1950 in British radio

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Last updated January 26, 2024

This is a list of events from British radio in 1950.

Events

6 June – the BBC Light Programme first broadcasts Educating Archie , featuring ventriloquist Peter Brough and his schoolboy dummy Archie Andrews (sic.); the series runs for 10 years and averages 15 million listeners.^[1]
7 June – The Archers pilot episodes debut on BBC radio;^[2] the series will still be running 70 years later, and actress June Spencer, who appears in the opening pilot, will still be appearing up to her 103rd birthday.
5 November – the BBC Light Programme first broadcasts Life with the Lyons , the UK's first sitcom, featuring British-domiciled American couple Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels.
3 December – the BBC Light Programme first broadcasts the magazine and variety programme Calling All Forces featuring Ted Ray; his catchphrase "You should use stronger elastic" originates.^[3]
Gracie Fields' radio show transfers from the BBC to Radio Luxembourg, where it is sponsored by Wisk soap powder.

Debuts

16 January – Listen with Mother , on the BBC Light Programme (1950–1982)^[1]
6 June – Educating Archie , on the BBC Light Programme (1950–1960)
7 June – The Archers , pilot episode (1950–Present)
5 November – Life with the Lyons , on the BBC Light Programme (1950–1961)
3 December – Calling All Forces, on the BBC Light Programme (1950–1952)

Continuing radio programmes

1930s

In Town Tonight (1933–1960)

1940s

Music While You Work (1940–1967)
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)

Births

2 February – Libby Purves, radio presenter.
12 May – Jenni Murray, journalist, presenter of Woman's Hour
5 June – Jonathan Fryer, foreign correspondent, writer and politician (died 2021)
8 July – Sarah Kennedy, radio presenter

Related Research Articles

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. It opened on 29 July 1945, taking over the long wave frequency which had earlier been used – prior to the outbreak of the Second World War on 1 September 1939 – by the BBC National Programme.

This is a list of events in British radio during 1971.

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This is a list of events in British radio during 1967.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1966.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1965.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1964.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1963.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1962.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1961.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1960.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1959.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1958.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1957.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1956.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1955.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1954.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1953.

This is a list of events from British radio in 1952.

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

References

1 2 Kynaston, David (2007). Austerity Britain 1945–1951. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-0-7475-7985-4.
↑ Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. ISBN 0-14-102715-0.
↑ The Nigel Rees Book of Slogans & Catchphrases. London: Unwin. 1984. p. 91. ISBN 0-04-827108-X.

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[Kynaston-1] 1 2 Kynaston, David (2007). Austerity Britain 1945–1951. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-0-7475-7985-4.

[2] Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. ISBN 0-14-102715-0.

[3] The Nigel Rees Book of Slogans & Catchphrases. London: Unwin. 1984. p. 91. ISBN 0-04-827108-X.

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