Tom McKinney: “There’s a real surge of interest in what’s on your doorstep”

by

What’s the view from your sofa?

I have a small TV sitting on a cabinet in the living room, but it’s positioned at a strange angle. This forces me to twist my neck when I watch it, and I’ve actually developed a sore shoulder from doing so. Plus, my daughters keep complaining that it’s too small compared to the big screens at their friends’ homes, so I’m thinking I need to rearrange the room and get a larger TV.

What have you been craning your neck to watch?

I often find myself returning to traditional TV channels because you stumble upon unexpected gems there. Just the other night, I was watching BBC Two and Michael Portillo’s Great Continental Railway Journeys, and suddenly there was a pianist playing Bartók. I’ve also been enjoying shows like Amandaland, and Small Prophets was particularly excellent. Plus, I can’t resist a good quiz show – I love Mastermind, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Chase, and House of Games.

Who controls the remote?

It frequently gets lost and ends up under the sofa. The batteries are dying, so you have to really push the buttons to switch channels. But my daughters are the ones who always use it, so they don’t mind.

You’re heading to the coast to broadcast live for Radio 3’s Breakfast. Where are you going?

We’re beginning our journey in north Norfolk, broadcasting live from a boat at Blakeney Point, and finishing in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, during the festival. This area is known for its musical heritage, offering a wealth of tradition and beautiful, naturally resonant locations. I’m particularly captivated by the sound of the waves – the crashing and the gentle hiss as they pull back – it instantly evokes the atmosphere of Aldeburgh.

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because reCAPTCHA might use cookies and similar technologies. If you want to see the content, please select ‘Accept and continue’ to enable reCAPTCHA.

What are your childhood memories of the sea?

Growing up, our family holidays were always spent on the north Norfolk coast, and now I’m continuing that tradition with my own kids. I practically lived on those salt marshes and Holkham beach! It’s funny, the sheer openness of the landscape and that flat stretch of sea can almost make you feel a little overwhelmed, but in a good way. It’s a bleak beauty, definitely. I often think of Aldeburgh – the sea there is usually this huge, grey expanse, and it’s pretty imposing, actually. It makes sense that Benjamin Britten was so inspired by the power – even the violence – of the sea when he wrote Peter Grimes.

Do you think we tend to over-romanticise the seaside?

Growing up, family trips to the North Wales coast were a big part of my childhood, even if they sometimes meant a long, rainy car ride with just a bag of chips to eat. It wasn’t always sunshine and playing on the beach! Sadly, many once-popular seaside towns in Britain are now struggling with economic hardship and have fallen into disrepair. It’s not always a happy picture.

Do you think these places might be revived?

Authors

Rebecca Franks

Read More

2026-06-08 19:40