BBC Radio Suffolk’s Saturday lunchtime show Life’s a Pitch has been axed as part of wide-ranging changes made to BBC local radio.

Life’s a Pitch began in August 2011 with host Mark Murphy joined by the show’s original legend-in-residence Kevin Beattie, TWTD’s Phil Ham, the original Tractor Boy and a wide variety of Town-related guests, from Blues stars of the past and present to club staff and supporters from all over the globe.

The show was initially broadcast exclusively from the studio but eventually it moved to Cobbold Stand boxes and then the Far Post Bar ahead of home games, and then the FanZone.

Terry Butcher took over as the legend-in-residence following Beattie’s death in 2018, while a younger Tractor Boy joined the team.

The pandemic and its aftermath saw the show cancelled for two seasons before it returned at the start of this campaign.

However, the BBC has announced significant cuts to its local radio programming with the 12-2pm Saturday slot set to be filled by a show shared with the BBC stations in Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Three Counties Radio at some point in the new year.

Live sports programming, such as BBC Radio Suffolk’s commentary on Town matches, will not be affected by the changes.

Photo: TWTD

CavendishBlue added 20:49 - Oct 31 Shocking shortsightedness from the government enforced cuts on local radio.This part of the BBC costs us so little on our licence fee and on top of this cut the station will share programming after 2pm. I hope the previous Sec of State for CMS is satisfied that her destruction derby has now started.Thankfully she didn't her idol back in no.10 , otherwise these cuts could have been even more devastating.

17

hoppy added 20:52 - Oct 31 That's not good news to read. It's BBC Radio SUFFOLK - not interested in a show shared with the BBC stations in Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Three Counties Radio. I won't be listening.
16

ellaandred added 20:56 - Oct 31 I enjoyed listening to 'a football programme' on the way to the match. Now I'm sure we'll get some dreary programme, with dreary presenters playing the same dreary records. A very poor decision :-(
11

Mark added 20:59 - Oct 31 Apparently the BBC's budget has been cut 30% in real terms since 2010. It is now frozen for two years at a time inflation running over 10%. I am sad that we are doing this to the BBC and local radio.
13

Crinkle59 added 20:59 - Oct 31 bye Radio Suffolk been a listener for years .
2

sospier added 21:11 - Oct 31 Such a shame for so little cost.I enjoyed listening to the banter on the drive to Portman Road.Will be missed by many.
7

Talbs77 added 21:21 - Oct 31 When you think of some of the dross dished up and the BBC cut this??! Local radio is important to communities across the country. It may not provide massive audience figures but that's not what it's ever been about. Very sad sorry for you Phil and the team.
17

TheBoyBlue added 22:30 - Oct 31 Won't be listening then.
4

Bert added 22:38 - Oct 31 Perhaps those who voted Tory will begin to understand that this talentless Government has long wished to see the demise of the BBC. Change may be necessary but community based radio and tv should be something to be cherished. We are one of the most centrally controlled countries in Europe because the Tories have a real dislike of local control and accountability.
14

churchmans added 22:58 - Oct 31 Fun at parties lefties on here!!! Jesus I have never listened to it before! Get your arses down to ground
-18

gosblue added 23:00 - Oct 31 I had an idea of selective sponsorship for certain BBC programs eg. BBC weather sponsored by British Airways or Match of the Day sponsored by Barclays. It would be a good revenue stream without ad breaks. It would also mean that your Nan wouldn't have to pay for a tv license and good programming wouldn't need to be slashed. Just a thought.
0

churchmans added 23:02 - Oct 31 Perhaps if they spent less on krap programming and paying millions to presenters they could keep these local programmes that nobody listens to
-1

churchmans added 23:02 - Oct 31 Gosblue! That is a good idea
-1

churchmans added 23:18 - Oct 31 Good programe to be fair I just like launching into the doom and gloomists when they turn political! I will get over it
-2

Whos_blue added 23:35 - Oct 31 Sad to hear this. Always listen in the car on the way to PR. All part of the matchday experience. The BBC are being massively squeezed and local shows like this are sadly seen as low hanging fruit.
8

Marcus added 00:56 - Nov 1 Election... now!
5

TractorfactorSteve added 06:16 - Nov 1 A real shame. As always with this government the closer things get to the community the more likely they'll be cut. How lovely it must be for Churchmans to be such a happy go lucky guy. A shame his opinion has to involve critical comments about those he disagrees with. But hey, such are the ways of tories.
6

BotesdaleBlue added 06:59 - Nov 1 I am really sad to hear this news. I love this programme and look forward to listening to it every week, at home and on the way to Portman Road. I am a big fan of BBC Radio Suffolk and recognise the help and support it gives to our LOCAL population, many of whom live on their own. I for one, won't be listening to the post 2pm output when the changes happen.
5

Dissboyitfc added 07:48 - Nov 1 A real shame this, Gutted loved listening to this on the way to matches all part of the build up! Perhaps an opening here for another suffolk radio station!
4

DJR added 07:48 - Nov 1 I agree BotesdaleBlue. BBC local radio provided a great deal of companionship to my elderly mother after my father died. Indeed, in some ways BBC local radio has become a bit more like Radio 2 used to be, given the drive by Radio 2 and most commercial stations for younger audiences.
7

KenHancocksBoot added 07:59 - Nov 1 Makes you wonder what the point of the BBC is any more. Shocking decision on an enjoyable program
6

Stevoski added 08:15 - Nov 1 Maybe the presenters should offer the programme to another local station, such as GenX?
7

Lord_Mac added 08:51 - Nov 1 It's a shame that we have a Government which won't support anything that is centrally funded. That said, commercially funded local radio would find an audience with programmes like Life's a Pitch and if the Government is out of step with the community, then they should step in. Local broadcasting is changing too, and Town has several excellent podcasts which procide for the nees of those of us who cannot get enough Town content.

0

DariusBlue added 09:05 - Nov 1 Over to you GenX Radio - https://genxradio.co.uk/
4

PortmanTerrorist added 09:35 - Nov 1 Politics on TWTD. No thanks. Dumb decision regardless, but hopefully the Club can factor in something for the pre-match slot, maybe along similar lines (not broke etc), as part of its media ramp-up and replacement of iFollow? We are getting a lot of things right, and BBC aside, maybe we/Club can step up again for our fans as this affects us all, but esp those who travel furthest who deserve better.....at least we have options to consider (which may or may not be viable) unlike some others.

6

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls