Radio Moments - Clips

No station will ever rule as BBC Radio 1 did through the 70s, 80s and into the 90s. Despite being, for decades, on AM only, the Corporation’s reluctant pop channel soared to victory in those halcyon red, white and blue days under its Controller Johnny Beerling. Few presenters of that era failed to send a tape in to Johnny in the hope of a plum gig. 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/

The story of one of the World's longest running factual programmes, which began on the BBC Forces Programme in 1942. 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.

There is only one Steve Allen. This irreplaceable talent has entertained on LBC since the late seventies, and his distinctive act has become part of the UK’s rich radio tapestry. In this hour, hear Steve speak openly about his early days and emotionally about his time at the United Biscuits Network. He tells too of LBC’s early life and about listener response through the changing 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

In May 2016, Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night presented a special edition to remember David Jacobs, who would have been 90 that week. West End star singers Hannah Waddingham, Rodney Earl Clarke, Gary Williams and Michael Ball featured, with Radio 2 fellow presenters offering hugely fond tributes in the ‘interval’. The programme was hosted by Emma Jacobs, David’s daughter.

Russ Williams waves farewell here from his 'rock 'n roll football' show on Absolute Radio after six years. The day, however, also marks the end of Russ's career at One Golden Square in both its brand incarnations, after 23 years.

Few presenters are on-air for 50 years. Roger Day has been. Here, on a Bank Holiday special, aired on BBC Radio Kent, he tells his own story and chats to those who've featured in it, from Johnnie Walker to Tom Edwards. Hear too the voice of Ron O'Quinn, the chap who saw Roger's talents when he was hiring for 'Swinging Radio England', and who was, therefore, responsible for Roger's entry to the business. (This is a 'scoped version. Catch the full version currently on BBC iPlayer)

Some of Liverpool's radio stations breaking the news of the Hillsborough verdict in April 2016.

Pete Price, who's seized the mood of his City so many times in his years, opens his programme on the night of the Hillsborough verdict in April 2016.

A station's closure is always sad. High hopes dashed, usually when the money fails to flow through the door in sufficient quantity to pay the milk bill. 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.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, with clips and memories, for the week ending April 22nd 2016,. This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

Fascinated by the new local commercial station in his home town of Bradford in the ‘70s, Roger was eager to play his part in that young Pennine Radio. The BBC then swiftly called, taking him first to Lincolnshire and then to BBC Radio Northampton, where his voice delivered the station’s first news bulletin. 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.

As Piccadilly hit its first birthday in 1975, a commemorative 7" vinyl disc was duly released. On it, you can hear the voices of Roger Day, Steve England, Andy Peebles, Tony Emmerson and Steve Merike. There's an invitation to buy a special pendant radio, provided you despatch a cheque or postal order; and we hear the words of the founding MD, Philip T Birch, who describes Picc as: friendly 1st; happy 2nd; informative 3rd; and entertaining 4th.

Today, another BBC local radio character died. Ted Gundry, who was 81, was one of the founding members of BBC Radio Cornwall and, one of its distinctive Cornish voices. BBC local radio seems to wave farewell to its own with great fondness and style; and, here as ever, it is the listeners’ contributions which emerge as the most touching.

Who would imagine that radio drama would make the headlines in 2016? 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.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, with clips and memories, for the week ending April 15th 2016,. This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, with clips and memories, for the week ending April 8th 2016,. This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

I’ve often wondered how long it would be until the media at large stopped looking to ‘the papers’ to lead content. Whilst there have been some huge stories unearthed by the best press journos in recent years, stories are often as likely to spring from a James O’Brien challenge or frosty Nick Ferrari exchange on LBC; a healthy duel on the Today programme or from a single Tweet. It’s perhaps, therefore, no surprise to hear that ‘What the Paper Say’ has ended its run on Radio 4. This scripted programme, with press clips read by actors, had begun on TV in 1956. Having channel-hopped a few times, it disappeared in 2008, before being revived on radio in 2010. Since the show began, the Mail’s circulation has fallen from 2m to a respectable 1.59m; the Times has grown from 220 to 404k; the Telegraph down from 1,1m to 472k; and the Mirror has declined from 4.6m to 809k. Circulations of the nationals, at least, have, it seems, held up better than press display advertising.

Launched for Shaftesbury on 25 June 1995, Gold Radio later became Vale FM and Midwest Radio. It’s now part of the Breeze. Enjoy here its proud early moments

What goes around comes around. TalkRADIO returned, via the new national digital multiplex, on 21st March 2016. After a complex four years on-air, the original incarnation had evolved into TalkSPORT - just a month after the original national multiplex had launched in 1999. The parent companies for both were The Wireless Group, albeit a lot of corporate water had flown under a lot of bridges in the interim. Enjoy here, a telescoped day 1, featuring Paul Ross, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Jon Holmes and Sam Delaney. One can hear the DNA of the original Talk Radio seeping through in both the online-up and the approach.

Always nice when you can get Steve Jobs’s name in some imaging. Enjoy here the understated launch of the Big Top 40 in June 2009, the ‘real time’ chart, with Rich and Kat taking the seat

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending March 11th 2016, as featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

He was the dog breeder who became Nottingham’s most famous radio presenter. Speak to anyone over 50 in the City and they’ll remember Dennis. When he died in 1996, the streets of Nottingham were lined for the procession to his funeral. Dennis McCarthy hosted ‘the Sunday Show’ and ‘Afternoon Special’ for a large proportion of his 28 years with Radio Nottingham – programmes still recalled fondly to this day, in surprising detail, by his audience. In this long-overdue tribute, 20 years on, colleagues and his family recall what made Dennis so special. What was it about his personality - and his approach - which resulted in this most memorable of broadcasters? 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

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending March 4th 2016, as featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

For a generation, she was the sound of Radio 4 evenings on the PM programme, booming with authority over the trademark sig tune. That same generation would quiver as they recalled her addressing them in their childhood from the Blue Peter settee. Valerie Singleton hosted the PM programme on Radio 4 through the 80s. 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.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending February 26th 2016, as featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending February 19th 2016, as featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

He made his way from a commercial radio traineeship in the early 80s through to managing the purchase of that very station and its neighbours three decades later. En route, he created the firm foundations for the brand-led radio which now plays a key part in commercial radio’s fortunes. 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.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending February 12th 2016, as featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

Radio Mercury launched for Reigate and Crawley on 20th October 1984, in tough economic times for commercial radio - with a launch budget, it was said of £1m, under launch MD John Aumonier. It became Heart 26 years later.

It was to be the final show he’d ever host. In November 2015, Terry Wogan kicked off ‘Weekend Wogan’ with his favourite Clifford T Ward track and ended with the Platters. In-between, the usual good-natured quips flowed, alomgside much talk-up for the Children in Need appearance for which he was to send apologies for his absence. “Spend until your pocket thinks your hand’s gone mad”, were his final words of conversation. But was there just something in the Wogan pause just between “I’ll see you” - and “On Friday”? Now laughing friends deride Tears I cannot hide So I smile and say When a lovely flame dies Smoke gets in your eyes

In this second edition of Conversations, we talk to the man who steered Signal in Stoke through its first couple of decades, rising quickly from breakfast show host to Programme Director. As industry consolidation advanced, John Evington also tells of his spell under Kelvin MacKenzie as Group PD of the Wireless Group. His early days are recalled too, from the magical moments in Manchester at the Piccadilly Radio of the 70s to the ill-fated Centre Radio in Leicester. 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.

Hosting the Wogan dawn daypart the Monday after his death was always going to be a challenge. A challenge that Chris Evans, Lynn Bowles and Moira Stuart rose to perfectly. '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'

Today, 31st January 2016, Radio 2 said goodbye to one of its own. Fittingly, the tributes were the voices and thoughts of listeners. http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/farewell-terry.html?m=1