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Less hype gives Lisa and Johnny pairing time to grow

Posted in Media, Latest reporters' blogs, Russell Parsons August 28th, 2008 by Russell Parsons

After finding that the so-called “dream team” of Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen failed to revive the flagging fortunes of its breakfast show, Capital 95.8 has turned to a new pairing of Lisa Snowdon and Vaughan to kick-start its fortunes at breakfast time.

The some-time model and TV presenter has been keeping Van Outen’s seat warm for the last couple of months, and by all accounts has done a solid job. But can the Vaughan and Snowdon matchup do the trick and unseat Magic and Heart at the top of the London tree?

On paper, at least, the marriage will not have listeners frothing in anticipation for the daily audio delights to come. The pairing, which has grown organically over the past few months, will not be announced to the capital with anything like the fanfare that Van Outen’s and Vaughan reunion was back in February.

However, the lack of a high profile relaunch could possibly work in Capital’s and the show’s favour. By allowing Snowdon to grow into her co-host role, without the burden of the huge spotlight and expectation which proved to be undoing of Vaughan and Van Outen, Capital has been canny.

The bar was raised too high for the last pairing. Any drop in listeners at Rajar time was greeted with headlines along the lines of ‘Johnny and Denise fail to unseat…”. Listeners too could be forgiven for being disappointed with what they heard after being bombarded with stories about how the much vaunted “chemistry” between the two was to light up their breakfast.

People were always going to be mildly disappointed with what the two had to offer on radio. The pair did unquestionably have something when on TV, but ten years on the magic had faded a little.

Snowdon’s more reserved style may prove to be good foil for Vaughan’s bluster and her appointment will not be trumpeted in the same way as her predecessors was, which means the two should be able to build the show and their on-air relationship quietly and steadily with less expectation and media spotlight.   

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