Noel’s House Party BBC1, 9 January 1999, 1905-1950 The Complaint Six viewers complained about the use of offensive language. The Broadcaster’s Statement The BBC said that the language used by an NTV contributor was unacceptable. However, they thought the presenter handled the instance of what can unfortunately occur in live television, seriously and tactfully by making clear to the contributor and viewers that such language was likely to cause offence. He asked for an apology and ensured appropriate language was used later in the programme. The BSC’s Finding A Standards Panel watched the programme and noted the broadcaster’s statement regarding the circumstances. It took the view that the use of the word ‘fuck’ in a programme aimed at a family audience was inappropriate. The complaints were upheld.

Meanwhile on Noel's House Party...

In Chelmsford - birthplace of radio - for An Evening of (Very) Old Radio tonight. Marconi himself is gladly pointing the way to the theatre…

BBC to cut almost one in 10 staff in £500m savings The BBC's interim director general says the cuts will require

Eek. That is a LOT of jobs.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa 100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archiv...

...And we're just getting started. Thanks for joining us if you have.

Available from all good/bad podcast platforms.

podfollow.com/bbcentury

104 - The Radio Times Begins (28 Sept 1923)
105 - 2BD Aberdeen (10 Oct 1923)
106 - 6BM Bournemouth (17 Oct 1923)
107 - On-Air Criticisms (Oct 1923)
110 - GK Chesterton + the First Radio Novel (Nov 1923)
114 - The First Armistice Broadcast (11 Nov 1923)
116 - The BBC’s First Birthday (14 Nov 1923)

94 - On-Air Symphonies (June 1923)
95 - The Wireless Manhunt (July 1923)
97 - Manc + Birm move studios (Aug 1923)
98 - Ireland’s 1st Radio Station (14 Aug 1923)
101 - The Sykes Report (Aug 1923)
102 - Simultaneous Broadcasting (29 Aug 1923)
103 - Rob Roy + Reith Reads the News (Sept 1923)
...

70 - The Press vs the BBC (March 1923)
82 - BBC at Marconi House (30 April 1923)
83 - The Launch of Savoy Hill (1 May 1923)
84 - Women’s Hour (2 May 1923)
88 - Boycotts + Bands (May 1923)
90 - The BBC’s First Full-Length Shakespeare (28 May 1923)
92 - The First Sports Broadcasts (Spring 1923)
...

54 - The First Welsh Broadcasts (13 Feb 1923)
55 - The First BBC Shakespeare (16 Feb 1923)
61 - The BBC’s Listings Ban (Feb 1923)
62 - Radio’s First Political Debate (22 Feb 1923)
63 - Glasgow 5SC Launches (6 Mar 1923)
64 - Farewell Magnet House (March 1923)
65 - News, Weather, SOS (March 1923)
...

42 - Drops Mic, Drops Callsign (Jan 1923)
43 - The First OB (8 Jan 1923)
45 - 2ZY Manchester/5IT Birmingham (Jan 1923)
46 - Leonard Crocombe (Jan 1923)
47 - The Closedown of 2MT Writtle (17 Jan 1923)
48 - In-car Radio, 5MG and 2BP (Jan 1923)
49 - Peter Eckersley becomes Chief Engineer (Jan 1923)
...

33 - The First Couple of the BBC (Dec 1922)
34 - Newcastle’s Christmas Launch (Dec 1922)
20 - The First BBC Christmas (24-26 Dec 1922)
35 - Reith Begins (29-30 Dec 1922)
36 - The First BBC NYE (31 Dec 1922)
40 - New Year 1923
41 - The BBC’s First Female Employee (2 Jan 1923)
...

Episode:
18 - The First BBC Broadcast (14 Nov 1922)
19 - Day 2 of the BBC (15 Nov 1922)
28 - The First BBC Entertainers (16 Nov 1922)
29 - The First Listings (Nov 1922)
30 - The First BBC Staff (Dec 1922)
31 - The Hunt for Premises (Dec 1922)
32 - The Licence Fee Problem (Dec 1922)
...

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa 100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archiv...

As of the latest British Broadcasting Century podcast (podfollow.com/bbcentury), we’ve FINALLY concluded our recap of the BBC’s first year, 14th Nov 1922-23.
It's taken 49 episodes (year 2 will be quicker).
So, here's every episode on Year 1 of the Beeb (some eps leapt ahead, hence number oddness):

NEW PODCAST EPISODE AHOY!
The BBC's First Birthday - 14 November 1923
Marconi's BBC debut, Peter Eckersley's gang show + the raucous retirement do of Marconi boss Godfrey Isaacs. Hear from some who were there.
Thanks if you share/rate/review/subscribe
Hear here:
bbcentury.podbean.com/e/116-the-bb...

An Evening Of (Very) Old Radio at Chelmsford Theatre British Comedy Award-winning writer (Miranda, Not Going Out), comedian & broadcast historian Paul Kerensa’s stand-up history show informs, entertains and...

Essex folks! This Thu 16 April join me at Chelmsford Theatre for An Evening of (Very) Old Radio - my stand-up history show on how the Beeb began.
Hear the BBC’s first song, first sports report, how the first radio dramatist became the first TV chef + more.
www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/events/an-ev...

An Evening Of (Very) Old Radio at Chelmsford Theatre British Comedy Award-winning writer (Miranda, Not Going Out), comedian & broadcast historian Paul Kerensa’s stand-up history show informs, entertains and...

#Essex people and #radio people! @paulkerensa.bsky.social is at Chelmsford Theatre this week with his highly entertaining talk about the early days of BBC radio. I’ll be lurking in the audience, occasionally muttering about Phyllis Twigg. Book here:

www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/events/an-ev...

VID: Marconi's BBC debut, Romany's Lost Half Hour, some failed Radio 4 pitches | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa Get more from The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa on Patreon

...and hear the full Marconi speech on my latest Patreon video (plus Romany of the BBC and my failed Radio 4 pitches)
£5/month, cancel whenever, all supports the podcast:
www.patreon.com/posts/vid-ma...

...read Marconi's full speech on this ol' Facebook group post (and do join the group if you're on Facebook):
www.facebook.com/groups/bbcen...

NEW PODCAST EPISODE AHOY!
The BBC's First Birthday - 14 November 1923
Marconi's BBC debut, Peter Eckersley's gang show + the raucous retirement do of Marconi boss Godfrey Isaacs. Hear from some who were there.
Thanks if you share/rate/review/subscribe
Hear here:
bbcentury.podbean.com/e/116-the-bb...

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa 100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archiv...

Psssst! New podcast episode landing later today, about the BBC’s first birthday on 14 November 1923.
Subscribe to get it when it appears:
podfollow.com/BBCentury

Latest Patreon video:
- Marconi's BBC debut (Nov 1923) - re-enacted for you
- Romany of the BBC
- My failed Radio 4 pitches
Thanks for supporting if you do/have/might! (£5/month, cancel whenever)
Early radio nerdery hereinunder...
patreon.com/posts/155370...

...Hear her tale on episode 23 of the podcast, and hear her voice on episode 100:
bbcentury.podbean.com/e/100-the-ce...

Gertrude Donisthorpe: UK's first woman on air in 1917

"A German Zeppelin on a night cruise picked up her message. It puzzled them greatly. They went to great lengths to de-code it, and eventually shrugged it off as one more incomprehensible English eccentricity."

(Yesterday's Witness, J Cameron)

The Future of British Broadcasting - in 1917, 1941 and 2026 Two founding fathers of the BBC predict the future... Can the new DG do the same?

Two BBC pioneers predicted the future of broadcasting, in 1917 and 1941 - from the Proms and ketchup ads to cable flatscreen TVs.
In my latest Substack, I ask how much they got right - and hope our next DG might be similarly gifted…
paulkerensa.substack.com/p/the-future...

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, The Birth of Television: A Forgotten History Samira Ahmed and guests discuss the forgotten history of the early days of television.

A reminder of tonight's Front Row about early television, on BBC Radio 4 at 19.15.
With me, curator Lisa Kerrigan; novelist Francis Spufford, and pioneer Joy Whitby.
Many thanks to @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social and producer Tim Bano for such an enjoyable experience.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

…The first text from 1917, the second from 1941. I think they were time travellers.
Read more and subscribe at paulkerensa.substack.com

The Future of British Broadcasting - in 1917, 1941 and 2026 Two founding fathers of the BBC predict the future... Can the new DG do the same?

Two BBC pioneers predicted the future of broadcasting, in 1917 and 1941 - from the Proms and ketchup ads to cable flatscreen TVs.
In my latest Substack, I ask how much they got right - and hope our next DG might be similarly gifted…
paulkerensa.substack.com/p/the-future...

This one is from 17 July 1934 (thanks BBC Programme Index)

Some pics of pics from the lobby of BBC Broadcasting House (the old part, obvs - the best part)

An Evening Of (Very) Old Radio at Chelmsford Theatre British Comedy Award-winning writer (Miranda, Not Going Out), comedian & broadcast historian Paul Kerensa’s stand-up history show informs, entertains and...

Essexy folks - Thu 16 April, mere metres from the Marconi statue. Do join us at Chelmsford Theatre.
BE THERE! I know I will be.
www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/events/an-ev...

Indeed! I find it both enticing (nice font, interesting layout) and baffling (1928 on the same line as 1932? The first TV OB + Big Ben are innovations, not notable broadcasts?)