View source for BBC Radio 4 Extra

{{short description|British digital radio station}}
{{distinguish|BBC Radio 4}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = BBC Radio 4 Extra
| logo = [[File:BBC Radio 4 Extra logo 2022.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2022
| city = London
| area = United Kingdom
| airdate = {{ubl|{{start date and age|2002|12|15|df=y}} (as BBC 7)|{{start date and age|2011|04|02|df=y}} (as BBC Radio 4 Extra)}}
| former_names = BBC 7 (2002–2008)<br>BBC Radio 7 (2008–2011)
| sister_stations = [[BBC Radio 4]]
| frequency = {{ubl|[[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 12B [[BBC National DAB]]|[[Freesat]]: 708|[[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]: 708|[[Sky UK|Sky]] (UK only): 0126|[[Virgin Media]]: 910|[[Virgin Media Ireland]]: 929}}
| language = English
| format = {{hlist|[[Radio comedy|Comedy]]|[[Radio drama|Drama]]|[[Entertainment]]}}
| owner = [[BBC]]
| licensing_authority = [[Ofcom]]
| coordinates =
| website = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_four_extra BBC Radio 4 Extra] via [[BBC Sounds]] 
}}
{{BBC Radio sidebar}}

'''BBC Radio 4 Extra''' (formerly '''BBC Radio 7''') is a British [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom|digital]] [[Radio broadcasting|radio station]] owned and operated by the [[BBC]]. The sister station of [[BBC Radio 4]], it mostly broadcasts archived repeats of [[comedy]], [[drama]] and [[documentary]] programmes. It is the principal broadcaster of the BBC's [[BBC Sound Archive|spoken-word archive]], and as a result the majority of its programming originates from that archive. It also broadcasts extended and companion programmes to those broadcast on Radio 4, and provides a "catch-up" service for certain programmes.

The station launched in December 2002 as '''BBC 7''', broadcasting a mix of archive comedy, drama and current children's radio. The station was renamed '''BBC Radio 7''' in 2008, then relaunched as BBC Radio 4 Extra in April 2011. For the first quarter of 2013, Radio 4 Extra had a weekly audience of 1.642 million people and had a market share of 0.95%; in the last quarter of 2016 the numbers were 2.184 million listeners and 1.2% of market share.<ref name="RAJARs r4 blog mar 13">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Gwyneth |title=Latest RAJARs for Radio 4 & 4 Extra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio4/posts/Latest-RAJARs-for-Radio-4-4-Extra |work=Radio 4 Blog |date=16 May 2013 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=RAJAR>{{cite web |title=RAJAR |url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php |publisher=RAJAR |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref>

According to [[RAJAR]], the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 1.5 million with a listening share of 1.3% as of March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php |title=RAJAR}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Former BBC Radio 7 logos.png|thumb|left|150px|Former branding as BBC 7 (2002) and BBC Radio 7 (2008). Both featured a smiling face motif. The latter was created by design company Fallon.<ref>{{cite news |last=Plunkett |first=John |title=New logos for BBC Radio – cool or balls? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2007/aug/08/newlogosforbbcradiocoolo |access-date=25 May 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=8 August 2007}}</ref>]]

===BBC 7===
The station was initially launched as BBC 7 on 15 December 2002 by comedian [[Paul Merton]]. The first programme was broadcast at 8{{nbsp}}p.m. and was simulcast with Radio 4.<ref name=newsletter>{{cite web |last=Kalemkerian |first=Mary |title=BBC Radio 7 Newsletter |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/seasons/newsletter_current.shtml |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 May 2013 |date=25 March 2011}}</ref> The station, referred to by the codename 'Network Z' while in development, was named without the word 'Radio' to reflect the station's presence on the internet and on digital television in addition to radio.<ref name=newsletter/><ref name="renamed">{{cite web |title=BBC 7 adds the magic word and becomes BBC Radio 7 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/10_october/04/radio7.shtml |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 May 2013 |date=4 October 2008}}</ref> The station broadcast mostly archived comedy and drama, in that the programme was either three or more years old or had been broadcast twice on their original station.

The station also broadcast a themed section for children's programmes. This section carried a variety of programmes, including ''The Little Toe Radio Show'' (later renamed ''[[CBeebies|CBeebies Radio]]''), aimed at younger children and consisting of short serials, stories and rhymes, and ''[[The Big Toe Radio Show]]'' and ''[[Arthur Storey and the Department of Historical Correction]]'' with phone-ins, quizzes and stories for the 8+ age group. The segment also hosted the only news programme on the network presented by the ''[[Newsround]]'' team.

The station won the [[Sony Radio Academy Awards|Sony Radio Academy Award]] for station sound in 2003,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sony Radio Academy Awards 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/may/09/radio |access-date=4 January 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 May 2003}}</ref> was nominated for the Promo Award in 2004, and in 2005 received a silver for the Short-Form award, plus nominations in the speech and digital terrestrial station-of-the-year sections. Because of the station's archive nature the station was scheduled, produced and researched by 17 people, excluding presenters.<ref name=newsletter/>

The station was renamed on 4 October 2008 as BBC Radio 7 in an effort to bring it in line with other BBC Radio brands.<ref name="renamed"/> It also coincided with the introduction of a new network logo for the station.

{{quote box |quote=By adding some inviting new programmes and variations of some old favourites, we will encourage more listeners to find and enjoy what this imaginative digital station has to offer.|source=[[Gwyneth Williams]], controller of Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra<ref name=about/>|align=right|width=220px}}

During this later period, Radio 7 saw growth in its audience, with a growth rate of 9.5% annually in 2010, going from 931,000 listeners in the first quarter of that year<ref name="Feb 2010 RAJAR guardian">{{cite news |last=Plunkett |first=John |title=Jazz FM, 6Music and Radio 7 are bright spots amid digital radio's gloom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/04/rajars-jazz-fm-6music-radio-7 |access-date=25 May 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=4 February 2010}}</ref> to 949,000 a quarter later, making it the second most listened to BBC digital radio station at the time.<ref name="August 2010 RAJAR guardian">{{cite news |last=Busfield |first=Steve |title=BBC 6 Music's audience rises again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/aug/05/bbc-6music-digital-radio-rajars |access-date=25 May 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=5 August 2010}}</ref> However, despite this growth, the audience of children between 4 and 14 was reported to be only at 25,000, and in February 2011 the [[BBC Trust]] approved a reduction in hours dedicated to children from 1,400 to 350.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Dowell |first=Ben |title=Radio 4 ditches last remaining children's series |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/17/radio-4-axes-childrens-show-go4it |access-date=25 May 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=17 March 2009}}</ref>

===BBC Radio 4 Extra===
[[File:BBC Radio 4 Extra.svg|thumb|left|150px|The original BBC Radio 4 Extra logo, used in 2011]]
The BBC announced their intention to relaunch the station on 2 March 2010<ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|title=BBC confirms plans to axe 6 Music and Asian Network|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/02/bbc-6-music-asian-network|access-date=25 May 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=2 March 2010}}</ref> and following a public consultation, the proposal was approved by the corporation's governing body the [[BBC Trust]] in February 2011.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|title=Service Review: BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 & BBC Radio 7|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/service_reviews/radio_347/radio_347_final.txt|publisher=BBC Trust|access-date=25 May 2013|date=8 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|title=Call for investigation into BBC Radio 7 rebranding|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/feb/08/radio7-rebrand-investigation?INTCMP=SRCH|access-date=25 May 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=8 February 2011}}</ref> As a result, the station relaunched as BBC Radio 4 Extra on Saturday 2 April 2011. The relaunched station contained much of the same mix of programming with some new additions that reflected the new alignment with Radio 4, many of which were archive, or extensions or spin-offs of flagship Radio 4 programmes.

On 26 May 2022, as part of planned cuts and streamlining with a greater focus on digital, the BBC announced plans to discontinue Radio 4 Extra as a broadcast station. It will be supplanted by [[BBC Sounds]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2022-05-26 |title=BBC to move CBBC and BBC Four online |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61591674 |access-date=2022-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lodderhose|first=Diana|date=2022-05-26|title=BBC To Close CBBC & BBC Four As Linear Channels; 1,000 Jobs At Risk As Public Broadcaster Begins Its "Digital First" Push|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/bbc-close-cbbc-bbc-four-linear-channels-1000-redundancies-expected-public-broadcaster-next-few-years-1235033365/|access-date=2022-05-26|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{cite web |title=Plan to deliver a digital-first BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/plan-to-deliver-a-digital-first-bbc/|access-date=2022-05-26|website=BBC Media Centre}}</ref>

==Broadcast==
[[File:Broadcasting House by Stephen Craven.jpg|thumb|right|200px|BBC Radio 4 Extra originates from [[Broadcasting House]] in central London.]]
BBC Radio 4 Extra is broadcast from Broadcasting House in central London, although due to the nature of the channel very little of the channel's content is broadcast live from there; even the continuity announcements are pre-recorded. The channel uses ten continuity announcers to link between programmes. Notable announcers include [[Wes Butters]], [[Kathy Clugston]], [[Jim Lee (broadcaster)|Jim Lee]], [[David Miles (radio)|David Miles]], [[Susan Rae]], [[Alex Riley (comedian)|Alex Riley]], [[Alan Smith (radio)|Alan Smith]], [[Chris Berrow]] and Steve Urquhart.<ref name="R4E presenters">{{cite web |title=Radio 4 Extra Presenters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/4lylND4rCZp4ZQqlWcrvLP2/presenters |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> Previous presenters, including those presenting Radio 7, include [[Zeb Soanes]], Penny Haslam, Helen Aitken, Rory Morrison and Michaela Saunders.<ref name="R7 presenters">{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 7 – Presenters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/presenters/ |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 May 2013}}</ref>

The station is broadcast nationally on [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|digital radio]]{{snd}}via the [[BBC National DAB]] multiplex{{snd}}and online via [[BBC Sounds]] and other services such as [[Radioplayer]]. It is also available on a number of digital television platforms; [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Virgin Media]], [[Freesat]] and [[Sky UK|Sky]].

Until 2019 the controller of the station, who is answerable to the Radio board in the BBC, was [[Gwyneth Williams]].<ref name="About the BBC Gwyneth Williams">{{cite web |title=Gwyneth Williams, Former Controller, Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/whoweare/gwyneth-williams |website=About the BBC |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref> BBC Radio 4 Extra is broadcast in [[stereophonic sound|stereo]] on television and online, although many of the older archive programmes were only recorded in [[monaural|mono]]. On DAB, all programmes are broadcast in mono, as the maximum bit rate is only 80{{nbsp}}kbps.

==Programming==
[[File:Pure Evoke-1.jpg|thumb|BBC Radio 7 playing]]
Although the current station is a rebranding of Radio 7 and contains a similar mix of archived programming, content has been brought further in line with [[BBC Radio 4]] with new additions based upon their schedule. These include extended versions of programmes such as ''[[The News Quiz]]'' and ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', the broadcast of archived editions of the latter as ''Desert Island Discs Revisited''. It has also previously included the addition of the programme ''[[Ambridge Extra]]'', a more youth-orientated version of long-running radio soap ''[[The Archers]]'',<ref name=about>{{cite web|title=About Radio 4 Extra|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4extra/help/about|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 May 2013}}</ref> and an extended version of ''[[The Now Show]]''.

Some programming is organised into programme blocks of similar programmes. The late night ''Comedy Club'' segment broadcasts "two hours of contemporary comedy" most nights of the week and is primarily hosted by [[Arthur Smith (comedian)|Arthur Smith]]. A long-standing segment that remained following the change from Radio 7, it was previously fronted by [[Alex Riley (comedian)|Alex Riley]] and [[Phil Williams (presenter)|Phil Williams]]. Comedy previously available as CDs on the ''Laughing Stock'' label is also broadcast.

Drama is also broadcast, notably in [[The 7th Dimension]] segment. A long-running segment continued from Radio 7, the block airs [[speculative fiction]], [[science fiction]], [[fantasy]] and [[Horror fiction|horror]] stories presented by [[Nicholas Briggs]]. The segment contains programmes including [[Doctor Who]] audio dramas starring [[Paul McGann]] as the [[Eighth Doctor]], as well as programmes imported from overseas including American broadcasts ''[[The Twilight Zone (radio)|The Twilight Zone]]'' and ''[[A Prairie Home Companion|Garrison Keillor's Radio Show]]'' as well as [[Stuart McLean]]'s ''[[Vinyl Cafe]]'' from Canada. The 7th Dimension was originally broadcast daily, but has now been reduced to weekends-only. With increasing repeats of old Radio 4 documentaries, interviews and "educational/cultural" programmes, some listeners{{who|date=January 2023}} are concerned that the station's original mandate to provide comedy, drama and entertainment is being increasingly sidelined.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

===Archive===
Much of the channel's schedule is formed of repeats from classic comedy and drama. The schedule spans ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (1950s) and ''[[Round the Horne]]'' (1960s), through [[BBC Radio 2|Radio 2]] favourites like ''[[The News Huddlines]]'', ''[[Roy Castle|Castle's on the Air]]'' and ''[[Listen to Les]]'', to recent [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] shows such as ''[[Little Britain (TV series)|Little Britain]]'' and ''[[Dead Ringers (series)|Dead Ringers]]''. Some of this content is newly discovered, such as copies of the version of ''[[Dick Barton|Dick Barton Special Agent]]'' that were made for international distribution, and early episodes of ''The Goon Show''.

===Original programmes===
The station has broadcast original programmes. ''[[Newsjack]]'' is a topical news sketch show which encourages contributions from listeners. ''Spanking New on Seven'' was stand-up comedy, and the ''BBC New Comedy Competition'' a competition for new comedians. Those who went on to have their own series on Radio 7 include John-Luke Roberts with ''[[Spats (radio series)|Spats]]'' and Miriam Elia with ''[[A Series of Psychotic Episodes]]''.

''The Mitch Benn Music Show'' features comedy songs introduced by [[Mitch Benn]]. The ''Colin and Fergus' Digi Radio'' comedy sketch show ran for two series in 2005{{ndash}}2006. ''Serious About Comedy'' is a weekly show presented by [[Robin Ince]] in which comedians and comedy critics discussed comedy television, radio, DVDs, and films. ''[[Tilt (radio)|Tilt]]'' is a satirical look at the week's news of views other than the norm. ''[[Knocker (radio series)|Knocker]]'' is a sitcom about a market researcher, written by and starring [[Neil Edmond]].

From April 2024, ''[[Today in Parliament|Yesterday In Parliament]]'' and ''[[The Daily Service]]'' both moved to the station, as the BBC prepared to remove Radio 4 from [[Long Wave]] transmitters, making the existing opt-out from Radio 4's FM programme impossible.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |title=End of an era for BBC despite Long Wave reprieve |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/end-of-an-era-for-bbc-despite-long-wave-reprieve/ |website=RXTV |date=15 March 2024 |publisher=RXTVinfo.com |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

====Original Radio 7 programmes====
While most shows on Radio 7 were repeats, original programmes included:
{{div col}}
* ''[[Big Toe Books]]'' (Children's show)
* ''Serious About Comedy'' (Comedy review show)
* ''[[Tilt (radio)|Tilt]]'' (Satirical sketch comedy)
* ''[[Newsjack]]'' (Satirical sketch comedy)
* ''[[Spats (radio series)|Spats]]'' (Sketch comedy)
* ''[[Knocker (radio series)|Knocker]]'' (Sitcom)
* ''[[The Penny Dreadfuls Present...|The Penny Dreadfuls Present…]]'' (Comedy)
* ''[[Undone (radio series)|Undone]]'' (Sci-fi comedy)
* ''[[The Spaceship]]'' (Sci-fi comedy)
* ''[[Oneira]]'' (Sci-fi comedy)
* ''The Laxian Key'' (Sci-fi comedy)
* ''Cold Blood'' (Sci-fi drama)
* ''The Voice of God'' (Sci-fi drama)
* ''Slipstream'' (Sci-fi drama)
* ''[[A Series of Psychotic Episodes]]'' (Sketch comedy)
* ''CBeebies Radio'' (Children's show)
* ''Colin and Fergus' Digi Radio'' (Sketch comedy)
* ''No Tomatoes'' (Sketch comedy)
* ''The Mitch Benn Music Show'' (Musical comedy)
* ''Spanking New on Seven'' (Stand-up)
* ''Play and Record'' (Sketch comedy)
* ''Pleased to Meet You'' (Comedy)
* ''Gus Murdoch's Sacred Cows'' (Comedy)
* ''[[Planet B]]'' (Sci-fi drama)
* ''Doctor Who: The [[Eighth Doctor]] Adventures'' (Sci-fi Drama)
* ''The Man in Black'' (Horror)
* ''[[The Scarifyers]]'' (Horror comedy)
* ''This is Pulp Fiction'' (Crime fiction)
{{div col end}}

====Original Radio 4 Extra programmes====
Original programmes made for Radio 4 Extra:

{{div col}}
* ''[[Ambridge Extra]]'' (Soap opera, spin-off from ''[[The Archers]]'')
* ''[[Arthur Smith's Balham Bash]]'' (Variety show, debuted on Radio 4 Extra before being aired on Radio 4)
* ''The 4 O'Clock Show'' (Chat show, including children's entertainment)
* ''Let's Get Quizzical'' (Documentary)
* ''Lord of the Flies'' (dramatisation of [[William Golding]]'s [[Lord of the Flies|novel)]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02x5lyj |title=William Golding - Lord of the Flies: Fire on the Mountain |department=Programmes |publisher=BBC |access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref>
* ''Meet David Sedaris'' (Comedy, debuted on Radio 4 Extra before being aired on Radio 4)
* ''The Nine Billion Names of God'' (readings from [[Arthur C. Clarke]]'s [[The Nine Billion Names of God (collection)|short story collection of the same name)]]
* ''Sarah Millican's Support Group'' (Sketch show, debuted on Radio 4 Extra before being aired on Radio 4)
* ''What's So Funny?'' (Comedy review show)
* ''[[Neverwhere (radio play)|Neverwhere]]'' ([[Neil Gaiman]]'s fantasy, first episode aired on Radio 4 with subsequent episodes on Radio 4 Extra)<ref name="Neverwhere_on_BBC">{{cite web|title=About Neverwhere|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r522y/profiles/about|work=Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 May 2013}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of BBC radio stations]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{bbc.co.uk|id=radio4extra|title=BBC Radio 4 Extra}}

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[[Category:BBC Radio 4 Extra| ]]
[[Category:BBC national radio stations|4 Extra]]
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