BBC Light Programme: Difference between revisions

| name = BBC Light Programme

| logoimage = BBC Broadcasting House = 532073098.jpg

| logo_size image_size = 220

| collapsiblecountry = [[United = Kingdom]]

| image headquarters = BBC [[Broadcasting House]], [[London]], 532073098.jpg[[England]]

| image_size owner = 220[[BBC]]

| country language = [[UnitedEnglish Kingdomlanguage|English]]

| headquarters replaced = [[BroadcastingBBC House]],General [[London]],Forces [[EnglandProgramme]]

| ownerreplaced_by = [[BBC Radio = 1]]<br/>[[BBC Radio 2]]

The long wave signal on 200&nbsp; kHz / 1500 metres was transmitted from [[Droitwich transmitting station|Droitwich]] in the [[Midlands|English Midlands]]<ref name=frequencyfinder/> (as it still is today for [[BBC Radio 4]], although adjusted slightly to 198&nbsp; kHz / 1515 metres from 1 February 1988)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/09/bbc-radio4-long-wave-goodbye|title=Radio 4's long wave goodbye|last=Sabbagh|first=Dan|date=2011-10-09|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Droitwich/droitwich_calling.htm|title=Droitwich Calling|last=Phillips|first=John F.|date=December 2006|publisher=BBCeng.info|access-date=2024-02-28}}}</ref> and gave fairly good coverage of most of the [[United Kingdom]], although a number of low-power [[medium wave]] transmitters (using 1214&nbsp;1215 kHz / 247 metres) were added later to fill in local blank spots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/01/absolute-radio-to-switch-off-all-am-transmitters-across-the-uk/|title=Absolute Radio to switch off all AM transmitters across the UK|last=Martin|first=Roy|date=2023-01-04|publisher=RadioToday|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref name=engineeringdev>{{cite report|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/BBC/BBC-Books/BBC-Engineering-Development-1962.pdf|title=BBC Sound Broadcasting: Its Engineering Development|date=August 1962|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-28|pages=28, 30-31, 35, 94}}</ref> Over the course of the 1950s and 1960s, the Light Programme (along with the BBC's two other national stations – the [[BBC Home Service|Home Service]] and the [[BBC Third Programme|Third Programme]]) gradually became available on what was known at the time as [[Very high frequency|VHF]], as the BBC developed a network of local [[Frequency modulation|FM]] transmitters.<ref name=engineeringdev/>

From its first day of broadcasting in 1945 until Monday 2 September 1957, the Light Programme would be on the air from 9.00am00 am until midnight each day, apart from Sundays when it would come on the air at 8.00am00 am until 11.00pm00 pm.<ref name=asabriggs>{{cite book|title=Sound and Vision|series=The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom|volume=IV|last=Briggs|first=Asa|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/BBC/BBC-Books/History-of-Broadcasting-UK-IV-Sound-&-Vision-Biggs.pdf|date=1979|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=55-56, 61, 113, 543-545, 849|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref>

There was, however, a period of a year when the Light Programme was forced to end its broadcasting day one hour earlier than normal at 11.00pm00 pm. This commenced in mid-February 1947 as an effect from the appalling [[Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom|winter of 1946–1947 which saw a fuel shortage in the country]] with the government enforcing electricity saving measures, one of which was losing one hour of broadcasting per day from the Light Programme.<ref name=johncain/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/genome/entries/d2f886b8-0eb5-4b6c-9582-4b3f4e36e6c0|title=The Sunday Post: The 1947 Fuel Crisis and the BBC|last=Martin|first=Andrew|date=2017-03-05|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> Even after the fuel shortage had ended by spring 1947, the 11.00pm00 pm closedown each night continued as [[BBC Radio]] found itself in financial problems and needed to save money. The midnight closedown of the Light Programme resumed one year later from Sunday 11 April 1948.<ref>[{{cite news|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/0317d317dd674879be093156115c93a7?page=9]|newspaper=Radio {{deadTimes|title=SUNDAY linkLight Programme|issue=1278|date=October1948-04-09|via=BBC 2021Genome|access-date=2024-02-28|page=9}}</ref><ref>[{{cite news|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/8279340668084f7d870abf112f7a6497]?page=11|title=MONDAY {{deadLight linkProgramme|newspaper=Radio Times|issue=1221|date=October1947-03-07|page=11|via=BBC 2021Genome|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref> The long-running soap opera ''[[The Archers]]'' was first heard nationally on the Light Programme on New Year's Day 1951,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4703411/William-Smethurst-the-man-who-turned-The-Archers-into-a-cult.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131140416/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4703411/William-Smethurst-the-man-who-turned-The-Archers-into-a-cult.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 January 2014|title=William Smethurst: the man who turned The Archers into a cult|first=Gillian|last=Reynolds|date=24 August 1996|work=The Telegraph|location=UK}}</ref> although a week-long pilot version had been broadcast on the [[BBC West Midlands|Midlands Home Service]] in 1950.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thearchers/entries/f06c5ad0-1238-45e4-81d6-c07b43b2a08c|title=The Archers pilot episode - 65th anniversary|last=Smith|first=Andrew|date=2015-05-29|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>

Some programmes broadcast from the Light Programme still continue today, such as ''[[FridayJunior Night is Music NightChoice]]'',<ref>{{cite ''[[web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001qxb|title=Junior Choice]]'',|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> ''[[The Archers]]'',<ref name=johncain/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr|title=The Archers|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wqx7|title=Pick of the Pops|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr|title=Desert Island Discs|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> and ''[[Woman's Hour]]''.<ref name=johncain/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb|title=Woman's Hour|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref> Other programmes included:

* ''[[The Archers]]'' (1951–1967)<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref name=johncain/><ref name=newlookinradio/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Ticket to Ride (song)|The Beatles Invite You to Take a Ticket to Ride]]'' (1965)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/bbc-celebrates-the-beatles|title=The BBC celebrates The Beatles|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref><ref name=thebeatles/>

* ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Billy Cotton Band Show]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* ''Breakfast Special''<ref name=schedule196709/>

* ''[[The Clitheroe Kid]]''<ref name=bcglightprogramme/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Does the Team Think?]]''<ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/> (1945–1946)

* ''[[Easy Beat (radio programme)|Easy Beat]]'' (1960–1967)<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/><ref name=demise>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/light_programme_demise.htm|title=Light Programme Demise|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>

* ''[[Educating Archie]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Family Favourites]]''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/> (1945–1967)

* ''[[Friday Night Is Music Night]]''<ref name=johncain/><ref name=schedule196709/> (1953–1967)

* ''From Us to You''<ref name=demise/> (1964)

* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' {{small|(repeats from the [[BBC Home Service|Home Service]])}}<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''<ref name=bcglightprogramme/><ref name=johncain/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Have a Go]]!''<ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''Ignorance is Bliss''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[It's That Man Again]]'' {{small|(repeats from the Home Service)}}<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Journey into Space]]'' (1953–1958)<ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightdrama/>

* ''[[Life with the Lyons]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Listen with Mother]]''<ref name=johncain/><ref name=schedule195709/> (1950–1964)

* ''[[Mrs Dale's Diary]]'' (1948–1967)<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Much Binding in the Marsh]]''<ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[The Navy Lark]]''<ref name=bcglightprogramme/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>

* ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'' (1955–1967)<ref name=johncain/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* ''Parade of the Pops''<ref name=demise/> (1960–1967)

* ''[[Live at the BBC (Beatles album)|Pop Go the Beatles]]'' (1963)<ref name=thebeatles/>

* ''[[Radio Newsreel]]''<ref name=newlookinradio/><ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ray's a Laugh]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Richard Attenborough|Richard Attenborough's Record Rendezvous]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a110bc36778845ea8bd48b1f25b96e99|title=Richard Attenborough's Record Rendezvous|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>

* ''[[Round the Horne]]'' (1965–1967)<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''Roundabout''<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref name=schedule196709/>

* ''[[Saturday Club (BBC Radio)|Saturday Club]]'' (1957–1967)<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* ''Side by Side''<ref name=demise/>

* ''[[Sing Something Simple]]'' (1959–1967)<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* ''[[The Sunday Hour|The Sunday Half-Hour]]''<ref name=1june52/> (1945–1967)

* ''[[Sports Report]]''<ref name=asabriggs/>

* ''[[Take It from Here]]''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''Teenager's Turn – Here We Go''<ref name=demise/>

* ''[[Variety Bandbox]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* ''[[Welsh Rarebit (radio programme)|Welsh Rarebit]]''<ref name=asabriggs/>

* ''[[Woman's Hour]]'' (1946–1967)<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref name=newlookinradio/><ref name=asabriggs/>

* ''[[Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]'' {{small|(Home Service until September 1957)}}<ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* ''[[Your Hundred Best Tunes]]''<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

* [[Marjorie Anderson]]<ref name=announcers/>

* [[Tony Blackburn]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* [[Michael Brooke]]<ref name=announcers/>

* [[Sam Costa]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* [[Alan Dell]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* David Dunhill<ref name=announcers/>

* [[Franklin Engelmann]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/><ref name=announcers/>

* [[Alan Freeman]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* [[Keith Fordyce]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* [[Peter Haigh]]<ref name=patternofsound/>

* [[David Hamilton (broadcaster)|David Hamilton]]<ref name=schedule196709/>

* [[Brian Matthew]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* [[Sandy MacPherson]]<ref name=radiorewind/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>

* [[Ray Moore (broadcaster)|Ray Moore]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiocafe.co.uk/ray-moore.htm|title=Ray Moore|publisher=Radiocafe|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>

* [[Pete Murray (disc jockey)|Pete Murray]]<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* Phillip Slessor<ref name=announcers/>

* Roy Williams<ref name=announcers/>

* [[Terry Wogan]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>

* [[Jimmy Young (broadcaster)|Jimmy Young]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>