You Have Been Listening To . By Commander A. B.
Campbell, R.D. (Chapman and Hall. 58.)
"I HAD just written a story," so Commander Campbell begins his guileless little book of B.B.C. gossip, "which I proposed to send to the editor of a well-known magazine in the hope that he might publish it. My wife read it. This is a good story,' she said, 'why not send it to the B.B.C.? " Oh! I don't know anyone there,' I protested." This cynical reflection proved un- fair: the story was taken, and in next to no time Commander Campbell found himself one of the boys, at home in that extra- ord:nary building with the hollow, empty passages, like those of a paid-off liner, smelling faintly of throat pastilles. His success story is told in naive detail. Freddie is the chief hero, but there's Michael, too, and Lionel and Tommy. They are all heroes to Commander Campbell. We hear of their slips of tongue, their studio witticisms and their fan mails. Television presents ex- citing possibilities. "After the talk the telephone went, and I was told I was wanted. A lady's voice said, I just rang you up to thank you for that charming smile You gave before you commenced talking.'" There is a chapter called "Personalities of Broadcasting," full of glimpses like this (perhaps it would be unkind to give the sitter's name): "His fair hair is brushed back from a broad, intelligent forehead, and his mouth is nearly always twisted into a humorous smile." Of a Mr. Grisewood he remarks : "His 'I beg your pardon' is almost a benediction."
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