Niels van Baarlen, one of Tim Klijn’s sidekicks in the morning of Radio 538, admits that he sometimes laughs on the radio for no good reason. “Was this really that funny? No.”
Critics like Johan Derksen have a knack for dismissing sidekicks on commercial radio as laughing stock. Like people who burst into exaggerated laughter at every trivial joke from the main presenter. Not because it’s funny, but because that’s their job. The type that raises the mood, so to speak.
‘Time is over’
Niels van Baarlen and Rick Romijn are Tim Klijn’s sidekicks in the morning of Radio 538. When asked whether that booming laugh that the listener hears is always real, Rick responds. The Telegraph directly on the defensive. “Oh, there’s that laughable criticism again.”
According to the newspaper, it seems to bother him, but he swears: “It bothered me at first, but that time is over.”
“Really funny?”
The criticism is actually somewhat justified, according to Niels. “Sometimes I think afterwards: was this really that funny? But hey, laughter often makes you laugh.”
Radio 538 has extended the contract with the current morning show for no less than four years. Then ‘laughing bag Rick’ reaches retirement age. “Sitting at home is not for me, and certainly not golf. So if I can, I would like to stay for a while. Most people die when they retire, I am not looking forward to that.”
Mattie and Mariee
Until then, the intention is for Radio 538 to become the big number one again and therefore also beat its major competitor Qmusic. Marieke Elsinga and Mattie Valk make the morning show there.
According to Niels, there is absolutely no jealousy towards the competitor. “Except for Mattie’s salary, haha. He can keep that Tesla.”