Radio Moments - Clips

After 27 years of presenting Sounds of the 60s, this was Brian's farewell show. on 25th February 2017.

Eddie Mair breaks the news of the death of Steve Hewlett, Radio 4’s Media Show presenter and respected journalist. Steve had shared his thoughts about his cancer with PM listeners in the preceding weeks.

1925 saw the announcement of programming for rural workers but came to be enjoyed by listeners generally.

A new morning weather forecast was introduced - and a weekly summary of farm produce prices in the home markets.

The market prices for farmers were an addition to the regular Farmers' Talks. These appeared amongst the specialised talks that comprised a fair proportion of early radio broadcasts, and made no allowance for the general listener. Typical talks for farmers at the time included Ducks for Egg Production, Experiments on the Manuring of Roots in Dorset, Phosphatic Manures for Spring Use, and one on the Agricultural Holdings Act 1923.

Farming programmes on radio developed over the years, including On Your Farm and Farming Today. These programmes served and reflected the agricultural community, whilst developing a following amongst politicians and general listeners, providing a glimpse of rural life for wistful urban dwellers.

Huw Kennair-Jones arrived at the Archers after recently producing Medici: Masters Of Florence, starring Dustin Hoffman and Richard Madden; and New Tricks for Headstrong Pictures, where he also series produced Waterloo Road.

Between 2008 and 2014, he worked for Sky Entertainment as a commissioning editor at Sky Drama, and was also executive producer on programmes including Hit And Miss, Strike Back, Mad Dogs, Thorne, Terry Pratchett's Going Postal and Moonfleet.

He previously worked as a commissioning executive for Sky 1, a story producer for EastEnders, a series producer for Dream Team and a producer for Holby City.

In this interview with Paddy O'Connell on Broadcasting Hosue on Radio 4, he tells of listening to The Archers on Sunday mornings as a child while his mother did the ironing - and his thoughts on ther task ahead.

What a show. With the Nation’s eyes upon him, Tony Blackburn sounded thoroughly relaxed as he made his Radio 1 debut – on the first day of the new station, as the Light Programme split into radios one and two. Mind you, this show launched quietly on a Saturday, as did the BBC’s week.

Enjoy a sprinkling of those words and phrases which would not be heard on today’s radio – or anywhere. The ‘in sounds’, ’where it’s at’, ‘fabulous’ and the ‘fun thirty’.

Hear his chats with fellow presenters Simon Dee (the Chris Evans of his generation) and David Ryder; and an honourable mention for Scotland. One can imagine a well-meaning BBC staffer saying ‘don’t forget Scotland, Tony’. They likely also asked him to flag up the existence of Radio 2 to the old dears a little perplexed by Tony on a frequency hitherto occupied by music to knit to. So he did. Sort of.

There’s a lovely version of Let’s Go to San Francisco with an end I hadn’t heard before, and an array of new releases, replete with catalogue numbers, no doubt to help the needletime situation.

It’s a delicious listen – and, as he says, the show proper didn’t debut until Monday.

Eddie Mair celebrates record audiences for the PM Programme on Radio 4 - for W4 2016, with typical style - and elegant tease.

Also, some touching response to Steve Hewlett's cancer diaries - and a reminder of radio's powerful, quiet influence.