friday 26 April 2013, 16:56
We talk about the business of football all the time on 5 live, but the financial side of some of the UK's other big spectator sports doesn't always get the same coverage.
To try and redress that balance, all next week 5 live Breakfast's business reporter Andy Verity is taking a look at five of our most popular sports, and seeing whether their numbers add up.
It promises to be an interesting week, and we really want to hear from you. Get in touch if you've got a question about the way these sports are run and we'll put them directly to the decision-makers.
On Monday he'll kick off with Rugby...
Tuesday 23 April 2013, 11:49
There are times when normally mild, pleasant and friendly drivers are pushed to the limits. Sunday was one of those days for the McLaren driver Jenson Button who ended up having to fight his own team-mate, Sergio Perez at over 180 miles per hour.
This season we have seen some pretty fierce rivalry between team-mates. It started with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber duelling in Malaysia and the whole ‘multi-21-gate’. Then there was the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg (although they seemed to settle their on track tussle without coming to blows).
In China, it was the turn...
Thursday 18 April 2013, 12:59
We sometimes say that 5 live is "the home of live sport." So what does that actually mean?
Well, we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of sports live - and from inside the venue. In fact, we aim to get as close to the action as possible. You might have heard Iain Carter and John Murray whispering while commentating out on the course at Augusta last weekend to avoid distracting the players during The Masters (yes, they are that close!).
We feel this kind of access is essential to capture the true drama of an event and to report on all the stories which seem to inevitably develop around...
Read more about 5 live Sport's rights deals: continuing to bring sport to life on the radio
Tuesday 16 April 2013, 12:21
In Tuesday’s Bump Club, Sam Walker sits in for Tony Livesey and will be discussing age and pregnancy. Second-time mum-to-be Rachel, 42, will be in the studio. Here's her story:
Pregnant at 42 wasn't exactly part of my life plan when I was a dreamy 20-something, contemplating my life ahead. However, the course of true love didn't run as smoothly as those former years anticipated that it should.
Luckily my knight in shining armour appeared in my mid-30s and so here I am; married with a two and a half year old with a second (and final) baby on the way.
To be a first time mum at 39 was exciting and...
Read more about Bump Club: Becoming a mum - how old is "too old"?
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