‘This weekend 6 Music is focusing on New York. Sadly, we didn’t read the email properly and made a show celebrating… York.’
So began the Shaun Keaveny Breakfast Show on BBC 6 Music on Thursday (February 8).
An early message came from Michael from York. “My nine-year-old son Gabriel says he feels sorry for you because you have to be at work so early, and maybe that’s why you’re so grumpy.”
Then there was this from Mark: “Thanks for celebrating my home town of York. To be honest, since most shows are a Shambles like our famous street, I thought you did it every day.”
York Tourist Board
Shaun, who came to York on a city break with his first girlfriend in 1994, also did a few York facts – the city walls, the best racecourse in the country, the Shambles being the oldest shopping street in Europe.
One of the listeners to phone in was Mark from Devon “who has never even been to York”.
Has his interest in York now been piqued, asked Shaun? Will he visit? “Erm… maybe one day.”
“We’ll clip that and send it to the York Tourist Board,” said Shaun.
Rick on penises
The special guest was Rick Witter of well-known York band Shed Seven…
Rick began by revealing he used to live down Bishopthorpe Road, name-checked as the Best High Street in Britain. And he strolls round the city looking for a blue plaque dedicated to him…
The singer first came to York around 1985, aged 11.
“It’s a really lovely city to live in. And people kind of leave you alone, which is why I’m still here” (although a lot of city motorists honk their horn at him).
Rick said he had got a York Card for the recent Residents Festival and spent “a day of tourism with the good lady”.
As well as the Minster he “went to the George VII Museum at the top of Micklegate…[sic] very strange looking people from the past with very weird hair and clothes.
“A lot of people would probably say that was me…”`
Is York a hotspot for stag and hen dos, and does it annoy residents, Shaun asked Rick?
“Yes and yes. Massively so. I think it’s becoming a little bit too sad. Obviously it’s nice to see people having fun, but it’s not the right kind of backdrop for me.
“York’s very olde worlde to an extent – it’s kept its old look really well – and the last thing you want to see is a group of ladies holding a giant inflatable penis.”
You can hear the whole show via the BBC iPlayer here, for another 29 days.