Nation on Film: BBC Local Radio

Michael Buerk narrates the story of the early days of BBC local radio.
Featuring Des Lynam, Kate Adie, Michael Barton, Gillian Reynolds, Mike Hollingsworth, Tom Beesley, David Blunkett, Tony Cook and Gerald Jackson.
Broadcast on BBC Four on 8 November 2007.
For more on radio history see my blog Random Radio Jottings

[@TestGearJunkie.]

Ah, the AKG D202 microphone, stalwart of BBC local radio back in the day. Lovely old thing, wish I'd never got rid of mine.

[@newforestpixie5297]

Thanks for uploading this - the one thing which angers me about bbc local radio ( in southern England at least ) is: I realise they need ‘filler time ‘ with music - WHY can’t they play say 3 minutes of folk or electronica or (soft) classical or country or pop or easy listening or old gramophone records BUT NOT THE SAME TUNES BY THE SAME NAMES , FROM THE SAME 3 DECADES....Elton or Rod may just as well not bothered with the other 99% of their work - Surely it may even bring in new listeners as IT MUST annoy more than just me. It is ridiculous - Money For Nothing and Billy Bloody Ocean. This is Solent Berkshire Somerset - ad finitum , repetition repetition repetition. Plus the presenters haven’t a trace of local or regional accents- Emma Britten on Somerset/Bristol - they removed her accent for goodness sake. That’s that right off my chest , love from the extreme East of the Westcountry - Hordle near Sea 😖

[@daros194]

VHF is the future!

[@EdiDrums]

Erm, could we halt and do a risk assessment, please? Health and safety? 11:03

[@EdiDrums]

Sorry, did I miss the joke? 5:46

[@polar199]

Yes

[@EdiDrums]

Tries too hard with overdone music but fitting commentary, especially the way Buerk says words like 'experiment' 0:23

[@Sheffield_Steve]

I wonder what Mr Gillard would be thinking of his local radio experiment being turned into regional radio and the digital first B.S.? Also the stations trying to sound like Crapitol Radio? 🤔🫣 I think he's turning in his grave! 🫣