UK

Radio indie Whistledown has won the first Radio Times “Trust in Audio” Award for the BBC Radio 4 series The Great Post Office Trial.
They were up against Just One Thing with Michael Mosley (BBC Radio 4/Sounds), More or Less (BBC Radio 4/Sounds), The Rest Is History (Goalhanger Podcasts) and Why Do You Hate Me? with Marianna Spring (BBC Sounds).
The documentary series, presented by journalist Nick Wallis, was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2020, and has followed the scandal of the Post Office’s faulty Horizon IT system, and the impact it has had on the lives of hundreds of people running their own post offices.
Whistledown’s Managing Director David Prest said: “Back in 2020, no-one else seemed to be giving airtime to the Post Office story. Presenter Nick Wallis and producer Bob Nicholson were dogged in getting to the truth around the scandal and it has been a privilege to report on what so many wronged sub-postmasters and mistresses went through.”
The judges described the series as “beautifully made and paced, the way the story is told is compelling. As a listener you trust Nick Wallis to get to the bottom of the story, in the same way that you trust him with the lives of the people whose stories he is telling.”
This latest award comes just a few weeks after Whistledown won Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards for the audio porn investigation, “Press Play Turn On” made for Audible U.K.
This year’s winners were announced in a special ceremony on Tuesday evening (5th November) at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in London, hosted by author and journalist Mariella Frostrup.
Photo by Rob Parfitt

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

The family of June Spencer has announced the BBC Radio 4 actor has died peacefully at the age of 105.
Better known as the character Peggy Woolley, formerly Archer, June was part of the radio soap from when it launched in 1951 till her retirement in 2022.
Mohit Bakaya, Controller of Radio 4 paid tribute: “June Spencer has been a longstanding presence and companion for Radio 4 listeners during her exceptional run on The Archers. Many have grown up with June as Peggy and listened as she journeyed through life’s many chapters, with all of its ups and downs.”
“In her later years, her portrayal of a devoted wife caring for a husband with Dementia, including their very moving final goodbye, was deeply poignant and powerful radio.
“We send all our love and condolences to June’s family and the many people whose lives she touched.”
Jeremy Howe, Editor of The Archers said: “Working with June was like working with a legend, and has been one of the great privileges of my time at the BBC. Here was this person, immaculately dressed and sitting bolt upright in the Green Room at BBC Birmingham, script at the ready, all meticulously marked up with little pencil squiggles and dashes like musical notation, who had been in the first ever episode of the Archers back in 1951.
“June Spencer wasn’t just a brilliant Peggy Woolley, the ultimate matriarch of Ambridge, but a brilliant actress. I only ever worked with her in radio, but her technique, her precision, her delivery were flawless.”
“One of the cast once remarked that in all her time in the show he had only ever heard her fluff her lines the once. She was an actress who revelled in her craft, someone who could score a bullseye with a gently insulting cough as if it were a bon mot from Oscar Wilde.
“She was also a great company member – funny, sharp, warm, never gossipy, but with wonderful stories of the early days of radio drama, self deprecating and a great companion.
“The two things I would never commit to with June were being driven by her at the age of one hundred and one or taking her on at Scrabble. She was a Scrabble demon.
“June’s Peggy Woolley was and always will be the Queen of Ambridge, and with her death The Archers has lost its link with the birth of the show over seventy years ago. It is a humbling moment for us all.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball has sold out within hours of tickets going on sale exclusively via Global Player.

The Global station revealed live on air this afternoon that all the paid-for tickets have gone.
Artists playing at the gig include Coldplay, Katy Perry, Teddy Swims, Perrie, Clean Bandit, Ella Henderson, Tom Grennan, Sigala, Becky Hill, KSI, Joel Corry, Kygo and Sonny Fodera over two nights.
Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard is taking place on Saturday December 7th & Sunday December 8th at London’s O2 Arena.
Organisers are urging fans not to purchase anything which they believe to be a ticket on an unauthorised resale site as this will not be valid for entry.
The show will also be streamed live for fans on Global Player.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Rewind Radio presenter Richard Woods has completed a 48-hour broadcast marathon raising money for three local charities.

Originally set with a fundraising target of £15,000, the Radiothon raised almost £26,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and listeners.
Reflecting on the experience, Richard Woods said: “One word can be used to describe this event – Overwhelming. I’ve been through every emotion, and days later, it still hasn’t sunk in.
“The support of my wife, children, and family, the entire team at Cornwall’s Rewind Radio, Shane Solomon from Corker Media who streamed the event, every business who sponsored the event or donated to the auction and raffle, and listeners who supported us is something I can never thank enough.”
Explaining his motivation for the 48-hour challenge, Richard added, “When your friend prays for cancer as he awaits test results for Huntington’s – knowing deep down he already had the disease – you realise just how vital support is needed.
“Cornwall doesn’t yet have a centre for HD sufferers, and we’re raising funds to change that. We’re also thrilled to support Cornwall Hospice Care and Penhaligon’s Friends, who provide crucial resources for our community.”
Jack Murley, Programme Controller for Cornwall’s Rewind Radio, praised Richard’s dedication, saying, “In all my years in radio, I couldn’t have delivered 48 hours with the same energy and passion Richard did. His drive is a testament to his commitment to helping others.”
The JustGiving link remains open for donations for those who still wish to contribute.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

A 10-year-old school pupil has been working with the team at Erewash Sound as part of a communication project.
Olivia Buck was tasked with coming up with a project where she has to communicate information to a group of people.
The project offers a number of challenges that she has to achieve during the academic year. One is to demonstrate taking the lead in communicating information to an audience.
Mum Sarah said she immediately thought of Erewash Sound and saw getting Olivia on-air to broadcast a weather bulletin as a way of not just reaching a few people, such as might be the case in front of her family, her class or even the entire school, but instead, reaching thousands of people.
Sarah approached radio station news editor Ian Perry who said: “I think getting Olivia on air to read the weather forecast would be a great idea and might just impress her fellow pupils alongside what they might be doing, as well as her teachers.”
Mum Sarah said: “Liv is a budding actor and artist and loves everything creative. So the chance to appear on the radio is right up her street.
“Her reaction was that she couldn’t believe that she was going to get the chance to be on the radio and was totally delighted. She has been telling everybody she knows about it.”
To provide some context to the day-time appearance, Olivia will announce who she is, and that she is reading the weather as part of the school project before delivering the local forecast for the area.
When Ian agreed with Sarah’s great idea, she said: “This would be wonderful – thank you!” and as Liv hoped to deliver an Oscar-winning performance, sent in a photo of her in front of some giant Oscar statues adding: “I’m sure that she’d like to be holding a real Oscar one day!”
Ian added: “Erewash Sound is a truly local radio station run by and featuring local people and local voices, and prides itself on the community playing a part in our output, so what better way to demonstrate this than by getting Liv to guest-present a feature within our programme schedule for a short time? We can’t wait to hear her take to the airwaves!.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Radio 1 Anthems has launched this morning and will be simulcasting with BBC Radio 1 from 9am till 12.45pm to showcase the new service.

The new 24/7 stream features a line-up that combines current Radio 1 voices with fresh new talent who have emerged from the Student Radio Association.
Joining Radio 1 Anthems are exciting new hosts Chrissy Cameron, Lauren Redfern and Tyler Selby, all of whom have made their mark through the SRA’s network.
Chrissy and Tyler are both recent graduates and Lauren is still a university student.
Chrissy Cameron says: “I’m beyond excited to be presenting a show as part of the Radio 1 Anthems stream. My 10 year old self is screaming right now and I can’t wait to fill your ears with some pure nostalgia!”
Lauren Redfern says: “It feels so surreal to be joining the Radio 1 team as a new presenter for the launch of Radio 1 Anthems. It’s an amazing opportunity, having come straight from student radio. But I’m even more excited to be playing all the best bangers from the years I grew up…because there’s so many good ones! It’s an absolute dream come true.”
Tyler Selby says: “Playing the songs that I discovered through Radio 1 in my childhood on Radio 1 Anthems is surreal! I can’t wait to get started and to feel as nostalgic as humanly possible with the listeners.”
They will join familiar Radio 1 names, Greg James, Charlie Hedges, Dean McCullough, Nat O’Leary, Vicky Hawkesworth, Maia Beth, Sam McGregor, Danni Diston and Jess Iszatt. Together, they will bring listeners a vast range of content including existing on-demand content available on BBC Sounds such as Radio 1’s Workout Anthems, Radio 1’s Chillout Anthems and Radio 1’s Pop Anthems as well as brand-new shows.
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “Radio 1 Anthems will provide a nostalgic hit for our young listeners bringing them the biggest hits they know and love and reminding them of tracks they may have forgotten from recent history, celebrating the soundtrack of a generation.
“The stream also gives us the opportunity to open our doors to new student presenters who are at the start of their careers, reaffirming Radio 1’s essential role in discovering and nurturing fresh talent for the BBC and the rest of the industry.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]