Vintage clips from UK radio - and more recent broadcasts of note.
\n\n\n(Check out too the 'RadioMoments - This Week in History' podcast and also 'RadioMoments - Conversations')
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Making its debut on Independence Day weekend in 1970 on just 7 stations, the American Top 40 would grow to be heard around the World on more than a thousand stations in more than 50 countries. It was hosted at launch and through to 1988 by Casey Kasem. He was to be succeeded by Shadoe Stevens, with Casey moving to Westwood One to host a rival show. American Top 40 ended in 1995, but returned in 1998.
As the French government prepared to sign an armistice with the Nazis, President Charles De Gaulle turned up at BH on 18th June 1940 to broadcast to France on the BBC. This report, on the 80th anniversary of that momentous broadcast was compiled by Edward Stourton for Radio 4's World at One.
Things go wrong in radio. It happens to all of us. It's worse when they go wrong at the beginning of your show, as it then puts you in the wrong mood and things go downhill from there. Here, Tony Blackburn kicks off his Top 40 on the 25th May 1980. He's taken the trouble to pre-record the opener, just to make sure it's perfect - but then airs the wrong version.... (Thanks to Richard White)
I cannot think of any other time when so many commercial and BBC stations have united to broadcast a single co-ordinated message. The Mental Health Minute 2020 featured the voices of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, England captain Harry Kane, singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, actor David Tennant and heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The initiative had begun in 2018. Overseen excellently by Radiocentre and Heads Together, the mental health campaign, it was aired on hundreds of stations to audienc...
Five months after announcing he was to leave, Christian O'Connell left Absolute Radio on May 18th 2018. He had hosted the breakfast show for 12 years, firstly on Virgin Radio then Absolute Radio as it re-branded. Christian moved to a new life in Australia - and a new career on-air at on Gold FM in Melbourne.
Pete Mitchell died on March the 12th 2020, aged 61. He'd been on-air for 34 years, and was well-known as one half of Pete and Geoff and for his time at Virgin Radio in the 2000s. Chris Evans pays this generous, fond and fitting tribute - as aired on Virgin Radio in April 2020.
Talk radio American style on COVID 19. Government is shutting down - and Mark Levin is not happy. 'Let my people go'. Truly shocking radio. 'You're telling everyone to stay home. And save toilet paper. And go on the internet and sing to each other...'
On 10th July 1969, the BBC published a short report ‘Broadcasting in the 70s’, “to enable BBC radio to play a full part in the broadcasting pattern of the seventies”. The report, carried out by an internal study group, assisted by McKinsey & Co, acknowledged that ‘radio is very far from dead’, with the inference some thought it might be, once TV took hold. The thinking was utterly sound. Just as, in other countries, radio had long become more targeted rather than trying to be all things to a...
As BBC news implemented its latest round of cuts, the axe fell on 5 Live's Wake Up to Money and Mickey Clarke said his goodbyes with a lengthy tribute on the programme on February 28th 2020. It coincided with the biggest fall in the markets since the financial crisis, but there was little doubt which topic the programme chose as the dominant one. Mickey had been a part of 5 Live since it launched in 1994.
After almost 30 years at Lincs FM - graduating from rookie journo to head honcho - Sean Dunderdale left commercial radio in February 2020. Having hosted all his ‘last programmes’ (sport and the legendary Farming Programme), he dropped in for a farewell newscast. The bulletin was accommodated in a programme hosted by Eddie Shaw and just before another VO by Ed Bretten, both names who were also on air in the station’s very earliest days. It was thus a nod to the wise and a fond echo of 1992 just a...
A flick across BBC Radio 4, Radio Ulster, Radio Wales, BBC Scotland, BBC local radio, Hits Radio, Heart, LBC and Talk Radio at 2300 on 31st Jan 2019 as the UK left the EU.
The death of Nicholas Parsons was announced on 28th January 2020. Hear, here his 'home service' Radio 4 announce the news - and enjoy the PM programme's fond coverage as panellists Gyles Brandreth and Janey Godley are offered 'just a minute' to tell why they regarded him so fondly.
Nicholas Parsons died in January 2020, aged 96. He'd been on air with his 'Just a Minute' programme on BBC Radio 4 since it began in 1967. Here, enjoy clips from his final edition - with Stephen Fry, Jan Ravens, Pam Ayres and Paul Merton - aired in September 2019. My tribute here.
Most of us have done it at some stage in our career. Aired something that was not destined for so being. In the fortunate examples - such as this - there are no expletives. Tony likely kicked himself, though, as a perfect chart opener was not aired on 11th Jan 1981 as he no doubt produced - but an earlier version. In pursuit of excellence - he'd evidently tried it twice. Those sort of things usually make a presenter so annoyed, they mess up everything after. Tony didn't though.
From Boxing Day 2019 to New Year, Radio 1 debuted 35 voices from community, local or student radio - or digital outlets. Tatum McGreal Laura Crockett Dave Holt Gregor Davidson Fee Mak Cal Carthy Mayce Al-Hroub Summaya Mughal DJ Davda Hannah Sackville-Bryant and Joel Mitchell Connor Coates Stuart Millar Nakia Oliver & Fabienne Oliver Lucy Edwards Jade Worsley Carmen London DJ Astonish Priya Matharu Holly Palmer & Rhys Gunter Jessica Maciel Fat Brestovca and Kathryn Wilson Sian Eleri Ailbh...
As Steve Allen celebrated 40 years at LBC - the longest serving UK commercial radio presenter - he was touched by his mention in Simon Conway's news bulletin: "He's now the longest-serving commercial radio presenter...".
29th November 2019 saw another tranche of brand changes as the Touch stations, Rugby FM and Banbury Sound closed - ready to become Capital under a brand agreement between Global and the station owners Quidem. For the industry, it was a move which might have been predicted some years ago. The rationale is well-rehearsed and the evidence for change reasonably solid in a fast-changing world. Powerful radio brands are one of the reasons why UK commercial radio is in good health with both audiences a...
From Alaska: A 7.0 earthquake struck about 8 miles north of the Anchorage area on 30th November 2018. KFQD witnessed it for themselves on-air. (Stay listening after the noise)
December 4th 2009 saw the launch of Absolute80s for ‘reluctant adults’, initially available online and in London on DAB replacing the Xtreme service. Sharing the main brand's breakfast show, it was to be the first of many offshoots in a winning strategy. Read my blog here: Ten Years of Absolute 80s Success
