Talking of sport... do you have to?

Talking of sport... athletics, as we all know, can be quite exciting to watch. So it's ironic that when it comes to discussion it appears to be the dreariest area in the world.

Ever listened to Radio 5 coverage of international athletics? If you think ex-footballers talking about football is sometimes less than compelling, try listening to ex-athetes on athletics. Well don't. Watch some paint dry.

You don't hear paint drying discussed much on the radio, which is a shame, because watching paint dry is quite interesting really. (Emulsion paint in particular, because gloss, in the main, is much more uniform.) Emulsion paint on a wall will dry at different rates in different areas - reflecting, obviously, to some extent, the varying thickness with which it will inevitably have been applied, but also the characteristics of the wall underneath and the relative absorbency of its surface in different areas, which itself, in the case of an old wall, may hint at its history, allowing us to deduce the alterations and repairs which may have taken pace over the years.

It would make an interesting discussion on radio, I think. When I say interesting, I do mean relatively, of course. Relative to some I have heard. Dear BBC: do give us more of your Radio 4 arts programmes, in particular those Saturday evening ones.