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PRESS PRAISE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ANNIE MOORE [July 2002]

Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph 16th July 2002

"A documentary on Radio 2, In The Footsteps Of Annie Moore, got the symmetry just right. Presented by Gerry Anderson, produced by John Leonard, it was about Annie Moore (aged 13, from Cork, the very first immigrant to pass into America through Ellis Island in 1892) and what, in general terms, became of the Irish who followed her. A fifth of all those killed in the Twin Towers, for instance, were of Irish descent. The story was illustrated by interviews and commentators, with music for extra depth. Anderson added distinctive slants. "Those who rule write history," he said. "Those who suffer write songs." He remembered Tammany Hall (Ireland's contribution to New York machine politics), disowned the sentimental Ireland of movies, spoke of that occasional 'emptiness inside' of all who live away from their native land. His script was honed, the people interviewed well chosen; it filled its hour and left you wanting more, all of which, to me, spells a good producer in step with his presenter. Remember this when recalling Anderson Country, that disastrous Radio 4 afternoon sequence born of hope but eventually buried in humiliation seven years ago. On Radio Ulster, Anderson had become a prize-winning presenter. For Radio 4 he'd done some memorable scripted essays with an exceptional producer, Simon Elmes. Radio 4 thought it could get the best of both styles. So Anderson Country put him in a live studio but with a tight script, a rigid format and producers who mistrusted his spontaneity. Naturally, the audience hated it. Of course there are some (such as my Sunday Telegraph colleague David Sexton) who can't abide Anderson on any show. I maintain that he has rare talent, heard to best advantage in the employ of such seriously good producers as Simon Elmes and John Leonard."

SMOOTH OPERATIONS SOUTH MOVE [June 2002]

Smooth Ops started its life in a shed in Nick Barraclough's garden in a village outside Cambridge. As the company moved further towards world domination it found that it had to move into two sheds. Eventually Nick filled them with so much clutter from his globetrotting adventures that another premises was needed, and so on 17th June 2002 Smooth Operations South packed its bags and chattels and moved to a shiny new home in the centre of town. Please note new details on our contacts page.

CMA BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR [Jan 2002]

Nick Barraclough was named International Country Broadcaster of the year at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards. The award was presented to him in January 2002 by CMA Female Vocalist Of The Year Lee Ann Womack in an ISDN link up to Nashville, and by CMA member Bobbi Boyce who surprised Nick by leaping out of the bushes with the trophy.