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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 4h

Thanks, intriguing. A mix of live and recorded in the 1940s - mostly live but esp with war, that forced the creation of smaller portable recording devices - going from recording vans of 1930s to wearable portable recording devices for D-Day beaches etc. So war helped bring more recordings in a lot.

The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 16h

Today I was on 2025’s BBC - while on the way there I wrote about 1925’s BBC, and on the way back I edited a podcast about 1923’s BBC.
And this is my day off.

Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 16h

A fine time on BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live with Dawn, Mehreen + Sean looking at faith & ethics news:
-Renewables vs coal
-Vance vs Canterbury Cathedral
-AI vs Robin Williams’ family, inc a chance to talk about my dad’s LBD illness he shared with Mr W.
God bless humans, inc the gooduns who make this

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 16h

Ah that’s on my list. Recommended then?

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 16h

Aw you star! It’s either anonymous, or not anonymous but I don’t know how to see respondent name. Either way I know nothing of who wrote what. Thank ye!

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Reposted by The British Broadcasting Century podcast

Graham Brown @grahambrownorkney.bsky.social · 1d

I've just read this strange, fascinating novel: "A Voice Like Velvet" by Donald Henderson. First published in 1944 as "The Announcer", it's about a BBC announcer who is also a jewel thief. Ideal if you're interested in radio, the BBC & wartime Britain - and for listeners to @bbcentury.bsky.social

Cover of book showing buildings at night.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 1d

No new podcast this weekend...
Your previous episode (105) is on the BBC's 7th station, 2BD Aberdeen
Your next episode(106) will be on the BBC's 8th station, 6BM Bournemouth
Find 'em where you find podcasts.
Meanwhile, have you completed our brief survey yet?
Here if not, ta! tiny.cc/bbcenturysurvey

The British Broadcasting Century Podcast BIG* SURVEY (not that big, shouldn't take long)

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 3d

Last night's show at Petersfield Museum was lovely - and the last 'An Evening of (Very) Old Radio' of 2025. More next year!
Here's a short write-up and a less short interview, with Mike Waddington for Petersfield's very own @shineradio.bsky.social:
shineradio.uk/2025/10/paul...

Paul Kerensa’s ‘Stand Up History’ of radio enthralls at the museum | Petersfield's Shine Radio

shineradio.uk

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 4d

I've just updated the An Evening of (Very) Old Radio tour page - now with added Chelmsford, Hemel Hempstead, Eltham and Weston-super-Mare, all in 2026...
Know any folks near? Do send 'em.
paulkerensa.com/tour
I'd love to tour it further. If you have links to a venue + want the show near you, say.

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Reposted by The British Broadcasting Century podcast

Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 5d

My last 'An Evening of (Very) Old Radio' show of 2025 will be tomorrow (Wed 8th Oct) at Petersfield Museum: www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk/events/eveni...
Thanks if you've come to any of the shows this year.
More next, inc. Chelmsford, Weston-s-Mare, Eltham, Hemel Hempstead... others on request!

An Evening of (very) Old Radio | Petersfield Museum

“A brilliant writer, fantastic communicator, deep thinker, philosopher & extremely decent bloke.” – CHRIS EVANSThis one-man show informs, educates but above all entertains about radio’s first moments....

www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 5d

Our latest podcast (episode 104 of The British Broadcasting Century) is on the launch of the BBC's Aberdeen station 2BD, in Oct 1923.
Our guest expert is Gordon Bathgate, whose books include Aberdeen Calling: 100 Years of the BBC in Aberdeen.
Here tis:
amzn.to/4mRewYo

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 6d

I love the tale of the BBC's first OB drama - Bethlehem, from St Hilary church, Cornwall, 1926-35.
I've just enjoyed this recent film/talk by the church's current priest Father Jeff Risbridger talking about his predecessor, the writer Father Bernard Walke:
youtu.be/p7R-oMsOthc?...

"Talk the Walke" - Father Bernard Walke and St Hilary 1913-1936

YouTube video by Mount's Bay United Benefice

youtu.be

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 9d

...The end of local radio as the early Beeb knew it?
Experts this ep inc Gordon Bathgate (author of Aberdeen Calling), Dr Aleksandar Kocic on the absence of Scottish BBC local radio + Prof Tim Crook's work on R.E. Jeffrey, sci-fi pioneer.
Enjoy!
pod.fo/e/336731

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa: #105 2BD Aberdeen and R.E. Jeffrey: From First Gaelic Broadcast to First Sci-Fi

"Aberdeen Calling!" On 10 October 1923, the BBC opened its seventh station: 2BD Aberdeen. Its station director R.E. Jeffrey was fresh from the success of Rob Roy - a drama he'd produced and sta...

pod.fo

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 9d

NEW PODCAST AHOY!
The British Broadcasting Century ep 105:
2BD Aberdeen + R.E. Jeffrey: From First Gaelic Broadcast to First Sci-Fi
On a blustery October evening in 1923, the BBC's 7th station opened, its first since London could broadcast nationally...
pod.fo/e/336731

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa: #105 2BD Aberdeen and R.E. Jeffrey: From First Gaelic Broadcast to First Sci-Fi

"Aberdeen Calling!" On 10 October 1923, the BBC opened its seventh station: 2BD Aberdeen. Its station director R.E. Jeffrey was fresh from the success of Rob Roy - a drama he'd produced and sta...

pod.fo

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 10d

Treat yourself to a browse through 1934 Wills's cigarette card album Radio Celebrities... without having to buy any ciggies:
archive.org/details/radi...

Radio Celebrities portrait album (Wills's Cigarettes) : Imperial Tobacco Company : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

An album to contain the portraits of Radio Celebrities now being issued with Wills's Cigarettes.Issued by W.D. & H.O. WillsBranch of The Imperial Tobacco...

archive.org

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 10d

One more outing this year for An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: The First Firsts of Broadcasting
...at @petersfieldmuseum.bsky.social
Wed 8 Oct, 7:30pm
Send any Hampshirians by all means
www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk/events/eveni...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 10d

Happy centenary, to Baird, Stooky Bill and television!

100 years ago news @100yearsagonews.bsky.social · 10d

Oct. 2, 1925: An image with clear tones of light and shade is transmitted by television for the first time. The 30-line picture is the face of a ventriloquist’s dummy named Stooky Bill and is viewed in the London laboratory of John Logie Baird. 1/2

Laird with Stooky Bill (right) and James

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 10d

The Boat Race drifts from the BBC to Channel 4.
Wokery scandal or market forces?
How did it begin?
Why was 1927's BBC so sporty?
And why was John Snagge left reporting:
“I don’t know who’s ahead, but it’s either Oxford or Cambridge!”
My latest Substack:
paulkerensa.substack.com/p/the-boat-r...

The Boat Race drifts from the BBC

..."And they're off!" ...to Channel 4, 98 years since BBC radio first aired its oars

paulkerensa.substack.com

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 11d

A kind podcast listener just 'bought me a coffee*' on ko-fi.com/paulkerensa - very much appreciated!
*I may not spend it on a coffee, but on a book on early radio. Just another 50 or 60 on my must-buy list...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 12d

Tonight’s show in Ealing was a total joy. Thanks to all who came.
One more outing of An Evening of (Very) Old Radio this year - Petersfield Museum next Wednesday.
But the podcast continues!

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 12d

Since breakfast I've pulled on 6 different early BBC threads:
- Aberdeen 2BD, 1923
- 1st OB drama, 1926
- 1st drama, 1922
- 1st sci-fi, 1928
- Reith begging George V to broadcast, 1923
+ Ealing show prep tonight
I'd do quicker on just one thing, but where's the fun in that...

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Reposted by The British Broadcasting Century podcast

Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 13d

Some lovely audience quotes just in from last week's shows with Creative Arts East - aw.
If you'd like the show on the origins of broadcasting that's "so fascinating, and entertaining, and amusing...", "absolutely marvellous!" at your place...
...get in touch!
(Ealing tomorrow)

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks for reposting, @moleymole.bsky.social + @sighdone.bsky.social! Yer kind.
(Especially you Simon, given your patience when I STILL haven't podcasted your full interview about Bottom - partly cos I lost the audio, then re-found it again on a broken computer. So it will live on after all!)

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 14d

New podcast episode soon, on the 7th BBC station Aberdeen 2BD in October 1923.
Caught our latest episode?
On the launch of the Radio Times: pod.fo/e/328f91
+ a Substack to go with it: paulkerensa.substack.com/p/the-first-...
+ a Patreon video to go with it too: www.patreon.com/posts/vid-ra...

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa: #104 The Radio Times is Launched! A Browse Through Issue 1

On 28 September 1923, a new magazine hit news-stands. The Radio Times was a BBC publication, born out of a listings ban seven months earlier, when the press tried to charge the Beeb advertising ra...

pod.fo

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 14d

Do come.
This is basically The British Broadcasting Century Podcast Live. And the more the literally merrier…

Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 14d

West Londoners! 2 more days till my Ealing show:
An Evening of (Very) Old Radio
Be informed, educated & entertained about British broadcasting’s 1st music, DJ, drama, children’s presenter, comedian, bridge commentary & more:
Tue 30 Sept, Questors Theatre:
www.questors.org.uk/event.aspx?i...

An Evening of (Very) Old Radio

The BBC origin story by Miranda co-writer Paul Kerensa

www.questors.org.uk

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 16d

Survey o'clock!
If you've ever heard The British Broadcasting Century Podcast, could you click to say what you like, don't, length of episodes, all that jazz?
8 questions, shouldn't take long. Cheers chums... if you can spare 5 mins?
www.surveymonkey.com/r/GW7LDH6

The British Broadcasting Century Podcast BIG* SURVEY (not that big, shouldn't take long)

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

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