2. History
The station was launched on September 30th 1967. The first show started at
5:30am.
In the early years, radio 2 played laid-back pop/rock, folk and jazz.
Notable broadcasters on Radio 2 in the 70s and 80s were Roy Moore, Terry
Wogan, David Hamilton and John Dunn.
Currently, the station’s audience is now mainly adults over the age of 35,
although the average age has been going down over the years.
3. 1967
By the late 60s, the Light Programme established after the war, was beginning to
show signs of age.
For young people in 1967 the old service was a turn off, BBC surveys of the time
proved that. It sounded stuffy so pop music moved to Radio 1. This opened up
opportunities for new formats on Radio 2, with greater potential for new music
genres of all types, provided they were still ‘light’.
The Sound of Music was a fitting start for the station, now devoted to light music.
In the early days much of the output was still shared with Radio 1, so there was a
curious mix of instrumental music up against the likes of Jimi Hendrix! Paul
Hollingdale was the first voice to be heard on the new station, complete with
American style ‘jingles’, news, requests, and the shipping forecast.
The easy going music and chat style was still new to British listeners, but it quickly
proved very popular.
4. 1969
A rambling house of bed sits and flats in Belsize Park was the setting, where
‘young things’ rubbed shoulders with more ‘sensible’ characters. The storylines
were laden with social issues and a permissive attitude to sex, but the approach
didn’t quite fit the mood of the cash strapped 1970s.
After a few years, the 4 strong writing team got it right, the press and public
loved it, but it fell victim to the huge cuts underway in the BBC in 1980, and Radio
2 never again broadcast a daily drama.
Putting sport on Radio 2 was a clever move by BBC management. It drew in a
young male audience that would never normally listen to the station.
5. 1972
Terry hosted breakfast on Radio 2 from 1972 until 1984 when he left for his own
TV show, returning to the early morning slot from 1993-2009. At its height in
2008, 8.1 million people were listening, beating Radio 1 in the ratings war. Terry
had already had a presenting career, beginning as an announcer on RTE in Ireland
and then freelancing for the BBC.
The 80s were Terry’s heyday as his early evening chat show on BBC 1 really took
off.
6. 1973
Jimmy Young acted as a bridge between the groovy sound of Radio 1 and the
more sedate output of Radio 2 as both stations shared frequencies in the early
years.
Known on-air as ‘JY’, he had been a crooner in the 1950s, and broadcast on Radio
Luxemburg before joining the BBC. The big political interview, which was to
become a regular feature of the show, often made the headlines. Labour
politician Roy Hattersley described his style as "courtesy with a cutting edge", and
so it was for 30 years
7. 1981
‘I wasn’t allowed to play anything loud or fast’, said Sheila recalling her first radio
show in 1963. That was soon to change.
Her 21 years spent as presenter on Radio 2’s Big Band Special won her most
acclaim, and in 2004 she returned to the show to play the trombone as part of the
BBC Big Band itself.
8. 1990 - 1996
Brian ‘Sounds of the Sixties’ Matthew tops the poll for being one of the longest
serving broadcasters in the UK.
Saturday mornings were never to be the same again when Steve Wright jumped
ship from Radio 1 and secured the top late morning slot on Radio 2.
Findings in a BBC review in the early 90s showed that 40 somethings felt
dispossessed, and no longer knew if they were Radio 1 or 2 listeners.
Since 1996 Steve has interviewed countless celebrities, played some of the
nation’s favourite tracks.
9. Music
Much of its playlist features adult contemporary or rock.
Weekday evenings feature specialist music, including jazz, folk, blues, country and
western, reggae, classic rock and show tunes.
Biographies and documentaries are also featured, this would fit into out
documentary.
