Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Music by Decade»1960s Music
    1960s Music 1970s Music 1980s Music Radio 9 Mins Read

    Radio 1

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Radio 1, the BBC’s pop music station, began broadcasting on 31 August 1967, with Tony Blackburn spinning Flowers In The Rain by The Move.

    The new station was designed to replace the various pirate radio stations that had transmitted from waters off the UK since 1964. The pirates had recently been closed down when the legal loophole which allowed them to operate was closed with the introduction of the Marine Offences Act on August 15.

    Weekdays on Radio 1 began with Tony Blackburn, who broadcast for 90 minutes between 7.00 and 8.30 am and was also heard on Saturdays for a few months. Then Radio 1 united with Radio 2 for Family Choice (successor to the immortal Housewives Choice, which had begun in 1946 and was re-named for the new-style radio service).

    It had a different compere each week, and mingling with established favourites like Rolf Harris, David Jacobs and Val Doonican were a sprinkling of the BBC’s latest signings – Stuart Henry, Simon Dee and Keith Skues.

    After the competition ‘Crack The Clue’ at 9.55 came Jimmy Young, who was also heard on Radio 2.

    radio1deejays

    Jimmy’s show was followed by Midday Spin (also shared by Radio 2) with a different DJ each day – the original five being ex-Radio Caroline DJ Simon Dee (Monday); Duncan Johnson (Tuesday) – a recruit from Radio London who also presented the first ‘Crack The Clue’ competition; Kenny Everett (Wednesday) – another ex-Radio London DJ; David Rider (Thursday) – a BBC Studio Manager who had previously broadcast in the European Service, and Stuart Henry (Friday), the sole representative from the Radio Scotland ship.

    At 1.00 pm, the network continued the old Light Programme pattern with four programmes featuring big bands and one other live programme. On Monday, Dave Cash introduced Monday Monday with the Ray McVay Sound; on Tuesday, Keith Fordyce welcomed listeners to Pop Inn, in which stars with current hits and new releases were interviewed; Wednesday brought Parade of the Pops, the long-running show with Bob Miller and his Millermen introduced by Denny Piercy; Thursday saw radio switching to Manchester for the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra’s show Pop North, presented originally by Ray Moore and later by Dave Lee Travis; and it was back to London on Friday for The Joe Loss Show which was linked in turn by Tony Hall, David Hamilton and staff announcer Roger Moffat.

    Between 1.55 and 2.00 pm, there was a repeat of ‘Crack The Clue’ followed by Pete Brady, another converted pirate. After Pete’s 2½ hour slog was finished, What’s New took to the air. A rota of DJs reviewed current albums and singles for at least one very good reason: record reviews were not counted as part of the BBC’s needle time allocation.

    After the 5.30 pm news bulletin, David Symonds wrapped up the afternoon and opened up the evening for two hours. David was another “inside” man who had been a staff announcer and had also hosted a souped-up Easy Beat on Sunday mornings.

    In the first three months, there was little change in this pattern. ‘Crack The Clue’ was succeeded by ‘Starwords’; Duncan Johnson (who had come to Britain from Canada) lost  Midday Spin after eight weeks  (“Disc Jockey Duncan too old at 29” said the Daily Mail) and was replaced by Tony Brandon.

    The pattern of weekend programming was different from the weekday schedule. Saturdays on Radio 1 originally began with 1½ hours of Tony Blackburn, after which came Junior Choice (which had been called Children’s Favourites until then), and this was initially presented by Leslie Crowther.

    After the answers to the daily competition at 9.55, there were two hours Of Saturday Club with Keith Skues. This venerable programme had begun in 1958 and was the province, until the advent of Radio 1, of Brian Matthew. The show was developed from an earlier venture, Saturday Skiffle Club, which was begun at a time when washboard rhythms ruled.

    For many years, Saturday Club was regarded as a prime showcase for new and established artists, but when Radio 1 started, there were so many shows of a similar nature that its special aura was devalued, and, perhaps inevitably, its days were numbered.

    Noon on Saturdays saw the start of what was undoubtedly the most earth-shattering programme of the week. Never before had the BBC had the temerity to transmit anything quite so extraordinary as the show recorded in Paris by Emperor Rosko.

    Although he appeared to speak English, there were moments when one wondered as he battered his way into the fans’ minds with his unique rhyming style and apparent total unity with the music he was playing.

    In contrast, he was followed at 1 o’clock by another established favourite from the Light Programme – Jack Jackson. With his skillfully edited clips from comedy albums which were used and reused to suit all manner of strange situations, Jackson had developed a distinctive and very popular programme although the music content leaned towards ‘easy listening’.

    Chris Denning was in charge of Where It’s At for the next hour, and at 3.00 pm, there was a further needle time saving exercise with Pick Of What’s New, presented at various times by Pete Murray, Dave Cash, Ed Stewart, Chris Denning, Don Moss, Johnny Moran, Keith Skues, Rick Dane, Jonathan King, Dave Lee Travis and David Symonds.

    Pete Brady then assaulted the airwaves for hours, calling his listeners ‘cousins’, presumably in case any of them actually were.

    An hour of more specialised entertainment came next, Country Meets Folk with Wally Whyton at the microphone, and this was, in turn, succeeded by Scene and Heard, a weekly magazine programme introduced by Johnny Moran.

    Saturday’s programming concluded with two Radio 2-orientated products – Pete’s People, with the long-running Pete Murray, and a further session of Night Ride. There was only one important change in the Saturday order of things in the first three months of the network when Pete Brady was given a 2.00 to 4.00 pm slot, and Pick of What’s New was retimed to fill his original 4.00 to 5.30 pm space, these changes being occasioned by Chris Denning’s move to take over Wednesday’s Midday Spin from Kenny Everett.

    Sunday programming was always relatively simple. The network’s second day of broadcasting fell on a Sunday and started at 9.00 am with Junior Choice (although Radio 2 also broadcast the show, it was officially classified as a Radio 1 programme).

    The two hours from 10.00 am were occupied by Ed Stewart, newly arrived from Radio London, with a Saturday Club-type mix of discs and BBC recordings entitled Happening Sunday.

    Between noon and 2.00 pm, Radio 1 joined Radio 2 for Family Favourites and then went very much its own way for Top Gear. In 1964, in the hands of producer Bernie Andrews and DJ Brian Matthew, this had been a trendsetting show, broadcast on Thursday evenings between I0.00  pm and midnight.

    Amid vociferous protests from listeners, it was dropped after six months, promptly voted Top Radio Show in a poll and was, somewhat reluctantly, reinstated as a one-hour show on Saturday afternoons for a further six months.

    Now the title was revived for three hours of less commercial music of the kind which became known as heavy or progressive. For the first five weeks, Pete Drummond was the principal DJ, and the duties were shared in turn by John Peel, Mike Ahern, Tommy Vance, Rick Dane and John Peel again. Mike Ahern holds the unenviable record of being the DJ with the shortest career on Radio 1 – just one programme, Top Gear on 8 October.

    Brought in from Radio Caroline, he later emigrated to the Antipodes and began broadcasting upside down. After these permutations had been effected, John Peel and Tommy Vance became the two regular comperes for a few weeks.

    Between 5.00 and 7.00 pm, another well-established show continued – Pick Of The Pops with Alan Freeman (who used to broadcast upside down but was now the right way up).

    Another newcomer to the network came on at 7.00 pm for half an hour – Mike Raven, who specialised in rhythm and blues and soul music.

    The remainder of the programmes for Sundays were, as in the case of Saturdays, somewhat inclined towards Radio 2. The only significant change to the Sunday schedule during 1967 was on 17 December when Kenny Everett moved from Wednesday’s Midday Spin and replaced Ed Stewart between I0.00 am and noon.

    1968 brought a significant event in the station’s history when on 2 June, Savile’s Travels brought the extraordinary Jimmy Savile to Radio 1. Savile was immensely popular throughout his radio and subsequent TV career – but a year after his death in 2011, multiple claims of sexual abuse came to light, highlighting what a predatory monster he had been in life.

    Over the coming years, other Radio 1 DJs included “Tatty” Tom Edwards, Tom Lodge, Alan Black, Mark Roman, Alan “Fluff” Freeman, John Peel, Terry Wogan, Guy Blackmore, Anne Nightingale, Richard Park, Nicky Horne, Dave Eager, Paul Burnett, Bob Baker, Phil Jay, Dave Eastwood, Peter York, Paul Gambaccini, Kid Jensen, Tom Browne, Gary Taylor, Bob Harris, Mike Lennox, Chris Grant and Simon Bates.

    Kenny Everett was famously dismissed from Radio 1 in 1970 after making what now seems a relatively innocuous joke following a news bulletin. He was replaced on his Saturday morning show by an up-and-coming young DJ named Noel Edmonds. In 1973 Noel would replace Tony Blackburn on the breakfast show.

    Kenny returned to Radio 1 for a series of recorded shows and would also be heard on Radio 2 in the early 80s.

    Following its 15th birthday in 1982, Radio 1 finally severed its last remaining links with Radio 2 and broadcast its own output for 18 hours a day, every day. In October 1984, Janice Long – elder sister of Swap Shop‘s Keith Chegwin – became the first female presenter of a weekday show, taking over the evening slot from David Jensen.

    Related Posts

    • 2JJ (Double Jay) Radio
      2JJ (Double Jay) Radio
      In late 1974, Gough Whitlam’s Australian Labor government allocated a new AM radio license to the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)…
    • Lords, The
      Lords, The
      German band The Lords formed in 1959 as a Berlin skiffle band. When the British Invasion hit in 1964, they…
    • Peter Allen
      Peter Allen
      Born Peter Woolnough in Tenterfield, NSW, Australia in 1942, vocalist/pianist Peter Allen began his musical career at the age of…
    • Terry Wogan
      Terry Wogan
      A one-time bank clerk, Wogan joined the BBC in the 1960s and was one of Radio 1's original team of…
    • Montanas, The
      Montanas, The
      Formed in Wolverhampton (England) in 1964, The Montanas never found significant success in their home country but had one moderate…
    • Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers
      Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers
      Originally based in East Anglia (they formed at a Norwich college), The Jaywalkers pre-dated the British Beat Boom but scored…
    • Screaming Lord Sutch
      Screaming Lord Sutch
      David Edward Sutch (formerly a plumber's mate from Harrow) based his act on Screaming Jay Hawkins and presented his musical horror show…
    • Radio Caroline
      Radio Caroline
      The first British pirate radio station, Radio Caroline, was founded by Ronan O'Rahilly in 1964 - he chose the name of…

    Radio
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleMickey Jupp
    Next Article Radio Flyer Wagon

    Comments are closed.

    Can you help?
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.


    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Brian Keith Show, The (The Little People)
      1 9 7 2 – 1 9 7 3 (USA) 48 x 30 minute episodes Originally […]
    • Dr Pepper
      Like many soft drinks, this fizzy cough medicine flavoured muck […]
    • Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
      Director Robert Longo’s turgid sci-fi thriller is based on […]
    • Doctor at the Top
      1 9 9 1 (UK) 7 x 30 minute episodes In this return to the […]
    • Barlow At Large/Barlow
      1 9 7 1 – 1 9 7 5 (UK) The third part of the Charlie […]
    • Foxes (1980)
      Ex-TV commercial director Adrian (Flashdance, 9½ Weeks) Lyne […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    Sad news. We wish her well 🤗

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dame Esther Rantzen says her lung cancer is in stage four

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV presenter and Childline founder says she is on a new form of medication for the disease.
    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 3

    Comment on Facebook

    Oh no 😢 in my prayers Esther xxx

    Didn’t she want to put the unvaccinated into camps during lockdown…

    That’s not cool 😞

    Another great voice has left us 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Tina Turner: Music legend dies at 83

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Her unmistakable voice on hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar.
    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    I found out on tiktok before I saw it on any news channels..

    Terrible, terrible news. Taken far too young. Vale Andy Rourke!

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Andy Rourke: The Smiths bassist dies aged 59

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed Rourke died after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_xELTfEds

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65576903 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Beatles: Rare first edition White Album given to charity

    www.bbc.co.uk

    A 1968 White Album, complete with original inserts, is given to a Sutton Coldfield charity shop
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I recently fulfilled the dream of over 40 years and saw The Zombies perform live (They were amazing!). Their current bass player is a chap called Søren Koch, and this is his regular band - The Beatophonics. If you love 60s Beat music, do yourself a favour and have a listen. They are truly superb. open.spotify.com/artist/5W05FY5rERtVTBippPjold?si=nU5zM8gJSXONAGCWOUrTnA

    variety.com/2023/film/news/beetlejuice-2-release-date-theaters-1235607767/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ Starring Michael Keaton and Jenna Ortega, to Hit Theaters in 2024

    variety.com

    Whether or not you say his name three times, Beetlejuice is returning to movie theaters next year. Warner Bros. has announced that “Beetlejuice 2” will be released on the big …
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-65470238 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Why The Wicker Man has divided opinion for 50 years

    www.bbc.co.uk

    It has been described as the Citizen Kane of horror movies - and one of the worst films ever made.
    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    RIP Harry Belafonte 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Harry Belafonte: Singer and civil rights activist dies aged 96

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The King of Calypso, who became a major voice in America's civil rights movement, died at home.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bfi.org.uk/features/railway-children-yorkshire-locations ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Railway Children: in search of the Yorkshire locations, 50 years on

    www.bfi.org.uk

    Does the chocolate-box Yorkshire depicted in The Railway Children still exist? More than half a century since its release, we went looking for the locations.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 9
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Farewell Possum :(

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Barry Humphries: Dame Edna Everage comedian dies at 89

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Australian was known for comic creations such as Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 4
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    RIP Mary Quant - the originator of the mini skirt and a key figure in the rise of “Swinging London“. 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65265531

    RIP Mary Quant - the originator of the mini skirt and a key figure in the rise of “Swinging London“.
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65265531
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 months ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 16
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Canada Cold War Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Kraütrock Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music Video games
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.