1978 in British radio

This is a list of events in British radio during 1978.

Events

January

• No events

February

• No events

March

• 8 March – The first episode of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – the radio series later to be turned into a book, a television programme, a game, and a film – is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

April

• 3 April –- Permanent radio broadcasts of proceedings in the House of Commons begin.^[1]
• 29 April – Noel Edmonds presents his final Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

May

• 2 May – Dave Lee Travis succeeds Noel Edmonds as presenter of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

June

• No events

July

• No events

August

• No events

September

• No events

October

• No events

November

• 12 November – Radio 1's Sunday teatime chart show is extended from a Top 20 countdown to a Top 40 countdown. Simon Bates is the presenter having taken over as host from Tom Browne earlier in the year.
• 17 November – The Friday Rock Show, presented by Tommy Vance, makes its debut on BBC Radio 1.^[2] Tommy remains the programme’s presenter until he moves to Virgin 1215 in April 1993.
• 23 November –
  • Radio 1's transmission wavelength is moved from 247m (1214 kHz) to 275 & 285m (1053 & 1089 kHz) as part of a plan for BBC AM broadcasting in order to improve national AM reception, and to conform with the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975.^[3] Other changes saw the 198kHz long wave frequency transferred from BBC Radio 2 to BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3 took over the 247m/1214kHz frequency.
  • The Radio 4 UK Theme is used for the first time.

December

• No events

Station debuts

• 13 October – BBC Radio Wales
• 23 November – BBC Radio Scotland

Births

• 28 April – Lauren Laverne, radio and television presenter

Deaths

• 15 January – Jack Jackson, 71, trumpeter, bandleader and disc jockey

See also

• 1978 in British music
• 1978 in British television
• 1978 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1978

References