BBC Light Programme - Revision history

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{{short description|Former British national radio station (1945–1967)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = BBC Light Programme
| image = BBC Broadcasting House 532073098.jpg
| image_size = 220
| image_alt = A photograph of Broadcasting House showing the art deco styling of the main facade was made from Portland stone.
| caption = The Light Programme headquarters was at [[Broadcasting House]] in London.
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| headquarters = [[Broadcasting House]], [[London]], England
| owner = [[BBC]]
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1945|07|29|df=y}}
| dissolved = {{End date and age|1967|09|29|df=y}}
| language = [[English language|English]]
| replaced = [[BBC General Forces Programme]]
| replaced_by = [[BBC Radio 1]]<br/>[[BBC Radio 2]]
}}
The '''BBC Light Programme''' was a national radio station which broadcast chiefly mainstream [[light entertainment]] and [[light music]] from 1945 until 1967, when it was replaced by [[BBC Radio 1]] and [[BBC Radio 2]].<ref name=bcglightprogramme>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/channel/light_prog/|title=BBC Light Programme|publisher=British Comedy Guide|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref> It opened on 29 July 1945, taking over the [[long wave]] frequency which had earlier been used<ref name=radiorewind>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/light_programme_launch.htm|title=BBC Light Programme Launch|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref name=dafyddhancock/> – prior to the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] on 1 September 1939 – by the [[BBC National Programme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/september/closedown-of-television|title=Close down of Television service for the duration of the War|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref>

The service was intended as a domestic replacement for the wartime [[BBC General Forces Programme]] which had gained many civilian listeners in [[Great Britain|Britain]] as well as members of the [[British Armed Forces]].<ref name=dafyddhancock>{{cite web|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2001/08/15/forces/|title=Forces of Light|date=2001-08-15|publisher=The Transdiffusion|last=Hancock|first=Dafydd|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref name=engineeringdev/>

==History==
The long wave signal on 200 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 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|work=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 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]] and the [[BBC 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 9:00 am until midnight each day, apart from Sundays when it would come on the air at 8:00 am until 11:00 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 at 11:00 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 11:00 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 Times|title=SUNDAY Light Programme|issue=1278|date=1948-04-09|via=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-28|page=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/8279340668084f7d870abf112f7a6497?page=11|title=MONDAY Light Programme|newspaper=Radio Times|issue=1221|date=1947-03-07|page=11|via=BBC Genome|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>

From Monday 2 September 1957, {{citation needed|date=February 2024}} the Light Programme's broadcasting hours would start to increase, with a new early morning start time of 7:00 am until midnight, later moving to 6:30 am<ref name=newlookinradio>{{cite web|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2017/03/13/the-new-look-in-radio/|title=The new look in radio|last1=Gillard|first1=Frank|last2=Manduell|first2=John|last3=Graham|first3=Russ J.|date=2017-03-13|publisher=Transdiffusion|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref> from Monday 29 September 1958.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In 1964, broadcasting hours were increased even more, with a new morning start time of 5:30 am from Monday 31 August. Up until September 1964, the Light Programme would always end its broadcasting day at midnight; however this changed on Sunday 27 September 1964, when a new closedown time of 2:02 am was introduced.<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/light/1964-09-26|title=Light Programme – 26 September 1964|publisher=BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=schedule195709>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/light/1957-09-02|title=Light Programme – 2 September 1957 |publisher=BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/light/1958-09-29|title=Light Programme – 29 September 1958|publisher=BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/light/1945-07-29|title=Light Programme – 29 July 1945|publisher= BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=newlookinradio/>

The Light Programme closed down for the last time at 2:03 am on Saturday 30 September 1967.<ref name=schedule196709>{{cite web|title=BBC Light Programme schedule for 29 September 1967|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1967-09-29|website=BBC Genome|access-date=20 January 2023}}</ref><ref name=frequencyfinder>{{cite web|url=http://frequencyfinder.org.uk/History_Transmission.pdf|title=History of Radio Transmission in the UK|publisher=Frequency Finder UK|access-date=2024-02-28|pages=3, 9}}</ref> At 5:30 am, it was replaced by [[BBC Radio 2]] and at 7:00 am by [[BBC Radio 1]] on medium wave.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/history_of_radio_1_details.htm|title=Why create Radio 1?|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref><ref name=frequencyfinder/>

==Programming==
Some programmes broadcast from the Light Programme still continue today, such as ''[[Junior Choice]]'',<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:
{{Div col}}
* ''[[Al Read|The Al Read Show]]''<ref name=lightprogrammecomedy>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/light_programme_comedy.htm|title=Light Programme Comedy|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[Appointment with Fear (radio)|Appointment with Fear]]''<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/scope/documents/2010/october-2010/mann.pdf|title=An Aristocratic Plod, Erstwhile Commandos and Ladies who Craved Excitement: Hammer Films' Post-War BBC Crime Series and Serial Adaptations|last=Mann|first=David|journal=Scope|issue=18|date=October 2010|pages=3}}</ref><ref name=schedule195709/>
* ''[[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/>
* ''[[Dick Barton – Special Agent]]''<ref name=johncain>{{cite book|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/UK-Books/The-BBC-70-Years-of-Broadcasting-Cain-1992.pdf|title=The BBC: 70 years of broadcasting|last=Cain|first=John|date=1992|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-28|pages=60–62, 146}}</ref><ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* ''[[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/>
* ''[[Housewives' Choice]]''<ref name=bbcradio1964>{{cite web|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2019/07/31/tonights-bbc-radio-in-1964/|title=Tonight's BBC Radio... in 1964|last1=Graham|first1=Russ J.|last2=Bowden-Smith|first2=Kif|date=2019-07-31|publisher=Transdiffusion|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/>
* ''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/>
* ''[[Junior Choice]]'' (1954–1967)<ref name=lightprogrammemusic>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/light_programme_music.htm|title=Light Programme Music|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[Life with the Lyons]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* ''[[Listen with Mother]]''<ref name=johncain/><ref name=schedule195709/> (1950–1964)
* ''Meet the Huggetts''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/meet_the_huggetts/|title=Meet the Huggetts|publisher=British Comedy Guide|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''Movie-Go-Round''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d57372f8e6e14417b694e221b6b7a46a|title=Movie-Go-Round|date=December 1957 |publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''Midday Spin''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bdf8ecadc0d24bfd96c291898ebba65f|title=Midday Spin|date=27 September 1966 |publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[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/>
* ''[[Music While You Work]]''<ref name=patternofsound>{{cite web|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2022/09/30/the-new-pattern-of-sound-broadcasting/|title=The new pattern of sound broadcasting|last=Wellington|first=Lindsay|date=2022-09-30|publisher=Transdiffusion|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref><ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=schedule196709/>
* ''[[The Navy Lark]]''<ref name=bcglightprogramme/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>
* ''[[Orbiter X]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2016/15/7th-dimension-orbiter-x|title=7th Dimension: Orbiter X|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'' (1955–1967)<ref name=johncain/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* ''Parade of the Pops''<ref name=demise/> (1960–1967)
* ''[[Paul Temple]]''<ref name=lightdrama>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/light_programme_drama.htm|title=Light Programme Drama|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''The Public Ear''<ref name=thebeatles>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/album/live-at-the-bbc/|title=Live at the BBC|publisher=The Paul McCarthy Project|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[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/>
* ''[[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|date=2 September 1951 |publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''Riders of the Range''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1b661b495810473c8c044bfd8a1b4151|title=Riders of the Range|date=6 July 1953 |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/>
* ''Shadow of Sumuru''<ref>{{cite book|title=BBC Year Book 1947|date=1947|publisher=BBC|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/BBC/BBC-Annual/BBC-Year-Book-1947.pdf|pages=48}}</ref>
* ''The Showband Show''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/46a4c0624e2e46029585f395ad718298|title=Show Band Show|date=16 July 1953 |publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''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)
* ''[[The Slide]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/992cf52967e34123aaadf38461a87254|title=The Slide: 1: Moment of Silence|date=13 February 1966 |publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[Sports Report]]''<ref name=asabriggs/>
* ''[[Take It from Here]]''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* ''Teenager's Turn – Here We Go''<ref name=demise/>
* ''[[Top Gear (radio show)|Top Gear]]'' (1964–1967; a music show unrelated to the [[Top Gear (1977 TV series)|car franchise]])
* ''[[Variety Bandbox]]''<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* ''Waterlogged Spa''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/waterlogged-spa/|title=Waterlogged Spa|publisher=British Comedy Guide|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* ''[[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 end}}

==Presenters==
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Barry Alldis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/barry_alldis_page.htm|title=Barry Alldis|publisher=Radio Rewind|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Marjorie Anderson]]<ref name=announcers/>
* [[Richard Attenborough]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/656f9afff7134c55a271f709472f2248|title = Broadcast - BBC Programme Index|website=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk| date=April 1950 }}</ref>
* [[Tony Blackburn]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* [[Tim Brinton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1965-01-01|title=Programme Index - January 1, 1965|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* Michael Brooke<ref name=announcers/>
* [[Desmond Carrington]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/m4pSxV7HRSqgTVPWd4klcF/desmond-carrington|title=Desmond Carrington|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Sam Costa]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* Bill Crozier<ref name=2way>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/54212b5edcff40d0a19470c1b8a26384|title=Two-Way Family Favourites|date=15 November 1964 |publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Alan Dell]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* [[Robert Dougall]]<ref name=1june52>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1952-06-01|title=Schedule: Sunday, 1 June 1952|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* David Dunhill<ref name=announcers/>
* [[John Dunn (radio presenter)|John Dunn]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/nov/30/bbc.guardianobituaries|title=Obituary: John Dunn|work=The Guardian|date=2004-11-30|last=Barker|first=Dennis|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Don Durbridge]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/tributes-paid-to-former-radio-2-host/|title=Tributes paid to former BBC Radio 2 host|date=2012-06-26|publisher=Radio Today|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Simon Dee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/gallery/2009/sep/01/simon-dee-bbc|title=Simon Dee's rise and fall in pictures|date=2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Franklin Engelmann]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/><ref name=announcers/>
* [[Peter Fettes]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1949-12-09|title=Schedule - Friday, 9 December 1949|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Alan Freeman]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* [[Keith Fordyce]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* [[Tim Gudgin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/nov/20/bbc-tim-gudgin|title=BBC's Tim Gudgin calls time with: Airdrie United 11, Gala Fairydean 0|last=Bagchi|first=Rob|date=2011-11-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Peter Haigh]]<ref name=patternofsound/>
* Colin Hamilton<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beatlesbible.com/1964/06/20/live-sydney-stadium-sydney-3/|title=The Beatles live: Sydney Stadium, Sydney|date=2024-01-24|publisher=Beatles Bible|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[David Hamilton (broadcaster)|David Hamilton]]<ref name=schedule196709/>
* [[Paul Hollingdale]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/paul-hollingdale-obituary-rtdsxm8cg|title=Obituary: Paul Hollingdale|date=2017-08-09|work=The Times|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[David Jacobs (broadcaster)|David Jacobs]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022>{{cite book|title=This is the BBC: Entertaining the Nation, Speaking for Britain, 1922-2022|last=Potter|first=Simon J.|date=2022-04-14|doi=10.1093/oso/9780192898524.001.0001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780192898524|pages=116–121, 148, 171–174}}</ref><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* [[Brian Matthew]]<ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* [[Jean Metcalfe]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/><ref name=announcers/><ref name=2way/>
* [[Sandy MacPherson]]<ref name=radiorewind/><ref name=lightprogrammemusic/>
* Roger Moffat<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/radio-reinvented/timelines/radio-2|title=The Radio 2 Timeline|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref><ref name=demise/>
* [[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 (DJ)|Pete Murray]]<ref name=bbcradio1964/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* [[Annie Nightingale]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qthemusic.com/p/rip-annie-nightingale-trailblazing-dj-and-the-coolest-woman-who-ever-graced-the-airwaves/|title=RIP Annie Nightingale: Trailblazing DJ and the 'Coolest Woman Who Ever Graced the Airwaves'|last=Utton|date=2024-01-12|first=Dominic|publisher=Q Magazine|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* Ray Orchard<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1964-06-27|title=Schedule: Saturday 27 June 1964|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Robin Richmond]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1949-03-01|title=Schedule: Tuesday 1 March 1949|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* Phillip Slessor<ref name=announcers/>
* [[Douglas Smith (broadcaster)|Douglas Smith]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2019/02/12/42294/how_bona%21_round_the_horne_named_best_radio_comedy_ever|title=How bona! Round The Horne named best radio comedy ever|publisher=Chortle|date=2019-02-12|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Ken Sykora]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/mar/24/radio.obituaries|title=Obituary : Ken Sykora|date=2006-03-24|last=Barker|first=Dennis|work=The Guardian|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[David Symonds]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2022/07/15/ocean-sound-and-me/|title=Ocean sound and me|last=Harding|first=Tony|date=2022-07-15|publisher=Transdiffusion|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* John Webster<ref name=announcers>{{cite web|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2022/03/04/the-story-of-announcers-and-announcing-over-thirty-years/|title=The story of announcers and announcing over thirty years|last=Pedrick|first=Gale|date=2022-03-04|publisher=Transdiffusion|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* Roy Williams<ref name=announcers/>
* Bruce Wyndham<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_light_programme/1967-09-23|title=Schedule: Saturday 23 September 1967|publisher=BBC Genome|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
* [[Terry Wogan]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
* [[Jimmy Young (broadcaster)|Jimmy Young]]<ref name=simonjpotter2022/>
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/light_programme_page.htm Radio Rewind – The 1500m Light Programme]

{{Navboxes|list1=
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[[Category:BBC Light Programme]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 2]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 1]]
[[Category:Defunct BBC national radio stations]]
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[[Category:Radio stations disestablished in 1967]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
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[[Category:1940s in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1950s in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1960s in the United Kingdom]]

← Previous revision		Revision as of 19:56, 18 December 2025
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	==History==		==History==
	The long wave signal on 200 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 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\|work=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 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]] and the [[BBC 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/>		The long wave signal on 200 kHz / 1500 metres was transmitted from the [[Droitwich Transmitting Station]] in the [[Midlands\|English Midlands]]<ref name=frequencyfinder/> (as it still is today for [[BBC Radio 4]], although adjusted slightly to 198 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\|work=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 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]] and the [[BBC 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 9:00 a.m. until midnight each day, apart from Sundays when it would come on the air at 8:00 am until 11:00 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>		From its first day of broadcasting in 1945 until Monday 2 September 1957, the Light Programme would be on the air from 9:00 a.m. until midnight each day, apart from Sundays when it would come on the air at 8:00 am until 11:00 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>
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	* ''[[The Goon Show]]'' {{small\|(repeats from the [[BBC Home Service\|Home Service]])}}<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>		* ''[[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/>		* ''[[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/>		* ''[[Have a Go]]!''<ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/> (1946–1967)
	* ''[[Housewives' Choice]]''<ref name=bbcradio1964>{{cite web\|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2019/07/31/tonights-bbc-radio-in-1964/\|title=Tonight's BBC Radio... in 1964\|last1=Graham\|first1=Russ J.\|last2=Bowden-Smith\|first2=Kif\|date=2019-07-31\|publisher=Transdiffusion\|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/>		* ''[[Housewives' Choice]]''<ref name=bbcradio1964>{{cite web\|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2019/07/31/tonights-bbc-radio-in-1964/\|title=Tonight's BBC Radio... in 1964\|last1=Graham\|first1=Russ J.\|last2=Bowden-Smith\|first2=Kif\|date=2019-07-31\|publisher=Transdiffusion\|access-date=2024-02-28}}</ref><ref name=johncain/><ref name=asabriggs/>
	* ''Ignorance is Bliss''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>		* ''Ignorance is Bliss''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=lightprogrammecomedy/>
Line 91:		Line 91:
	* ''[[The Slide]]''<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/992cf52967e34123aaadf38461a87254\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030203026/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/992cf52967e34123aaadf38461a87254\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=30 October 2014\|title=The Slide: 1: Moment of Silence\|date=13 February 1966 \|publisher=BBC Genome\|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>		* ''[[The Slide]]''<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/992cf52967e34123aaadf38461a87254\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030203026/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/992cf52967e34123aaadf38461a87254\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=30 October 2014\|title=The Slide: 1: Moment of Silence\|date=13 February 1966 \|publisher=BBC Genome\|access-date=2024-02-29}}</ref>
	* ''[[Sports Report]]''<ref name=asabriggs/>		* ''[[Sports Report]]''<ref name=asabriggs/>
	* ''[[Take It from Here]]''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/>		* ''[[Take It from Here]]''<ref name=asabriggs/><ref name=simonjpotter2022/> (1948-1960)
	* ''Teenager's Turn – Here We Go''<ref name=demise/>		* ''Teenager's Turn – Here We Go''<ref name=demise/>
	* ''[[Top Gear (radio show)\|Top Gear]]'' (1964–1967; a music show unrelated to the [[Top Gear (1977 TV series)\|car franchise]])		* ''[[Top Gear (radio show)\|Top Gear]]'' (1964–1967; a music show unrelated to the [[Top Gear (1977 TV series)\|car franchise]])