Nick Bailey on Classic FM launch

A national commercial radio station might have seemed a logical idea, as commercial radio began its tardy arrival in the early '70s. But, having embarked on a local model, many of those City operators became fearful of a national competitor. Eventually, the 1990 legislation permitted it, and the award was made, in accordance with a ‘highest cash bid’ system, coupled with some format pre-determination which demanded the greatest legal brains establish what 'non-pop- was. M'lud.

The winner, however, failed to come up with the funds, otherwise, by now, we might have been celebrating twenty years of ‘the Hills are Alive’, thanks to Showtime Radio.

And so it was that Classic FM, having been in second place, came into being, thanks to the driving forces of Ralph Bernard and the late Michael Bukht. Shareholders at launch numbered principally Sir Peter Michael, Time Warner, GWR and DMGT.

Its arrival was heralded gently on the test transmissions by the chirping of birds from the garden of Chief Engineer, Quentin Howard, followed by the launch proper in September 1992.

For a national commercial station to be a Classical format seemed bizarre to many back then. Even its wildest fans would not have predicted its success; and its current choirmaster Darren Henley and all its choristers past and present warrant rich praise.

Here, enjoy Nick Bailey's opening words; and his reflections of that moment.