1947 in British radio explained

This is a list of events from British radio in 1947.

Events

January

• 2 January – Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh, starring Kenneth Horne and Richard Murdoch, having started out as a recurring sketch in the wartime comedy-variety show Merry-Go-Round (from 31 March 1944), debuts on the BBC Light Programme, continuing in various formats until 1954.

February

• 21 February – Two issues of Radio Times are missed due to the winter 1946–47 fuel shortage greatly exacerbated by severe weather. (BBC television is suspended 10 February–11 March.)

March

• 28 February – The UK version of Twenty Questions is launched on BBC radio, originally presented by Stewart MacPherson with a panel comprising Richard Dimbleby, Jack Train, Anona Winn and Joy Adamson and with Norman Hackforth as the mystery voice.

April

• 9 April – How Does Your Garden Grow? debuts on BBC radio; as Gardeners' Question Time it will still be running more than 65 years later.^[1]

May to September

• No events.

October

• 6 October – Philip Odell, a fictional detective created by Lester Powell and played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty, is heard for the first time on BBC radio in Lady in a Fog.
• 24 October – Francis Poulenc's Sinfonietta receives its world premiere in a broadcast concert from London having been commissioned by the BBC for the first anniversary of their Third Programme.^[2]

November

• 18 November – The BBC links up with stations around the globe in the programme BBC Covers the World.
• 20 November – The Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth II), daughter of George VI marries The Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey, London.^[3] The service is broadcast on BBC radio.
• Gracie Fields hosts Our Gracie's Working Party on BBC radio; in the series, she visits twelve towns (beginning with her native Rochdale), compering and performing in a live show of music and entertainment, with local talents on the bill.

December

• No events.

Debuts

• 28 February – Twenty Questions (1947–1976)
• 9 April – How Does Your Garden Grow? (1947–Present)
• 2 November – Round Britain Quiz (1947–Present)
• PC 49 (1947–1953)

Programme endings

• 26 December – The Happidrome (1941–1947)

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)

Births

• 1 March – Mike Read, DJ
• 28 June – Gerry Northam, radio presenter
• 10 May – Laurie Macmillan, Scottish-born radio newsreader and continuity announcer (died 2001)
• 20 May – Greg Dyke, journalist and broadcaster, Director-General of the BBC
• 15 September – Mike Sweeney, DJ
• 5 November – Steve Hodson, actor
• 20 November – Marilyn Imrie, Scottish theatre and radio drama director and producer (died 2020)
• Alistair Beaton, Scottish-born satirist, scriptwriter and radio presenter
• Natalie Wheen, arts presenter
• Peter White, blind radio presenter

Deaths

• 11 March – Victor Hely-Hutchinson, composer and conductor, BBC Director of Music (born 1901)^[4]
• 24 July – Ernest Austin, composer, arranger and songwriter associated with the Proms (born 1874)^[5]

See also

• 1947 in British music
• 1947 in British television
• 1947 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1947

Notes and References

1. Web site: About The Programme. Gardeners' Question Time. BBC. 2011-03-30.
2. Web site: Morgan. Dan. Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) / Les biches / Les animaux modèles / Sinfonietta. musicweb-international.com. May 2018. 2020-09-26.
3. Book: Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006. 0-14-102715-0. .
4. Book: Hely-Hutchinson, Victor (26 Dec. 1901–11 March 1947), Director of Music, BBC, since 1944. Who's Who & Who Was Who. 2021-06-12. 2007. 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u226681. 978-0-19-954089-1.
5. Book: Norris, Gerald. A Musical Gazetteer of Great Britain & Ireland. David & Charles. Newton Abbot. 9780715378458. 1981. 131.