1927 in British radio

This is a list of events from British radio in 1927.

Events

• 1 January – The British Broadcasting Company is succeeded in monopoly control of the airwaves by the British Broadcasting Corporation, under the terms of a Royal Charter. ^[1] John Reith becomes the first Director-General.
• 15 January – First live sports broadcast on the BBC: the rugby union international England v Wales is commented on by Teddy Wakelam.
• 22 January – The BBC transmits the first ever running commentary on an English Football League match: Arsenal v. Sheffield United at Highbury. ^[2]
• 17 March – Premiere of the BBC's first music commission, Holst's The Morning of the Year: a choral ballet in an orchestral version from the Royal Albert Hall in London (Holst shares the programme with Honegger conducting two of his own works). ^[3]
• 7 July – Christopher Stone presents a record programme on the BBC, becoming the first British disc jockey.
• 13 August – The Proms broadcast concert season opens in London under management of the BBC.
• 21 August – The BBC starts high-power medium-wave transmissions to the English Midlands from station 5GB (Daventry transmitting station) on 610 kHz.
• December – Joshua Powell of Clacton begins the domestic radio relay service which will become Rediffusion. ^[4]
• Vernon Bartlett is appointed the BBC's first foreign correspondent.
• Entertainers Elsie and Doris Waters make their first radio appearance on the BBC.

Births

• 26 February – Gerald Priestland, news correspondent (died 1991)
• 25 June – Peter Clayton, jazz disc jockey (died 1991)
• 20 July – Heather Chasen, actress (died 2020)
• 9 November – Ken Dodd, comedian (died 2018)
• 9 December – Benny Green, jazz saxophonist and radio presenter (died 1998)
• 17 December – Robert Robinson, broadcast presenter (died 2011)

References

1. "A Message from the Earl of Clarendon | The New B.B.C. -- 'A Transition Simple and Efficient.'". Radio Times. Vol. 14, no. 170. 31 December 1926. p. 85. Archived from the original on 26 August 2025.
2. BBC: Radio football down the years.
3. "Today's Wireless Programmes". The Daily Chronicle. London. 17 March 1927. p. 2.
4. "1928–1978: The first 50 Years of Rediffusion". Rediffusion Ltd. 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2011.