Next podcast sends the early BBC global, with Nov/Dec 1923's transatlantic broadcasts. Our guests will be Prof Simon J Potter and BBC presenter/producer Josephine McDermott, whose recent documentary The Sound of Soft Power is about international radio - a fab listen: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Documentary - The Sound of Soft Power - BBC Sounds

Does the world still need international radio as a tool of soft power?

bbc.co.uk

What have BBC promos ever done for Romesh, Cleese, Julie Walters, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson...? My latest Substack - on BBC promos from 1985-2026 via two pubs, TVC reception, God Only Knows at Ally Pally, and reap reap reaping what we sow. paulkerensa.substack.com/p/what-have-...

What have BBC promos ever done for Romesh, Cleese, Julie Walters, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson...?

A man walks into a pub... twice - hoping to save the licence fee.

paulkerensa.substack.com

New podcast ahoy! Our timeline's at Nov 1923: the BBC's 1st relay station Sheffield 6FL, whose history has never been told. Andrew Barker has found aplenty - thanks to him, BBC Radio Sheffield + Sheffield City Archives for rare audio from its co-founder. Enjoy! bbcentury.podbean.com/e/125-the-bb...

#125 The BBC's First Relay Station: Sheffield 6FL and Fred Lloyd | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

We're back in our moment-by-moment timeline of British broadcasting's early days, and it's just after the BBC's first birthday... 16 November 1923: Sheffield 6FL becomes the BBC's first relay station,...

bbcentury.podbean.com

New podcast ahoy! Our timeline's at Nov 1923: the BBC's 1st relay station Sheffield 6FL, whose history has never been told. Andrew Barker has found aplenty - thanks to him, BBC Radio Sheffield + Sheffield City Archives for rare audio from its co-founder. Enjoy! bbcentury.podbean.com/e/125-the-bb...

#125 The BBC's First Relay Station: Sheffield 6FL and Fred Lloyd | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

We're back in our moment-by-moment timeline of British broadcasting's early days, and it's just after the BBC's first birthday... 16 November 1923: Sheffield 6FL becomes the BBC's first relay station,...

bbcentury.podbean.com

A new podcast episode lands shortly. Our latest is on 1932's BBC Broadcasting House, with Dr Elizabeth Darling, author of the marvellous new book Palace of the Ether (and be subscribed for the next episode - on 1923's first relay station Sheffield 6FL): bbcentury.podbean.com/e/124-broadc...

#124 Broadcasting House 1932: Palace of the Ether - with Dr Elizabeth Darling | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

Broadcasting House, 1932: The BBC's first purpose-built home.  When it first opened, some likened it to a ship, others to a New York skyscraper. And it was once called a Palace of the Ether... That's ...

bbcentury.podbean.com

Didn't we have a lovely time last night at Westbury Festival? A superb audience came to hear how the Beeb began + where it got us. Loads of great questions and comments - and the next Evening of (Very) Old Radio is next Wed in Weston-super-Mare. Then these fine places... Come, or book it for yours.

Tomorrow - Westbury, near Bath/Swindon/Frome. www.westburyfestival.org.uk/events/an-ev...

‘What has the BBC ever given us?’ - asked John Cleese 40 years ago. With one of the same stars as the recent ad, and two of the same jokes. (for more answers, come tomorrow to Westbury Festival’s An Evening of (Very) Old Radio…) youtu.be/lUzQ2qIgG6Y?...

John Cleese, What Has The BBC Ever Given Us ?

YouTube video by Sid N

youtu.be

An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: The BBC Then and Now heads to Westbury Festival, Wilts this Thursday. Then Weston-super-Mare’s Blakehay Theatre next Wednesday. Come and be informed, educated & entertained. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin… www.westburyfestival.org.uk/events/an-ev...

Paul Karensa : An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: the BBC then and now

Looking for a great night out with one of Britain's top comedy writers? Don't let the title fool you... this isn't just a talk about the BBC! Paul Kerensa is a British Comedy Award-winning comedian a...

westburyfestival.org.uk

Sad to hear Ed Stourton had died. Journalist, presenter, writer snd historian - he had me on R4 Sunday, I had him on my podcast about his superb book Auntie’s War, with some great stories of the BBC in WW2. Knowledgable, enthusiastic, missed. Glad we had this chat: podfollow.com/bbcentury/ep...

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa: #052 Auntie’s War - with Edward Stourton

The BBC in WW2 is our focus for the third of our summer specials - longer-form chats with brilliant authors and their take on a century of British broadcasting.This time meet Auntie's War author an...

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The British Broadcasting Century episode 124 has landed - a tribute to and tour of 1932's Broadcasting House - with 'Palace of the Ether' author Dr Elizabeth Darling. Links below, enjoy, and do share if you like it! Next time: Sheffield 6FL, the first relay station in Nov 1923 pod.fo/e/445a4d

Next podcast lands tomorrow. Ep 124, how time flies. Last eo was on The Archers. What a show! What a run! Next ep is on Broadcasting House 1932, with Palace of the Ether author and architectural historian Dr Elizabeth Darling. What a building! What an interview! Subscribe? podfollow.com/bbcentury

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archiv...

podfollow.com

A video for patrons, about 1932's Broadcasting House. Next podcast episode is an audio tour of its finest rooms - from its grand lobby (largely unchanged) to studios resembling a drawing room and a chapel (sadly changed, but probably for the best...) Vid's here: www.patreon.com/paulkerensa/...

VID: Broadcasting House, 1932 - my favourite pics | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

VID: Broadcasting House, 1932 - my favourite pics by The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa on Patreon. Join The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa's community for exclusive co...

patreon.com

On the latest British Broadcasting Century podcast - The Archers Live at 75, now on tour hosted by comedian Angela Barnes. How many episodes have there been? Has anyone heard them all? Too late to start? Hear the podcast + catch the show. Next ep? 1932's vast and glamorous Broadcasting House...

I had a blast as ever at that palace o' research, the British Library. Here's: 1) me lost amid the Radio Timeses 2) the BVWS mags 3) Reith, Marconi and co 4) Cecil Lewis: 1922's 1st BBC Deputy Director of Progs, who on 1991's Desert Island Discs asked Sue Lawley if she'd ever made love in a hammock

Twas present day Broadcasting House for me today... then I edited the next podcast episode about 1932's Broadcasting House. No fake fireplace + fake book-shelves in today's studio... Find out more about the old BH on next week's podcast (audio) plus a video next week on patreon.com/paulkerensa

Paul Kerensa@paulkerensa.bsky.social · last mo.

A joy to join (woo) Gary Davies (on your radio) for Radio 2's Pause for Thought, now on BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p... Saw Sara Cox too + wished her well for Monday's Breakfast Show rein-taking. My next radio slot? Oh sure, it's Monday (6 July) 9:45am for Radio 4 Extra's Daily Service.

Longwave is lost to us (like my password was last night so I had to this there and not here...)

Paul Kerensa@paulkerensa.bsky.social · last mo.

If you’re awake and want to listen to the last minutes of the century-ish old BBC Radio 4 long wave, it closes at 1am early Saturday morning, 27 June. Radio 4 apparently continues on a new thing called FM/DAB. So long, waving goodbye. www.surfmusic.de/radio-statio...

This was a lot of fun. Talking about The Archers is obviously something I never like to do, but when my arm is twisted… 😉

The British Broadcasting Century podcast@bbcentury.bsky.social · last mo.

NEW POD EP AHOY! ep 123: A chat with comic Angela Barnes, who hosts a live show in celebration of The Archers: the ?th oldest BBC programme still on the air... Find out on the podcast! Plus BBC cuts - ideas from you good folks. Link in comments. Next time: an audio tour of Broadcasting House, 1932.

NEW POD EP AHOY! ep 123: A chat with comic Angela Barnes, who hosts a live show in celebration of The Archers: the ?th oldest BBC programme still on the air... Find out on the podcast! Plus BBC cuts - ideas from you good folks. Link in comments. Next time: an audio tour of Broadcasting House, 1932.

Podcast no 123 lands tomorrow - on 75 years of The Archers. Subscribe, radio history fans! podfollow.com/BBCentury

Trying to identify a piece of instrumental light music I remember BBC Dance orchestras playing on the Light Programme's Music While You Work show in the early-mid 1950s. I stil remember the melody - plonked out here on one finger piano. Anyone else out there old enough to be able to help?

Next podcast soon - our season of chats on broadcasting history-ish places you can go this summer. ep 121 was on Mitch Benn's Asking Elvis show at Edinburgh Fringe ep 122 was on Prof John Wyver's Early TV conference in July ep 123 will be on The Archers Live at 75 Join us! podfollow.com/BBCentury

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archiv...

podfollow.com

You're BBC DG. What do YOU cut? Dozens have their say, as we try and save half a billion pounds. On Substack, for the readers... paulkerensa.substack.com/p/youre-bbc-...

Our latest Patreon video (for the lucky few who I'm mostly grateful subscribe there) is a walk-and-talk (no mean feat), whizzing through the mighty work of Phyllis Twigg, first radio dramatist and TV cook. Thanks to all who subscribe there and keep the podcast going. www.patreon.com/paulkerensa/...

VID: The Walk-and-Talk returns (as does walking and talking, gladly) | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

VID: The Walk-and-Talk returns (as does walking and talking, gladly) by The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa on Patreon. Join The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa's communi...

patreon.com

Ok, open question, no judgment. You're DG of the BBC. You need to save a LOT of money. What do you axe? Shows small and big, probably a channel, maybe a whole genre? I'm all ears. Today we've heard R4 will lose The World Tonight + Midnight News. What else to lose? radiotoday.co.uk/2026/06/bbc-...

BBC networks face savings review

The BBC is to review its portfolio as part of new savings plans.

radiotoday.co.uk

The first four employees of the BBC: Burrows, Lewis, Anderson, Reith. Others were offered jobs - eg RH White as Engineer, turning it down as he thought broadcasting was going nowhere. Reith was at least 3rd choice, with a journalist + business leader offered it first, saying no for similar reasons.

Some nice BBC metaphors (as church + coral), 1959 Encounter mag article: "...the BBC was itself part of the ceremony: that crozier, a microphone... beneath that rich cope, Richard Dimbleby..." & "...like a coral reef, cells multiplying until it was a vast structure..." archive.org/details/dli....

NEW PODCAST EPISODE AHOY! The British Broadcasting Century no 122: The Birth of Television and The End of Radio 4 Longwave With Prof John Wyver, whose book + conference is all about early television. And we pay tribute to longwave. Have a listen, have a blast. bbcentury.podbean.com/e/122-the-bi...

Over in our Facebook group, I've been listing the longest-running BBC progs still on today. A few in the 1920s (inc some cheats: annuals eg The Boat Race + some name-changers eg The Week's Good Cause), hardly anything in the 1930s (odd!), then some 1940s faves. Join! www.facebook.com/groups/bbcen...

Next podcast interview just recorded - with the wonderful Prof John Wyver, on early television, his book Magic Rays of Light, and his conference The Cultures of Early Television (see link; free to register). The podcast should be out later this week. www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-cultures...

The Cultures of Early Television - Illuminations

John Wyver writes: I’m delighted to unveil the schedule for the The Cultures of Early Television, a University of Westminster conference that I am convening on 2 and 3 July at Portland Hall in London....

illuminationsmedia.co.uk