Comprehensive news too, featuring a posh Roy Hattersley - and talk of inflation lying at 7 or 8% - with the prospect of it even remaining in single figures. A bit of speech for no apparent reason in the form of an interview down a bad phone line – as was often the case back then - and a more useful public service campaign to persuade parents to immunise their children. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

No segues – but alongside the hits of the day, enjoy Les Reed and the Pop Proms Orchestra.

Roger died in 1997.

Hear the ads and lengthy news (5 minutes) typical of the time too, a Terry Wogan voiceover – a fireworks PSA – nodding to the meaningful speech required - and the Toby jugs thing…

Mike Baker died in 2013.

Enjoy here too the ad breaks, with so many famous singalong ads. and an interesting music policy.

(montage from David Salt)

The panel included Conservative MP Norman Tebbit and Labour's Roy Hattersley and questions included: the trial of Mathias Rust, the young German amateur aviator who landed his light aircraft in then-communist Moscow's Red Square; gun control and the future of the SDP-Liberal Alliance.

Any Questions? was first broadcast in October 1948 in the West of England and began national broadcasts in 1950. It has aired on BBC Radio 4 since 10 April 1970.

If you enjoy the hour long Conversations programmes which feature an  hour with someone in radio who has made a difference, please subscribe to the new RADIOMOMENTS CONVERSATIONS podcast.

If you find the weekly reviews interesting, please subscribe to the new RADIOMOMENTS THIS WEEK IN HISTORY podcast.

This RADIOMOMENTS CLIPS podcast continues - now dedicated to those vintage radio clips and those moments from recent days which have some significance!

Please subscribe and make nice comments :) 

www.davidlloydradio.com

By the end of the first five months (and 14 editions), the streamed versions of the broadcasts has been requested nearly 37,000 times, an average of 254 requests per day (plus MP3  downloads and hits on the transcript page).

“BBC Radio 2”…he finds himself saying - before the hesitant “….is where we used to be’. And he warns Auntie Ethel who’s flicked over that the ‘golden oldies’ are ‘a little more contemporary than they were before’. He’s at Virgin ‘for as long as they’ll let us’ -and talks of his boss Scott. Not ‘one of the really big cheeses…but certainly on the cheese counter’.

The marketing is there, he is the biggest name in radio. The only impediment to success is platform and audience intransigence – and they have wisely recognised that. Good luck to radio’s second Ev.

As is to be expected, in the case of a man who’s served such a characterful city for so many decades, played at the Cavern and rubbed shoulders with the Beatles, his regular listeners were not best pleased, as reflected on social media and on local press. His ‘Hold your Plums’ has a place in broadcasting history. 

Aziz Rashid, head of the BBC in the North West, said: "Billy Butler has been in radio for almost half a century and most of that on BBC Radio Merseyside. 

"Few people attain the status of legend in their own lifetime. Billy Butler MBE (Mrs Butler’s Eldest) can certainly claim that honour. As well as an outstanding contribution award from the BBC in 2010, just this year he was enrolled as a Citizen of Honour of Liverpool; the highest accolade the city can bestow. 

"Billy has brightened our listeners’ day; been a huge influence on local musicians; and impressed and flummoxed many a celebrity guest with his legendary forensic research – often knowing more about them than they do. And he is of course the man behind the iconic Hold Your Plums. 

"We hope Billy will be working with us on some one-off projects in the future. A beloved broadcaster and a generous colleague, we thank him for the incredible contribution he has made not just to broadcasting but also to life on Merseyside." 

Hear Billy’s story in his own words in this hour of Conversations.

After many years solo, Simon was joined by Jo Whiley. Whilst both are accomplished professionals - behaving professionally - and with genuine mutual respect, it was probably not the approach either of them would chosen.  The partnership ended  on Thursday 20th December 2018, with Simon flying solo the following day.

Enjoy Simon here being teased on his post-Radio 2 future. Aside from the Film Show for 5 Live, 'there'll be other entertainments of a radio variety...on the way. Very shortly.... We should probably await for the formal unveiling'.

Enjoy here some clips from her final show with Jamie Theakston on Friday 14th December 2018. Heart proves yet again you can be polished, showbiz - and yet still authentic. This coupling was great casting - and the final show a touching end.

On 10th December 2018, she announced tearfully that she would be stepping down from the daily show whilst on tour with the Spice Girls the following year. Her Sunday evening network show remained.

Thoughts on my blog.

Here, Radio Leicester, with also a news bulletin from Capital East Midlands, respond promptly when the helicopter carrying Nusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz – and Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha - crashed on 27th October 2018, having taken off from the pitch at the end of a game at the King Power Stadium.

Town 102's licence was not renewed in favour of this new service called Ipswich 102.  History is further complicated by the fact that Ipswich 102 had already been broadcasting its service on DAB for some weeks by the time it embraced its new FM frequency; and Town 102 continued on its relatively new DAB slot after its FM was seized. 

As a result, Town had to cope with an unprecedented DAB migration challenge - and Ipswich 102 with getting a station on-air in record time.

Hear here the first moments of Ipswich 102 on FM.

Here, Chris breaks the news and Zoe reacts. You hear too how the ensuing Radio 2 news bulletin leads with the news – as opposed to the Conservative Party Conference which emerges as the second story. Radio 4 joins in too, with a sizeable piece on PM with Zoe’s showbiz dad, Johnny Ball.

The worst thing about a new show is hitting the junctions - Eddie clearly was not over worried  about that here though.  More importantly, this was a fresh, re-invigorated Eddie, sounding thoroughly relaxed and, rightly, warmer, than the Eddie the BBC paid for. As ever the beauty of Eddie is what he doesn't say - but you know he's thinking.  This is a great LBC move - and good to hear Iain Dale's professionalism about his move from the show, justifiably repaid in spades.

A longer version of this is available from LBC podcasting.

Following Global's acquistion of the station, Juice closed at midnight following 13th August 2018. Enjoy here the opening and closing of its final breakfast show, then its final moments just before midnight, at which point the transmitter fell silent. The 'Capital is Coming' idents follow amidst segues some time later.

His last programme made no mention of his departure, although his imminent end had been well publicised. Unlike most programmes, he did not talk up to Big Ben – he let ‘Bring me Sunshine’ so the job for him. Regular listeners would have mused of the significance of the change. It was such subtle nods that lent the programme an unspoken intimacy which similar programmes so often lack.

LBC beckoned – and only the most alert would have spotted his early preparations for his transfer to commercial radio as he uttered “…after these messages” into a trailer.

Here, you can hear a segment of her bubbly on-air performance in her final show, before the news was announced the following day by Eric Smith. Her co-host Adam Green also pays his tribute.

Social media tributes afterwards from colleagues through her on-air years illustrated her popularity. 

Vicki worked at The Pulse, Century FM and on the Magic network. She had hosted the afternoon show on BBC Radio Shropshire since 2010.

Jo Russell was on Trent for a lifetime - but a full ten years after leaving  - and having been through Absolute, BRMB and Free en route to her current home at Gem in the East Mids - for some reason the word 'Trent' came out. Maybe it was just because she was back in her home city.  The brain is a funny old thing.

In 2012, Anita took over the Radio 4 Saturday lunchtime 'Any Answers' from Jonathan Dimbleby, who hosts Any Questions which precedes  it. Her appointment was well-made.

This edition of Any Answers is atypical.  It's the sort of programme or news bulletin most broadcasters have faced from time to time - one where anything technical which can go wrong - does. The only thing one can do is plough on and keep calm.   And Anita did - on this edition of a programme normally known for the military precision of each caller - and remained cool as cucumber.

He introduced himself well to his new audience and really sounded himself on his official debut show on 4th June 2018. Typically good story-telling – and the usual polished delivery of class lines from his enviably quick brain. Plus, he promised to call back every texter after the show.

There were a few technical hiccoughs at the outset - which are always much more infuriating for the on-air talent than for the listeners. But they did give good cause for a flood of typical OC lines: “Half an hour on air and very little has gone right”. “Who can I complain to about my own show?”. Thankfully much that went awry was just after 6 am whilst Oz was just awakening; so let’s not worry unduly about the UK anoraks who were fully alert for it at 9 pm BST with their cassette machines poised.

Great ‘getting to know you’ promos. Beautifully-read news and travel bulletins – including those live sponsor lines. And note the very short solo ads (which we used to do at LBC a decade ago too) - and the ad for a big erection. And relish Christian’s live ad for Shotton lifts - and the bed company one at the end: "More than just a bed - they're the experts -in sleep"!

It was alive – and great fun to listen to. Good luck.

 As has now become tradition for departing major names, the handover was handled like old friends preparing to move town. In this clip from the show that morning, Grimmers reveals his news and introduces his successor Greg James who was evidently moved: “I get to have a go at the most famous radio show in the world and I could not be happier”

The historic broadcasting aired on simultaneously at 10.59am, featuring globally famous voices talking about the stigma of mental health. With over 300 stations taking part, broadcasting to one of radio’s biggest collective audiences with an average listenership of 20 million, the Mental Health Minute was led by Radiocentre and The Radio Academy. The content was created and produced by content agency Somethin’ Else.

The message sought to recognise Mental Health Awareness Week during the industry’s Radio Audio Week. It was supported by the Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign which launched in 2016 to change the national conversation on mental health and tackle the stigma that prevents people from getting the help they need. 

Heads Together brings together The Royal Foundation and eight mental health charities including the Anna Freud Centre For Children and Families, Best Beginnings, CALM, Contact, Place 2 Be, Mind, The Mix, and Young Minds.

But now, lo! As the Today programme concludes each day up to the 9.00 pips, the programme to follow is now no longer ignored.  The Today presenters simply utter a quick trail of what's ahead. After 60 years of merrily ignoring what's on the way, it seems a remarkably good idea.

They tell of a full-blown personality station and a time and place in British radio history. Great production too from Ian Chilvers. He had some great ideas of his own - and also, when I gave him a raw idea, he was truly brilliant at reading my mind and delivering it in audio.

Hear clips of that programme here in which her resignation was covered, including her reading the headlines in which that story was not mentioned; the bulletins in which it was; the press reviews where it was, albeit John Humphrys read them; the interview with John which wasn't an interview; the one between John and Mariella Frostrup which was; and John explaining why everything was or wasnt being discussed.

Then - hear an interview with Carrie on Woman's Hour that same morning, concluding with the great back anno from Jane Garvey 'Impartiality does not stop me discussing the menopause on Woman's Hour next week'.

David’s book is out now: ‘The Golden Days of Radio 1’.

The coverage was live on the special commemorative pirate BBC Essex station, hosted for this part of the day by Norman St John and Tom Edwards.

Geoff's first show from One Golden Square, back when the station carried its former brand, was aired in 1999.

This was an understated, professional farewell show, as he departed for Absolute - and he even paid tribute to the 'trinity of bosses: Ashley, Stephen and Richard'.

Given the speed of the apology, the Guardian article covering this, and the general hullabaloo - we can rest assured it’s an uncommon occurrence.

Russell's new show will air on Radio X on Sunday mornings.

A new morning weather forecast was introduced - and a weekly summary of farm produce prices in the home markets.

The market prices for farmers were an addition to the regular Farmers' Talks. These appeared amongst the specialised talks that comprised a fair proportion of early radio broadcasts, and made no allowance for the general listener. Typical talks for farmers at the time included Ducks for Egg Production, Experiments on the Manuring of Roots in Dorset, Phosphatic Manures for Spring Use, and one on the Agricultural Holdings Act 1923.

Farming programmes on radio developed over the years, including On Your Farm and Farming Today. These programmes served and reflected the agricultural community, whilst developing a following amongst politicians and general listeners, providing a glimpse of rural life for wistful urban dwellers.

Between 2008 and 2014, he worked for Sky Entertainment as a commissioning editor at Sky Drama, and was also executive producer on programmes including Hit And Miss, Strike Back, Mad Dogs, Thorne, Terry Pratchett's Going Postal and Moonfleet.

He previously worked as a commissioning executive for Sky 1, a story producer for EastEnders, a series producer for Dream Team and a producer for Holby City.

In this interview with Paddy O'Connell on Broadcasting Hosue on Radio 4, he tells of listening to The Archers on Sunday mornings as a child while his mother did the ironing - and his thoughts on ther task ahead.

Enjoy a sprinkling of those words and phrases which would not be heard on today’s radio – or anywhere. The ‘in sounds’, ’where it’s at’, ‘fabulous’ and the ‘fun thirty’.

Hear his chats with fellow presenters Simon Dee (the Chris Evans of his generation) and David Ryder; and an honourable mention for Scotland. One can imagine a well-meaning BBC staffer saying ‘don’t forget Scotland, Tony’. They likely also asked him to flag up the existence of Radio 2 to the old dears a little perplexed by Tony on a frequency hitherto occupied by music to knit to. So he did. Sort of.

There’s a lovely version of Let’s Go to San Francisco with an end I hadn’t heard before, and an array of new releases, replete with catalogue numbers, no doubt to help the needletime situation.

It’s a delicious listen – and, as he says, the show proper didn’t debut until Monday.

Also, some touching response to Steve Hewlett's cancer diaries - and a reminder of radio's powerful, quiet influence.

The programme’s arrival on the network’s 39 stations had been greeted by some hostility, not least from those whose local  programmes had been displaced  - and their friends around the network, some of whom allegedly had to be reminded about their professional responsibilities.

I rate Matthew - and I rate Mark. Matthew’s company won a decent tender; and Mark’s a great presenter.  The sort of remarks received by the programme were unjustified and typical examples of the excesses of social media.

My view is that  Mark  - and Matthew’s team are doing a pretty fine job of a bad idea. I just take issue to this day with the strategy, which continues. This sort of networking seems a puzzling tactic for the network - and the cost of the overall production amazes me. If it was a really cost-efficient option, I’d maybe have a bit of professional sympathy with a difficult decision. But I’m not sure it is.

Enjoy here bits of Mark’s valedictory performance, before he handed the baton to Georgey Spanswick.

One can imagine him smiling quietly in Wogan House as he returned to the BBC that evening and spun his beloved Motown.

Nicely in the seat ready for the 50th anniversary celebrations for Radio 1. Welcome back, Tony, we missed you.

Dave Cash - The pirates, ‘Kenny & Cash’, Capital, BBC Local

Cliff Michelmore - Hamburg end of ‘Two Way Family Favourites’, later much TV

Ted Gundry - BBC Cornwall

Ed Stewart - The pirates, BBC Radio 2, commercial radio and TV

Tony Cozier - Cricket journalist and commentator

Jimmy Young - BBC Light, Radio 1 and 2

Ian Rufus - Commercial radio founder, LBC, Hallam, Viking, Mercia

Keith Belcher - LBC founding programmer

Joyce Frost - ‘Old Woman’ on Steve Wright show

Paddy O Flaherty - BBC Radio Ulster

Dave Gregory - BBC Radio 1 and commercial radio inc Metro

Tony Beard - BBC Devon

Alan Devereux - The Archers (Sid Perks) and accomplished VO

Ali Brownlee - BBC Tees commentator

Joe Fish - BBC Lancashire

Steve Becker - BBC Lancashire

Terry Wogan - RTE, BBC Light, Radio 1 and 2

Dave Barrett - BBC Radio Bristol, GWR, Brunel FM, GLR, talkRADIO

Thanks to Richard White offering me the audio.

The new languages would be Afaan Oromo, Amharic, Gujarati, Igbo, Korean, Marathi, Pidgin, Punjabi, Telugu, Tigrinya, and Yoruba, with the first new services expected to launch in 2017.

The expansion was the largest growth spurt since the 1940s, with languages having been cut from the service in recent years.

"This is a historic day for the BBC" said BBC director general Tony Hall. "The BBC World Service is a jewel in the crown - for the BBC and for Britain. "As we move towards our centenary, my vision is of a confident, outward-looking BBC which brings the best of our independent, impartial journalism and world-class entertainment to half a billion people around the world.

He was to host all of its major dayparts, from time to time, and was said to be the station’s longest continuous-serving news reader until his final bulletin in 2012. Famously too, for 25 years, we heard him deliver the UK’s voting in the Eurovision song contest.

In his own words, this is the Colin Berry story.

(Music by Larry Bryant www.larrybryant.com)

His final programme was just days before, on October 16th, across the BBC in the South on this Country programme.  Catch him here enjoying himself, joining in with familiar Country favourites, and even having a quick word with a fellow pirate Roger Day.

Nicky speaks of his early days in the discos and on biscuit factory radio at UBN, before opening up about his break at Capital where he was to work alongside those he’d admired in their pirate beginnings. Hear too of his encounters with some of the World’s most famous musicians’; and his days at Virgin and the BBC.

In his own words, this is the Nicky Horne story.

Aired 11t September 2015.

Listen here to the announcement of the departure of Chelsea Norris from the Key 103 breakfast programme in Manchester after 11 years, followed by the last two hours of the final show two days later. The listeners say it best: ‘It’s like losing my little girl’.

Unlike most, the legacy brand remained on AM and the new 'brand' 'Sound Wave' (Now The Wave) debuted on FM. It was proud moment for Shaun Tilley.

This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

Dewi returned at the end of 1962 as BBC Wales formed its very own Sports Department. Over the next 30 years, Dewi directed the cameras at every rugby match played at Cardiff Arms Park.

Dewi's happy memories were key to his twilight career at BBC Radio Wales, playing the songs and stars of yesteryear as presenter of 'A String of Pearls' on Sunday mornings.

He later emerged as a leading light in its replacement, Ocean Sound. Having established the successful Spire FM in Salisbury and playing a key role in the Local Radio Company, Chris acquired the reputation as a much-admired individual who knew the secrets of running great local radio businesses with high quality programming at the right cost.

In this hour of ‘Conversations’, Chris tells proudly of his successes; honestly of his frustrations; and shares insight into his more recent projects at the BBC and beyond. In his own words, this is the Chris Carnegy story.

In the days of commercial radio’s first regulator, the IBA, franchises to broadcast were awarded; and these were rolled upon satisfactory performance. In later days, fixed terms were awarded, at the end of which a new competitive beauty contest would decide whether the incumbent should live to fight another day. DAB has, in more recent years, interrupted that process.

Whilst the law offers no specific advantage to the incumbent when a licence is advertised, regulators have, quite rightly, felt they needed a decent reason to replace a licensee. A very poor regulatory record or on the edge of bankruptcy; or just a case of not quite taking the hint about what they should be doing in the ensuing term. Famously, the original LBC lost its licence in 1993; albeit the brand name was to return, in due course, under its successor.

Witness here a telescoped edition of the excellent last programme aired by Radio Victory in Portsmouth on 28th June 1986.

This had been a slightly more complex battle as when its franchise ended; a new larger area was being offered by the IBA and three groups put their heads above the parapet.

It was told it had lost out to Ocean Sound in 1985 and closed down the following year. Ocean became Heart, and is now part of Heart South Coast.

Chris Carnegy (thanks for the audio, Chris) delivered the final words in this impressive valedictory programme beautifully; and he subsequently touched down at the replacement station which launched four months later.

Audio kindly supplied by the chart archivist, Richard White.

In this episode of ‘Conversations’ from #RadioMoments, Johnny tells of Radio 1's first day; his early days in overseas radio; and his tentative steps as a Technical Operator, rising to control the Nation’s biggest radio station. He tells of his appointments and his firings, his hopes and his low moments.

In his own words, recorded in his sunny, windy North Yorkshire garden, this is Johnny’s story.

Read more in Johnny's book, 'Inside Radio 1', available at http://www.johnnybeerling.co.uk/

In this programme, hosted by James Naughtie, hear the programme's founder, Roy Plomley, and its subsequent hosts. Hear its changing style and some truly great stories of the notables who've been featured over the years.

Fresh from being honoured with the Arqiva Gold Award for his services to commercial radio, this is Steve’s story – in his own words.

This is another episode of the Conversations series. Hear more from 'those who made a difference' at https://audioboom.com/playlists/1307245-conversations

(This is a 'scoped version. Catch the full version currently on BBC iPlayer)

Gwent Broadcasting (GB Radio) launched from Newport, South Wales in 1983, promoted by one of those thin flex-discs through letterboxes. After a period of financial difficulty, it closed in April 1985 and the transmitters relayed neighbouring Red Dragon from Cardiff. The two stations then formally merged.

Alongside Centre in Leicester, these two stations were the key casualties in ILR's early expansion.

This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

In this edition of ‘Conversations’, Roger Mosey tells of his rise through the BBC ranks, from Editorship of PM and Today through to heading BBC 5 Live, running the highly-regarded Olympics coverage and taking his place around the BBC top table in what turned out to be its most challenging spell.

Speaking from his new home, as the Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, this is the Roger Mosey story - in his own words.

Roger’s book ‘Getting Out Alive’ is an insightful read - and available now, published by Biteback.

It has, with the current Archers storyline featuring the manipulative and coercive Rob Titchener whose control of his pregnant wife turns to abuse, with dramatic consequences. The press have picked up on the storyline, and funds have been raised for domestic abuse charities. Maybe most importantly, this issue of quiet ‘gaslighting’ has been brought to the fore, with individuals now feeling able to step forward to a more understanding response.

Here, the plot makes Newsnight coverage. I doubt whether Evan's interview with Louiza Patikas (who plays Helen) and the Editor Sean O Connor will win any TV awards, but it’s great to see, once again, radio claiming its rightful headlines.

One doubts that TV was quite so generous with coverage of major radio drama plots in 1955 when Grace Archer died in the fire timed to co-incide with the day of ITV’s launch.

This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

Enjoy here the understated launch of the Big Top 40 in June 2009, the ‘real time’ chart, with Rich and Kat taking the seat

This is not just the story of one broadcaster. It is the story of a time and place in BBC local radio, and the prime example of the sort of characters who dominated their markets in BBC local radio’s early days. It is also the story of the power of radio – the listener relationship - and of pure natural broadcasting skill, with the finest tricks used instinctively.

This is the Dennis McCarthy story. With thanks to Owen McCarthy for the use of archive audio.

More on Dennis on my blog at: http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/our-dennis.html

On February 29th 2016, in a typical flight of Mair fancy, she returned to commemorate Leap Year Day. Whilst it was a fun theme, Val sounded as trusted as ever as she sat in the chair she’d vacated almost a quarter of a century ago.

From his Manchester roots, observing the birth of commercial radio, through to his inspiration in New York, this is the Phil Riley story in his own words.

Now laughing friends deride Tears I cannot hide So I smile and say When a lovely flame dies Smoke gets in your eyes

This fifty minute programme is the story of a programmer who was in for the early days of UK commercial radio and who was at the helm through its most fascinating and sometimes turbulent times. In his own words, illustrated along the way, this is the story of John Evington’s love for the closeness of radio.

'The announcement' was followed by three hours of an utterly fitting, irreverent celebration of a legend. The programme became, in the words of Chris, 'Terry's final show', with his deep Irish voice popping up when you least expected it, not least in the news intro.

Amidst the laughter, and the torrent of amusing listener tributes, there were moments of sadness and, very nearly, tears. It take a broadcaster of Chris's stature and intuition, and sensitive production, to pull off a show like today's and reflect the Nation's mood perfectly. I suspect Terry looked on from afar today with a knowing smile: 'That's my boy'

http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/farewell-terry.html?m=1

Now, there's really no need for split minute timecheck. But, as ever, he gets away with it. It's just. Well, it's just him. And the nation rightly adores him.

Maybe it’s rose coloured spectacles, but the early days were lucky to coincide with a colourful political backdrop, with rich pickings for a show like this. For me, the Healey and Thatcher days were summed up brilliantly by this unique show.

Having launched as part of a tranche of Radio 4 changes as the 70s dawned, many would agree that this father of Spitting Image was right to end in 1998.

Enjoy here an episode from 1990, despatched kindly to me, amongst many other editions by Griff Griffith, just after the shock resignation of Margaret Thatcher

Tough to believe that it wasn’t altogether that long ago when you could hear Lindisfarne kick off a day on the Nation’s Favourite. And a touch of Doris Day later. This line up saw Brambles, Mayo, Bates, Schofield, Davies, Wright, Goodier, Peel, Campbell and Harris. Huge energy; Jam jingles; production-intensive; ‘1FM news in touch with the Gulf Crisis’; ‘every oldie’s a baldie’; and Philip Schofield worrying about the DAT machine.

Saved for posterity by an intrepid Neil Rudd.

Blog http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/congratulations-oc.html

The single 'Gold' launched at 7 pm on 3rd August 2007, as the stations joined the sustaining service which was to be itself.

(Archive audio collected by Richard White)

Teddy was well-rehearsed, thanks to having conducted a schools match commentary as a trial. He was described as "a natural talker with a reasonable vocabulary, a good rugby mind and a conscious determination to avoid journalese". Lessons learnt from the first successful rugby commentary, the first football commentary followed just a week later.

This example is a mock up, but staged by the original crew,

Broadcast 30th July 2008

He was a well-known TV face on Crackerjack - and was famously the male voice at the end of Lynsey de Paul's silky 70s hit 'Won't somebody dance with me'.

Ed died in January 2016. His last programme was broadcast live - just days before - on Christmas Day 2015. In a piece of inspired scheduling, Ed revived ‘Junior Choice’ to remind us grown-ups of Christmases past, playing all the favourites from Nellie the Elephant to Sparky’s Magic Piano. His closing song was, fittingly, the vocal version of his theme, which he felt able to join in with. I think every disc jockey would like to carefully craft their final show, their last song and their last words. Ed almost seemed to.

"I'll be with you - whenever".

Here, he’s in conversation with John Foster on BBC Tees. (Audio courtesy of of John)

He’d arrived at the BBC via the Light Programme in 1960, presenting the brilliantly-titled ‘Records Around Five’ show. The programme was to call upon the tune which became his trademark: "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal", although it took some years even for Fluff to choose to hit the posts with utter perfection. By late 1961, Pick of the Pops had been installed as part of a Saturday evening show called Trad Tavern, becoming a show in its own right by 1962. By 72, Fluff had become part of Radio 1’s daytime roster. Alan left for BBC to work for Capital, returning to Radio 1 in January 1989 and restoring Pick of the Pops to its former glory until this final edition on 27 December 1992. Both the show and Fluff were to return to Radio 2 five years later. (Thanks to Richard White (@RMWhite21) for sending on the audio)

Sandy Chalmers - BBC Broadcaster, producer and manager. Richie Benaud - Former Australian cricketer who became a highly regarded commentator. Ian McDougall - Former BBC foreign correspondent. Gary Owens - American radio presenter and voice actor. Shaw Taylor - TV and radio presenter. Derek Chinnery - Controller of BBC Radio 1 from 1979 to 1985. Jean-Louis Cremieux-Brilhac Monitored all radio broadcasts from occupied France and responsible for sending information to the resistance movements. Colin Bloomfield - BBC local radio sports commentator. Susan Sheridan - Actress and voice artist. Her voice acting roles included Trillian in the BBC radio series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Peter Donaldson - BBC Chief Announcer. Richard Wheatly - Jazz FM CEO and executive chairman of The Local Radio Company Mike Allen - Capital Radio and hip-hop DJ; also on Talk Radio, LBC and Smooth. Emily Bull - KLFM journalist and IRN newsreader of the year. Kathy Secker - North East BBC local radio legend. Bob Hopton - BBC Radio 2; Radio Tees ; and the programmer who brought Les Ross to BRMB.

Enjoy here an unfairly telescoped edition of a programme which should never be thus edited. This last programme from Jim in December 2015 affords, nevertheless, a wonderful insight into the man referred to by BBC director general Tony Hall as "the emotional heart of Today for a generation".

All the usual features are in evidence, including a quote from the Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder; an errant timecheck; and the line going down as he chats with John Major. The former PM is summoned back by phone and one imagines the production staff insisting that he really must return lest he issue some much deserved words of thanks from the Nation to Mister Naughtie. He doesn't disappoint.

There’s mischief too: an interview about a favourite road; a few best bits; some delicious devil’s advocacy on James’s performance from John; and, well, in the words of John "on last programmes, all normal rules are suspended".

And a gulp at the end. Under the Alice Arnold rules, Radio 4 presenters are only ever allowed to show emotion in their last ever sentence. And he did. James, you served radio proud. We'll miss you in the mornings,

He was maybe an unlikely choice for the straight chart format, I thought, given his entertaining intelligence, but what do I know. Having said that, he held fort for an impressive two years - and just revel in this incredible Christmas edition from 21st December 2003. Superbly produced and brilliantly delivered.

It’s good too that Wes has since been heard on 4 Extra, thanks to his fascination with some early radio character comedy, and on BBC Local Radio. Audio courtesy Richard White

Enjoy it here in 88 and 89, with a suitably relaxed and polished offering as befitted the area, the station and the time. Enjoy the local ads with long-forgotten car models, and the halcyon days where if you got the wrong number of contestants on-air for a quiz, it mattered not. Witness the lovely 'start the day' moment absent from 24 hour stations nowadays, another chance to clean the slate and start again. Hear too mention of the lovely John Warwick , a station stalwart, alas no longer with us. Broadland became Heart in 2009, later merging with what was Radio Orwell, to become Heart East Anglia.

Here, though, savour my appalling interview technique at the time as I sought to persuade the then Deputy Programme Controller, Len Groat to afford me some appropriate sound bites. It’s very much a conversation of a time and a place. Days when holiday rotas were printed on bits of paper; and the highlight of the week for a head of music was ‘opening the records’ that arrived in the post that day.

Len was very much one of the characters of the first age of commercial radio, hopping across Metro and Piccadilly to Trent. Known for his love of jingles and his pretty firm views on most things, Len was a key architect in the building of the ‘Trent sound’ which served the station well for its generation.

On 23th November 1978. Radio 2 waved farewell to Long Wave, making way for Radio 4. 693 and 909 kHz became Radio 2; and Radio 1 moved off its old 247 wavelength – over to 275 and 285; leaving 247 for poor old Radio 3. I use wavelengths, rather than frequencies, in the latter clause as the digits are but so familiar, thanks to generations of jingles.

The UK was also given 227 kHz, but did not rush into using it. I recall during my time at the Radio Authority, the regulator debated, rather quickly, whether to bother.

The frequency changes were a major project. The BBC plonked little stickers through the doors of all households. Indeed, some lucky old radio sets may still have them on.

Enjoy here a beautifully cynical view of the whole thing from John Holmstrom on Radio 3 as it looked forward to a new home on Radio 1's former home at 247.

Judge for yourself, with this delicious unintentionally hilarious extreme example of the daytime phone fare offered by Plymouth Sound in its early days. A lengthy swap shop, from the days when one gave out one’s phone number on air, delivers a list of things to be swapped from desperate callers. Whether any listener ever on any radio station managed to get exactly what they wanted in exchange for something they didn’t want, we shall never know. And I just wonder whether the woman calling ‘Mr (David) Bassett’ for a ‘grumble’ about ‘jumble’ was Margaret Thatcher. Certainly sounded that way.

The Midlands was close to his heart, from his Tiswas days – and from his time as a teacher before radio beckoned. Enjoy here some great reminiscences of his life in a return to his old stomping ground as he hosted a 45th anniversary programme on BBC WM

The latter was the case for GWR’s network centre, which was fortunate when, one day in November 2015, Chris Moyles sought to broadcast from Bristol. Enjoy here the early moments of that show as he picked up the mic in the Marie Celeste.

As the BBC celebrated 45 years of broadcasting in Birmingham via BBC WM and its predecessor BBC Radio Birmingham, it invited Johnnie and a series of local legends to host shows. Relish this three hour telescoped programme as Johnnie relates his own stories of his life, radio and music. It also just happens to be immaculate broadcasting and perfect storytelling.

I once sat in the car at a lonely filling station on the cold moors of the M62, unable to get out of the car during one of his interviews which had turned into art. Admittedly over a glass of wine, I wrote lovingly to say as much; and Eddie took the trouble to reply.

The show for which he is now rightly famous is PM. But it has not always been like that.

PM began in 1970, following the 'Broadcasting in the 70s' report which paved the way for the BBC radio services to carve out their own sovereign states. As you can hear on this Boo: William Hardcastle and Derek Cooper heralded a programme which "sums up the day and your evening starts here".

It did have a twiddly-pom signature tune, thanks to the Radiophonic workshop. This later gave way to an orchestral piece; and I often dreamed of co-hosting that very show with Valerie Singleton, voicing up to the Da-da-da-da-dah-dah-dah. It was never to happen. Not that she's dead, you understand. She just doesn't care about me.

There is no theme now; save for pip pip peep. But Eddie's powerfully-chosen words are better than the best orchestra in the world; or even any fine piece from the delectable Delia Derbyshire. The last sig seemed wrong when the programme covered the death of Princess Diana; and has never since seemed right.

PM is the BBC at its best.

The programme was laborious in its early days, with a lengthy script being assembled from the acres of Hansard or reports and delivered solemnly by BBC staff announcers. In time, as Parliament eventually agreed with Reith’s original intention that proceedings themselves be broadcast, the programme could liven up as we heard for ourselves those moments of moment, passion and entertainment.
Seventy years on, Robert Orchard reflects fondly on ‘TIP’. Order. Order.

Radio Victory was one of them, bouncing on air on the 14th October, 1975. Like so many of the first tranche, it attracted a healthy audience and much local love, not least for it striking the right chord when so many in its TSA were affected by the Falklands War. It also was a victim of the contagious strife so typical of those perilous early days in the UK's nascent commercial radio sector, not eased by its comparatively small TSA.

Its life was short, being one of very few stations sacrificed by the then regulator, the IBA. After its franchise was not renewed, it went off air on 28 June 1986, to be replaced by Ocean Sound, serving a larger area. Ocean has now become Heart.

The BBC local radio journey had been a complex one, not least in the Capital, where after the off-air trials in the early 60s, it was even felt that ‘borough stations’ rather than a London-wide one might be the right answer. That idea was to resurface again later in the station’s challenging life. Running a traditional local station in a big city was always to be hard work, as it proved too in Birmingham and Manchester. Maybe that’s one reason why the station has enjoyed so many different names, becoming variously Radio London, Radio London 206, GLR, LDN, London Live – and – in October 2015, as heard here, it returned to ‘Radio London’.

I love the exasperated cluck too. Beautiful.

Lest there be any offence, may I just say I think the cast of continuitors are all simply wonderful, and I would campaign naked down Carnaby Street if any future BBC regulator were to dare to suggest their removal.

The station launched in 1994, backed by Border Television, in the hands of the irrepressible John Myers who carved it out in his own image - big, loud and with a powerful personality. Heavy on speech, with a demanding Radio Authority Format, discharged through blocks of phone ins surrounded by AC and pop music, it attracted huge listening hours and became a force to be reckoned with.

Enjoy here the immaculate first broadcast from then then Princess Elizabeth, as part of Children’s Hour from the BBC Home Service on 13th October 1940. Anyone who doubts how language and delivery changes over the years, even in the Queen’s case, should listen to this.

The many American Forces personnel stationed in the UK, accustomed to vibrant US radio, were a little perplexed by staid Auntie BBC, even its General Forces Programme, which was doing so much to provide for the needs of our own troops. As the number of Americans grew, it was clear a dedicated service would be required, and if the BBC did not aid its provision in the UK, then the Americans would do it for themselves.

The American Forces Network (AFN), went on air on July 4th, 1943, on 50 transmitters in the UK, with BBC co-operation. As squabbles broke out between the varying demands of the audiences, and the various factions of the broadcasters, it was clear a more structured solution was necessary.

On June 7th 1944, on 1050 kHz AM, (later 583), the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme began, broadcasting from Broadcasting House. Famously, the childish yet eerie tune ‘Oranges and Lemons’ was adopted as its call-sign, played on a nova-chord.
There was an introductory announcement by Franklin Engelmann, who was later to be the first host of ‘Pick of the Pops’, followed by a prayer and a news bulletin. ’Rise & Shine’ followed, co- hosted by Ronnie Waldman.

Drawing on programmes from across the World, this service lasted just 14 months, closing down on July 28th, 1945.

This piece with James Cridland on 20th July 2015.

Relish this piece with Mat Deegan from Folder Media on 21st July 2015.

Having launched in 1994, and produced some brilliant programming along the way, alongside some significant challenges, the station lasted for four years before turning into the clearly-defined and successful Talk Sport.

This selection of promos, thanks to Drew White, illustrate the TRUK days.

Island FM launched on October 15th 1992, the great JAM jingles at the actual launch complemented by the official civic ceremony a little later.