1951 in British radio

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This is a list of events from British radio in 1951.

Events

• 1 January – The Archers production series debuts on the BBC Light Programme; it will still be broadcast 70 years later as the world's longest-running radio "soap".[1]
• 2 July – The English language programmes of Radio Luxembourg move from long wave to the medium wave frequency of 208 metres (1439 kHz).
• August – Tony Hancock joins the cast of Educating Archie as Archie's tutor (until January 1952).[2]

Debuts

• 28 May – The Goon Show (as Crazy People), on the BBC Home Service (1951–1960)[3]
• 2 July – The New Adventures of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, on Radio Luxembourg (1951–1956)[4]

Continuing radio programmes

1930s

• In Town Tonight (1933–1960)

1940s

• Music While You Work (1940–1967)[5]
• Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018)
• Desert Island Discs (1942–Present)
• Family Favourites (1945–1980)
• Down Your Way (1946–1992)
• Have A Go (1946–1967)
• Housewives' Choice (1946–1967)
• Letter from America (1946–2004)
• Woman's Hour (1946–Present)
• Twenty Questions (1947–1976)
• Any Questions? (1948–Present)
• Mrs Dale's Diary (1948–1969)
• Take It from Here (1948–1960)
• Billy Cotton Band Show (1949–1968)
• A Book at Bedtime (1949–Present)
• Ray's a Laugh (1949–1961)

1950s

• Educating Archie (1950–1960)
• Listen with Mother (1950–1982)

Births

• 2 February – Ken Bruce, Scottish radio presenter
• 1 March – Mike Read, DJ
• 13 May – James Whale, radio presenter
• 14 May – Max Reinhardt, music presenter
• 24 June – David Rodigan, DJ
• 9 August – James Naughtie, Scottish journalist and radio presenter
• 10 September – Sally Grace, actress
• 20 September – John Lloyd, comedy producer

See also

• 1951 in British music
• 1951 in British television
• 1951 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1951

References

1. BBC Radio 4: Celebrating 60 Years of The Archers (2011).
2. "Radio". The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
3. Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. ISBN 0-14-102715-0.
4. Freeman, John (3 April 2008). "Dan Dare's Holy Grail: Radio Luxembourg's Dan Dare Radio Show". downthetubes.net. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
5. "Music While You Work". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.