FEATURE:
From Blackburn to London…
IN THIS PHOTO: Tony Blackburn at the BBC in 1967
Celebrating Fifty-Five Year of BBC Radio 1
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I wanted to mark an important anniversary…
IN THIS PHOTO: One of BBC Radio 1’s finest current broadcasters, Clara Amfo/PHOTO CREDIT: Harper’s Bazaar
that I hope the BBC will mark. Of course, on 18th October, the BBC turns one hundred. Before that, one of the BBC’s cornerstones turns fifty-five. I am referring to BBC Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4. They came to air on 30th September, 1967. What a wonderful period in history to air your first broadcast! The likes of The Beatles were releasing some of the world’s best music, and it was just after the first Summer of Love (that took place in Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco). It was a time of political unrest and protest. Many in the U.S. objecting to the war in Vietnam. In the U.K., things were a little less turbulent. Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne. Labour’s Harold Wilson was re-elected Prime Minister in 1966. That same year, England lifted the World Cup for the only time. It was a contrasting time, but one of the excitement in Britain. To launch these different radio stations on 30th September must have been hugely exciting! They have all grown through the years but, in terms of inception, BBC Radio 1 was the biggest talking point. In terms of rebranding and launching, this is what happened on 30th September, 1967:
· “BBC Radio 1 was launched as a pop music station, initially on a part-time basis.
· The BBC Light Programme (launched 29 July 1945) was renamed BBC Radio 2 and broadcast easy listening music, folk, jazz, light entertainment and sport.
· The evening BBC Third Programme (launched 29 September 1946) and daytime BBC Music Programme (launched 22 March 1965) were merged under the heading of BBC Radio 3, although the Third Programme kept its separate title until 3 April 1970.
· The BBC Home Service (launched 1 September 1939) became BBC Radio 4”.
Whilst it important to mark the name change and formation of four of the BBC’s radio stations (5 Live was founded in the 1990s; BBC Radio 6 Music in 2002), BBC Radio 1 was the one that started its life in 1967. It is interesting looking at a photo with the original line-up of presenters (“This is the original DJ's and Presenters of Radio 1 from the 30th September 1967 . First on the air with The Breakfast show Tony Blackburn top left next to Jimmy Young and Kenny Everett. A few others I recognize are middle row Terry Wogan. Bottom Row left to right Pete Murray, Ed Stewart . Middle Mike Raven and on the end John Peel. Directly above him, I think is Bob Holness”). On that morning of 30th September, 1967, Tony Blackburn broadcast the first BBC Radio 1 breakfast show from London. You can see a photo of Blackburn launching that show, and you can hear that broadcast below. Not knowing whether the station would continue into 1968 must have been quite strange. Fifty-five years later, and the station is still going strong! In terms of popularity, it is the third most-listened-to BBC station behind BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4. I wonder if Tony Blackburn and his colleagues think back to 30th September, 1967 and what was to come! A hugely interesting time in British cultural history, I can only imagine what the broadcaster and listeners alike were thinking! It is strangely emotional listening to Tony Blackburn deliver his opening link. Of course, he is still with the station and works at BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio London.
Given that a lot of focus will be on the BBC’s centenary next month, I wonder whether the BBC Radio networks, especially BBC Radio 1, will mark the fifty-fifth anniversary. Not only did this new station make its steps into the world., but the renaming of the stations is also crucial. That sense of unity and consistency. Each station has (and still does) have its own identity, but that has only increased in the years since. As music has diversified so much since 1967, it means that BBC Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4 have their own schedule and demographic. For BBC Radio 1, I think it broadly similar to 1967, in the sense they focus on the best Pop music of the day. Taking in EDM and other genres, it is a station primed more for a younger audience. In terms of groundbreakers, aside from that original line-up, I think Annie Nightingale really opened doors. She still works for the station amazingly, but she joined BBC Radio 1 in February 1970. Nightingale became the first ever female D.J. on BBC Radio 1 when she joined the station. A pioneer, I think that she is responsible for changes (although slow) happening on stations that were largely male-dominated. Now, I think some of the most important, interesting and talented voices on BBC Radio 1 are women. From Sian Eleri through to Arielle Free, Clara Amfo, Adele Roberts, Charlie Tee, and Nat O’Leary, this incredible talent, diversity and strength is, in part, because of Annie Nightingale! Of course, every broadcaster and producer at BBC Radio 1 is equal and special, but I wanted to nod to the incredible women at the station.
IN THIS PHOTO: Sian Eleri/PHOTO CREDIT: Insanity Group
Of course, BBC Radio 1 now has sister stations. IXtra (with great broadcasters like Nadia Jae) sits alongside Radio 1 Dance and Radio 1 Relax. The past few weeks have been very different for the stations due to the death of The Queen. Having to adopt a more respectful, relaxed and chilled soundtrack, things are starting to go back to normal. I have been listening to BBC Radio 1 since the 1990s, and I discovered so much great new music through broadcaster such as Annie Nightingale and Annie Mac (who now occasionally works at BBC Radio 6 Music). As part of the BBC marking its one hundredth anniversary, it has provided a timeline of BBC Radio 1. That 30th September first show has gone down in history:
“Tony Blackburn opened Radio 1 on 30 September 1967 at 7.00am, with Robin Scott, then Controller Radio 1, standing over him! The station set out with a blank sheet of paper to create a new style of radio, a 'DJ style', by that time heard only on the pirate radio stations, which had recently been forced to close”.
Blackburn played "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move as the first track. On air next was Leslie Crowther of Crackerjack fame, then a five minute quiz with Duncan Johnson. The next big music show of the morning was a lively mix of tracks with Keith Skues, who can still be heard on air, late night on local radio”.
Annie Nightingale was the first woman on the station in 1970. In 1984, The Ranking Miss P (a.k.a. Margaret Anderson) was the first Black female DJ on Radio 1. By 1995, Radio 1 was the first to go digital, launching on DAB that autumn. The 1990s, it seemed, marked the biggest shift for BBC Radio 1:
“Matthew Bannister Radio 1 Controller from 93-98, was famous for attracting a completely new audience to the station.
Bannister arrived with a remit to radically shake up Radio 1. The station had kept its loyal audience since the 1960s, but by 1993, the output was thought to sound old, tired and worn out. Bannister terminated the contracts of 8 of the longest serving DJ’s and banned any music recorded before 1990 from being played. New DJ’s were added, and the station started to attract a newer younger audience, but the shift to a new order was painful. The DJ’s in jokes were out, as the cool 90s progressed.
April 1995 was Chris Evan’s debut on Radio 1. Sitting in the Breakfast Show hot seat, he turned the programme upside down.
His early morning slot was packed with innuendo which for many critics went too far. He encouraged two female guests to perform a strip show live on the programme, and humiliated some of his team on air, two examples from a list of edgy items. After a tasteless joke about holocaust victim Anne Frank, a string of complaints followed. In January 1997 he asked for a four day week, sparing Fridays to work on his Channel 4 TV show. BBC management rejected this and he left the station”.
From the modern crop of brilliant broadcasters such as Greg James, Arielle Free, Sian Eleri, Vick and Jordan, Matt and Mollie, Sarah Story and beyond, there is such a diverse and hugely talented line-up on the station now. On 18th October, the BBC turns one hundred. I wanted to mark another big anniversary before then. One of its most popular radio stations started life fifty-five years ago on 30th September. Led by the legendary Tony Blackburn, BBC Radio 1 has grown through the years. I hope that something happens for their birthday – even if things have been muted as of late out of respect for The Queen. Still a go-to when it comes to incredible live performances, the hottest new artists and the best modern tracks around, there has been evolution. Offering a wider remit of music and a more diverse line-up of D.J.s – and, as I said, one where women are very much at the front -, I know that the station will make it to its one hundredth birthday. That is quite a scary thought! Now, it is a slick and huge station that has a big crew ensuring that the schedule runs smoothly. Back in 1967, things were not quite like that! On that morning of 30th September, 1967, Tony Blackburn ushered in a new era for the BBC. With such professionalism and passion – qualities that he exhibits, maintains, and augments to this very day -, the world said hello to BBC Radio 1. Despite some problems, the listening figures were huge. Launched to meet the demand for music generated by pirate radio stations, when the average age of the U.K. population was twenty-seven, it is fascinating to see how the empire has grown in terms of its demographic and mandate! A truly remarkable station that made its way into homes on 30th September, 1967, I wanted to wish the station…
A very happy fifty-fifth anniversary.