RadioJottings
@radiojottings.bsky.social
Andy Walmsley writing about radio broadcasting history and occasionally about life here in France
Radio blog at andywalmsley.blogspot.com
Radio blog at andywalmsley.blogspot.com
This week in 1994 #TheArchers on the cover of the #RadioTimes as Shula gives birth by baby Daniel. 20 years later he leaves Ambridge to join the Army. Can you answer the Archers quiz?
November 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This week in 1994 #TheArchers on the cover of the #RadioTimes as Shula gives birth by baby Daniel. 20 years later he leaves Ambridge to join the Army. Can you answer the Archers quiz?
OTD last year Kate Thornton takes over the weekday afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio
November 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
OTD last year Kate Thornton takes over the weekday afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio
OTD last year the final afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio for Andy Goulding. Kate Thornton took over the 1-4 pm slot the following week. Andy can now be heard on GHR 80s
November 8, 2025 at 3:45 PM
OTD last year the final afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio for Andy Goulding. Kate Thornton took over the 1-4 pm slot the following week. Andy can now be heard on GHR 80s
OTD last year Radio 1 Anthems is launched on BBC Sounds. Also on DAB+ from this September
November 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
OTD last year Radio 1 Anthems is launched on BBC Sounds. Also on DAB+ from this September
November 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
OTD last year BBC Radio 3 Unwind launches online (on DAB+ from this September)
November 4, 2025 at 10:01 AM
OTD last year BBC Radio 3 Unwind launches online (on DAB+ from this September)
27 October 2024 and Johnnie Walker signs off at BBC Radio 2 after 58 years on the radio (Johnnie then appeared on Radio Caroline for 20 mins at 5pm)
October 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
27 October 2024 and Johnnie Walker signs off at BBC Radio 2 after 58 years on the radio (Johnnie then appeared on Radio Caroline for 20 mins at 5pm)
Don't forget-clocks and timers go back one hour tonight
October 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Don't forget-clocks and timers go back one hour tonight
OTD last year the final mid-morning show on Hits Radio for Jason Webster. You can hear Jason on BFBS Radio every Sunday night with Dance Through the Decades
October 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
OTD last year the final mid-morning show on Hits Radio for Jason Webster. You can hear Jason on BFBS Radio every Sunday night with Dance Through the Decades
OTD last year the final afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio for Heidi Secker. You can now hear Heidi on the Saturday breakfast show on BBC Radio Norfolk/Suffolk
October 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
OTD last year the final afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio for Heidi Secker. You can now hear Heidi on the Saturday breakfast show on BBC Radio Norfolk/Suffolk
Not heard in nearly three decades, today BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcasts Are You Still Awake? 15 minute plays starring real-life couples written by Russell Davies First episode with Prunella Scales & Timothy West was broadcast on Radio 3 28.11.94
October 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Not heard in nearly three decades, today BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcasts Are You Still Awake? 15 minute plays starring real-life couples written by Russell Davies First episode with Prunella Scales & Timothy West was broadcast on Radio 3 28.11.94
It was a programme that “represented the art of sound radio at its best”. Now largely forgotten, Leslie Baily’s ‘Scrapbook’ series ran on BBC radio from 1933 to 1974. My latest blog on its history and the man who devised it bit.ly/3Wcs9GF
October 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
It was a programme that “represented the art of sound radio at its best”. Now largely forgotten, Leslie Baily’s ‘Scrapbook’ series ran on BBC radio from 1933 to 1974. My latest blog on its history and the man who devised it bit.ly/3Wcs9GF
Happy 90th birthday to Cousin Brucie. Bruce Morrow is still rockin' and rollin' every Saturday night on #WABC after nearly 70 years on US radio
October 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Happy 90th birthday to Cousin Brucie. Bruce Morrow is still rockin' and rollin' every Saturday night on #WABC after nearly 70 years on US radio
First incarnation of Pick of the Pops started this day in 1955 on BBC Light Programme with announcer Franklin Engelmann, followed by Alan Dell & David Jacobs. Fluff presented for most of the 60s on Light/Radio 1 until Sept 72 when it became Solid Gold Sixty with Tom Browne
October 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
First incarnation of Pick of the Pops started this day in 1955 on BBC Light Programme with announcer Franklin Engelmann, followed by Alan Dell & David Jacobs. Fluff presented for most of the 60s on Light/Radio 1 until Sept 72 when it became Solid Gold Sixty with Tom Browne
A day late with this one but 1 October 1975 saw the first edition of The News Huddlines broadcast on Radio 2 at 7.02pm. It ran until 2001. I've uploaded six programmes on YouTube including this look at the 70s
youtu.be/GzAkXjHKJNw
youtu.be/GzAkXjHKJNw
October 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
A day late with this one but 1 October 1975 saw the first edition of The News Huddlines broadcast on Radio 2 at 7.02pm. It ran until 2001. I've uploaded six programmes on YouTube including this look at the 70s
youtu.be/GzAkXjHKJNw
youtu.be/GzAkXjHKJNw
Ahead of the launch of BBC Radio 1 (this day in 1967) controller Robin Scott wrote about the new service for Ariel, the BBC in-house magazine. Latest blog post on 'A New Chapter in Radio History'
bit.ly/4gT2UCW
bit.ly/4gT2UCW
September 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Ahead of the launch of BBC Radio 1 (this day in 1967) controller Robin Scott wrote about the new service for Ariel, the BBC in-house magazine. Latest blog post on 'A New Chapter in Radio History'
bit.ly/4gT2UCW
bit.ly/4gT2UCW
OTD last year the final afternoon show for Robbie Dee on Greatest Hits Radio for Cumbria & SW Scotland (previously CFM) from studios in Carlisle
September 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
OTD last year the final afternoon show for Robbie Dee on Greatest Hits Radio for Cumbria & SW Scotland (previously CFM) from studios in Carlisle
70 years of FOOC. This day in 1955 the first edition of From Our Own Correspondent aired on the BBC Home Service. Latest blog post with audio from 1980 bit.ly/3VAFY1h
September 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
70 years of FOOC. This day in 1955 the first edition of From Our Own Correspondent aired on the BBC Home Service. Latest blog post with audio from 1980 bit.ly/3VAFY1h
This day in 1955 ITV launches in the London area as ABC's Channel Nine goes on the air. Over on BBC radio a character in The Archers is killed off. My 2015 blog post on The Night Grace Archer Died
bit.ly/3IhAi9p
bit.ly/3IhAi9p
September 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
This day in 1955 ITV launches in the London area as ABC's Channel Nine goes on the air. Over on BBC radio a character in The Archers is killed off. My 2015 blog post on The Night Grace Archer Died
bit.ly/3IhAi9p
bit.ly/3IhAi9p
OTD last year as Greatest Hits Radio continues to drop regional opt-outs its the last Sunday morning show on GHR Scotland for Fred MacAulay
September 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
OTD last year as Greatest Hits Radio continues to drop regional opt-outs its the last Sunday morning show on GHR Scotland for Fred MacAulay
OTD last year changes at Bauer as KISSTORY R&B and Greatest Hits Radio 60s are launched, Scala becomes Magic Classical and Magic Chilled re-branded Hits Radio Chilled
September 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
OTD last year changes at Bauer as KISSTORY R&B and Greatest Hits Radio 60s are launched, Scala becomes Magic Classical and Magic Chilled re-branded Hits Radio Chilled
OTD last year Lynne Hoggan presents the final West FM breakfast show before the rebrand to Clyde 1 three days later
September 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM
OTD last year Lynne Hoggan presents the final West FM breakfast show before the rebrand to Clyde 1 three days later
This day last year Global launched a dozen new stations under the Heart, Smooth, Radio X, Capital and Classic FM brands
September 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This day last year Global launched a dozen new stations under the Heart, Smooth, Radio X, Capital and Classic FM brands
OTD last year Hugo Rifkind moves to the mid-morning slot on Times Radio following Matt Chorley's move to 5 Live
September 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM
OTD last year Hugo Rifkind moves to the mid-morning slot on Times Radio following Matt Chorley's move to 5 Live