Just two days prior to their shock performance at Glastonbury, the lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker, recorded a unique rendition of the Shipping Forecast to celebrate the centennial of this popular feature on BBC Radio 4.
At the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival in Sheffield on July 4th (the centennial date), Cocker’s rendition was performed live for the audience. This performance was critically assessed by Lisa Costello and Viji Alles, who are frequent presenters on the Shipping Forecast podcast.
Costello admired the tone of the lead singer from Pulp, who also hosted shows on 6 Music and Radio 4’s Wireless Nights. He exclaimed, “That voice is so deep you could drown in it!
Nevertheless, Alles harbored doubts concerning Cocker’s leisurely and subdued presentation style: “He should focus on improving his pace. The entire forecast ought to be delivered within 11 minutes.
Cocker expressed that experiencing “The Ships” on Radio 4 might have been one of the most memorable moments in his life. Just like many others, he often listened to it while drifting off to sleep, attributing this to its repetitive and calming nature, as well as the soothing voice of the reader.
Later on, Costello and Alles shared a specific edition of the bulletin that mentioned popular Sheffield locations, such as the once-thriving Coles department store where the incident took place, among other local landmarks.
After the event, Costello and Alles emphasized once more to TopMob backstage that timing is crucial for the one Radio 4 program that consistently holds its place in the schedule. They fondly recalled instances such as during the Fifth 2011 Ashes Test match when, with England on the brink of a historic win, Test Match Special on LW was suddenly interrupted by the Shipping Forecast.
Fervent cricket enthusiasts rushed back to the game, but learned with disappointment that the last Australian batsman had been dismissed, thus granting England their first victory Down Under in a span of twenty-five years – an unprecedented triumph that unfolded simultaneously as Radio 4 broadcasted maritime weather reports from Fastnet and Lundy.
Costello acknowledged the heavy load he bears, stating “I shoulder the weight of responsibility.” For our line of work, we have a small guidebook that serves as a reference, and approximately a quarter of it focuses on the phrasing and cadence used in the Shipping Forecast.
The importance of verifying the date and time on any script printed out, as incorrect timing would necessitate a resend, has been something I’ve always kept in mind.
It’s surprising to find that you can download forecasts as a podcast from BBC Sounds for The Ships, considering their reliance on timing. However, Costello clarifies that they have an expiration date since if you miss one, it remains relevant until the next update is released.
Later, Alles noticed that Jarvis Cocker mentioned using the Shipping Forecast as a bedtime routine to fall asleep.
Many individuals employ it for amusement purposes, be it as a form of poetry, a means to drift off to sleep, or simply something to mark the beginning and end of their day. For many, the final act before retiring is tuning in to the Shipping Forecast – signaling the close of yet another day.
Costello had already been cognizant of this matter well before she began interpreting the weather forecast in 2017. As a matter of fact, her former partner thirty years ago could not fall asleep unless he had tuned into the Shipping Forecast.
It’s surprising for him to fall asleep with his ex-girlfriend’s voice playing, but hearing a radio broadcast that resonates deeply with a wide range of people – sailors, poets, insomniacs, or musicians – means that continuity announcers can be identified solely by their voices in the most unanticipated settings.
Recently, Viji Alles experienced something interesting at a book launch in London. When he asked the author a question as an audience member, someone approached him afterward and inquired about his name. Upon replying “Viji Alles,” this person recognized him from broadcasting announcements from Bangalore, India on Radio 4. This individual is an Indian national who had studied there briefly around 30 years ago and still listens to Radio 4.
It always surprises me when I’m recognized in public. It’s like a unique moment, as if I were speaking to one person rather than an audience. Even during the late forecast, when I might be the only one in the studio or even in Broadcasting House, it’s still astonishing when someone tells me they listen to me from their location. It feels incredibly mind-blowing.
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2025-07-07 15:34