1950 in British radio explained

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)
• 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

See also

• 1950 in British music
• 1950 in British television
• 1950 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1950

Notes and References

1. Book: Kynaston, David. David Kynaston

   . David Kynaston. Austerity Britain 1945–1951. London. Bloomsbury. 2007. 978-0-7475-7985-4.

2. Book: Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 0-14-102715-0. 2006.
3. Book: The Nigel Rees Book of Slogans & Catchphrases. London. Unwin. 0-04-827108-X. 1984. 91.