The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

#062 Radio’s First Political Debate... and Reeta Chakrabarti

Listen Later

On 22 February 1923, the BBC tried something new: the first broadcast political debate. What could possibly go wrong? Let's find out!

And we chat to Reeta Chakrabarti - a mainstay of BBC news for over 30 years. She's anchored news from the studio, broadcast from Ukraine, and recently voiced radio pioneer Hilda Matheson on the BBC100 Prom. We talk about her career highlights and the place of BBC journalism in the world today.

Back in 1923, we're telling the origin story of British broadcasting, landmark moment by landmark moment, so this episode includes:

  • That first political debate: Sir Ernest Benn and J.T. Walton Newbold MP on "That Communism would be a Danger to the Good of the People” - but the audience are a little one-sided, and bring not only heckles but a rousing musical finale - The Red Flag. There are complaints... Thanks to the press of the day, we recreate the key moments of that first political debate for (we presume) the first time ever.
  • Back at HQ, Caroline Banks joins to head up the female clerical staff.
  • The BBC listings ban continues in the press.
  • Pip, Squeak and Wilfred make the jump from a Daily Mirror cartoon strip to on-air children's programme.
  • The launch of Musical, Dramatic, Literary and Film Talks.
  • The first broadcast in Welsh (hear Rev Gwilym Davies).
  • The first daytime programmes... and more.

    • It was quite a week!

    Next time: Early March 1923, the BBC gains its sixth station and Scotland gains official broadcasting, as Glasgow 5SC launches. We'll bring the speeches and juicy details.

    Support us? £5/mth on Patreon.com/paulkerensa keeps us going.

    And/or share this if you like it - find us fresh ears!

    We're on Facebook and Twitter, and a reminder that this is nothing to do with the BBC. It's a one-man non-BBC project.

    Part of that also includes Paul's new novel, Auntie and Uncles: The Bizarre Birth of the BBC (out this spring, ish): https://amzn.to/3ZsF335

    Another part is Paul's live show on early radio: this year that includes 'The Beeb: Year 1 - 1923 Repeated' (a stand-up history show whizzing through that first year) + a re-enactment of the first religious broadcast. To book either, or with any comments on the podcast, get in touch.

    Subscribte/Rate/Review if you like this episode - thanks!

    paulkerensa.com

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    The British Broadcasting Century with Paul KerensaBy Paul Kerensa
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    11 ratings

    More shows like The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

    View all
    Test Match Special by BBC Radio 5 Live

    Test Match Special

    200 Listeners

    Quizzes by BBC Radio 4

    Quizzes

    94 Listeners

    RHLSTP with Richard Herring by Sky Potato, Go Faster Stripe and Fuzz Productions

    RHLSTP with Richard Herring

    358 Listeners

    The Political Party by Avalon

    The Political Party

    73 Listeners

    Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

    Dan Snow's History Hit

    4,770 Listeners

    WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk by Goalhanger

    WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

    1,365 Listeners

    You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

    You're Dead to Me

    3,156 Listeners

    Word In Your Ear by Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

    Word In Your Ear

    66 Listeners

    Time Team by Time Team

    Time Team

    71 Listeners

    The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

    The Rest Is Politics

    3,329 Listeners

    Battleground by Goalhanger

    Battleground

    329 Listeners

    Empire by Goalhanger

    Empire

    2,312 Listeners

    The News Agents by Global

    The News Agents

    1,008 Listeners

    The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

    The Rest Is Entertainment

    848 Listeners

    Journey Through Time by Goalhanger

    Journey Through Time

    239 Listeners