BBC Radio Wales
Encyclopedia
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC
's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language
. Operated by BBC Wales
, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" (previously the Welsh Home Service
) when BBC Radio 4
became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave. The current Editor for the station is Steve Austins.
and BBC Radio Wales were created as distinct stations on the former Radio 4
Scottish and Welsh medium wave opt-out frequencies of 810 and 882 kHz. They would be part time initially, broadcasting for only 20 hours per week, still relaying Radio 4 at other times, however the groundwork had been laid for the stations to become important, respected full-time services. In the case of Radio Wales, the station now broadcasts for 19 hours each weekday and 20 hours on Saturday & Sunday with a simulcast of the BBC World Service
following closedown every night.
BBC Radio Wales was preceded in the autumn of 1978 by a number of local 1 week experimental radio stations that included BBC Radio Wrexham
and Radio Rhondda
. The first editor of BBC Radio Wales was Teleri Bevan, a former BBC Radio 4 Wales producer. Anita Morgan presented a breakfast show called AM, but this soon gave way to a more modern show for the period presented by Chris Stuart. The main daily presenters for the first decade were Chris Stuart, Mike Flynn, Vincent Kane
, Noreen Bray and Alun Williams
.
By the mid 1980s, Roy Noble
was also a regular daily voice. Old Radio 4 type continuity studios were modified to become 'self operated' by the early 1980s. Outside broadcasts from different towns in Wales were also introduced with Mike Flynn and Alun Williams hosting a weekly three-hour Friday morning live programme. BBC Radio Wales also started to embrace publicity similar to that used by UK commercial radio. Part of this included sponsorship of a light aircraft (G-ARRP) flown by Mike Flynn. Other early presenters included Wyn Calvin, Maureen Staffer, Sylvia Horn, G.V.Wynne Jones (Geevers), Claire Vincent, Piet Brinton, Jackie Emlyn and HRH Princess Anne's
biographer Brian Hoey.
in Somerset
; as the BBC considered that because the Welsh language
network BBC Radio Cymru
was the only network using that language, it merited a higher quality of transmission. The only exception to the rule was the opt-out service Radio Gwent, which from 1983 broadcast on two FM frequencies and simulcast most of Radio Wales' output outside of breakfast. When the station closed in 1991, the frequencies continued to relay Radio Wales. Since 1999, Radio Wales has been expanding its FM
network, starting in areas like Cardiff
and Wrexham
where the Welsh language has the fewest speakers. Because of the power of the medium wave transmitter, BBC Radio Wales can also be heard outside the intended transmission area and is audible across Somerset and the Bristol
area, most parts of Devon
and northern Cornwall
, as well as in areas of south-western Ireland.
BBC Radio Wales is also broadcast on DAB Digital Radio
and Freeview across Wales, as well as across the UK and Europe on satellite.
, Jamie and Louise with Jamie Owen
and Louise Elliott
, Dewi Griffiths
' A String of Pearls on Sunday mornings, Roy Noble
's afternoon show, The Evening Show
(a show covering current rock/pop music and entertainment), Adam Walton
's Sunday night new music show, 'Celtic Heartbeat' with Frank Hennessy, and Chris Needs
' Friendly Garden which goes out every weeknight evening from 10pm, and 'Wales on the Menu
', where food critic Simon Wright tests the Welsh public's dishes in top London restaurants, before a panel of tasters decide whether it's good enough to put 'Wales on the Menu'.
and broadcast on Saturdays between 14.03 and 18.30 during the football and rugby season. The programme is also transmitted every Tuesday night from 19.03 to 21.00 and is again hosted by Steve James
, who took over the presenting role from Rob Phillips in early 2007. Sportstime is also aired on other days if there is other football happening throughout the week, usually on MW only.
Both programmes feature localised FM commentary of Cardiff City
in the south-east of Wales, Swansea City
in the south west and Wrexham
in the north of Wales with a rolling service of match updates and results on medium wave. The station's commentators are Ian Gwyn Hughes (also BBC Wales Football Editor), Ian Beddow, Rob Phillips and Simon Davies. The summarisers are former Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe
, former Wales and Norwich striker Iwan Roberts
, ex Wales and Crystal Palace striker Ian Walsh
, Malcolm Allen, the ex Wales and Newcastle centre forward, and Jason Perry, a former Cardiff City defender.
Following the closure of the Shotton Steelworks in February 1980, Radio Deeside was re-established on a more permanent basis as an opt-out service from Radio Wales. In October 1981 Radio Deeside had its transmission area extended, moved to studios in Mold (then later Wrexham) and was renamed BBC Radio Clwyd. It closed in October 1993.
BBC Radio Gwent, based in Cwmbran
, broadcast from 18 April 1983 until March 1991. Radio Gwent was available on FM, and since its closure has continued to relay the national Radio Wales service on the same FM frequencies to the Monmouthshire area.
Both of these stations operated at peak times only, and carried Radio Wales at other times.
The loss of Radio Clwyd and the subsequent local bulletins was resented by some listeners in north-east Wales, who felt that the main Radio Wales programming concentrated too much on Cardiff and the South Wales valleys. On 21 January 2003 their complaint was raised in the House of Commons
.
The growth of commercial local radio dedicated to a local audience meant these stations found it hard to compete. Radio Clwyd offered just a few hours a day against its competitor Marcher Sound which was broadcasting 24 hours a day with local accents. Following the closure of Radio Clwyd, local bulletins for north-east Wales continued until 2002, staff having moved from Mold to Wrexham
in the summer of 1998.
A tribute site is online with a new edition (2006) of the magazine programme "Roundabout", looking back at the history of Radio Clwyd.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Operated by BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" (previously the Welsh Home Service
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
) when BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave. The current Editor for the station is Steve Austins.
History
In November 1978, BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
and BBC Radio Wales were created as distinct stations on the former Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Scottish and Welsh medium wave opt-out frequencies of 810 and 882 kHz. They would be part time initially, broadcasting for only 20 hours per week, still relaying Radio 4 at other times, however the groundwork had been laid for the stations to become important, respected full-time services. In the case of Radio Wales, the station now broadcasts for 19 hours each weekday and 20 hours on Saturday & Sunday with a simulcast of the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
following closedown every night.
BBC Radio Wales was preceded in the autumn of 1978 by a number of local 1 week experimental radio stations that included BBC Radio Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and Radio Rhondda
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
. The first editor of BBC Radio Wales was Teleri Bevan, a former BBC Radio 4 Wales producer. Anita Morgan presented a breakfast show called AM, but this soon gave way to a more modern show for the period presented by Chris Stuart. The main daily presenters for the first decade were Chris Stuart, Mike Flynn, Vincent Kane
Vincent Kane
Vincent Kane, OBE, is a Welsh broadcaster and writer, and the Chairman of the Wales Quality Centre, the International Festival of Musical Theatre and the Cardiff Initiative....
, Noreen Bray and Alun Williams
Alun Williams
Alun Williams, O.B.E. was a Welsh radio presenter who became one of the best known voices on BBC radio when he commentated on events such as the Coronation in 1953 and sports events including rugby, swimming and the Olympic Games.-Biography:Williams' father was a presbyterian minister and he was...
.
By the mid 1980s, Roy Noble
Roy Noble
Roy Noble OBE, DL, O.St.J is a Welsh radio and television broadcaster.-Biography:Noble was born in Brynamman in the Amman Valley of Carmarthenshire, the only son of coal miner Ivor Noble and his wife Sadie...
was also a regular daily voice. Old Radio 4 type continuity studios were modified to become 'self operated' by the early 1980s. Outside broadcasts from different towns in Wales were also introduced with Mike Flynn and Alun Williams hosting a weekly three-hour Friday morning live programme. BBC Radio Wales also started to embrace publicity similar to that used by UK commercial radio. Part of this included sponsorship of a light aircraft (G-ARRP) flown by Mike Flynn. Other early presenters included Wyn Calvin, Maureen Staffer, Sylvia Horn, G.V.Wynne Jones (Geevers), Claire Vincent, Piet Brinton, Jackie Emlyn and HRH Princess Anne's
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
biographer Brian Hoey.
Transmission
For many years Radio Wales was broadcast only on medium wave using a 750,000 watt transmitter broadcasting on 882 kHz from WashfordWashford
Washford is a small village on the Washford River in the English county of Somerset. It is within the civil parish of Old Cleeve and is best known as the site of Cleeve Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in England...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
; as the BBC considered that because the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
network BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is BBC Cymru's Welsh-language radio station, broadcasting throughout Wales from studios in Cardiff, Bangor, and Aberystwyth on FM since 1977. At the time of its launch it was one of the few FM-only radio services in the UK...
was the only network using that language, it merited a higher quality of transmission. The only exception to the rule was the opt-out service Radio Gwent, which from 1983 broadcast on two FM frequencies and simulcast most of Radio Wales' output outside of breakfast. When the station closed in 1991, the frequencies continued to relay Radio Wales. Since 1999, Radio Wales has been expanding its FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
network, starting in areas like Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
where the Welsh language has the fewest speakers. Because of the power of the medium wave transmitter, BBC Radio Wales can also be heard outside the intended transmission area and is audible across Somerset and the Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
area, most parts of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and northern Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, as well as in areas of south-western Ireland.
BBC Radio Wales is also broadcast on DAB Digital Radio
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
and Freeview across Wales, as well as across the UK and Europe on satellite.
Programmes
Current programmes include the flagship breakfast and drivetime news programmes Good Morning Wales & Good Evening Wales, All Things ConsideredAll Things Considered (BBC radio show)
All Things Considered is a British radio programme produced by BBC Radio Wales, which addresses topics concerning religion, morality and spirituality...
, Jamie and Louise with Jamie Owen
Jamie Owen
Jamie Owen is a Welsh radio and television presenter best known for presenting Wales Today.-Background:Owen was born in Withybush Hospital Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. His father was a Pembroke Dock Solicitor, James Meyrick Owen and his mother was a health visitor and midwife. Jamie also had two...
and Louise Elliott
Louise Elliott
Louise Elliott is a Welsh radio and television presenter and reporter, currently co-host of the BBC Radio Wales morning talkshow Jamie and Louise.-Biography:...
, Dewi Griffiths
Dewi Griffiths
Dewi Griffiths is a Welsh former television producer and current BBC Radio host. Griffiths joined BBC Wales from the Royal Air Force where he became a producer of TV sports programmes, notably Rugby union broadcasts. After retirement he hosted the nostalgia record programme 'A String of Pearls' on...
' A String of Pearls on Sunday mornings, Roy Noble
Roy Noble
Roy Noble OBE, DL, O.St.J is a Welsh radio and television broadcaster.-Biography:Noble was born in Brynamman in the Amman Valley of Carmarthenshire, the only son of coal miner Ivor Noble and his wife Sadie...
's afternoon show, The Evening Show
The Evening Show
The Evening Show is an evening news and current affairs program based in Seoul, South Korea that airs weeknights from 6:10 to 8:00 pm on Seoul Traffic Broadcasting's English-language outlet, TBS eFM...
(a show covering current rock/pop music and entertainment), Adam Walton
Adam Walton
Adam Walton is an alternative DJ for BBC Radio Wales. He was brought up in Nannerch, near Mold, North Wales....
's Sunday night new music show, 'Celtic Heartbeat' with Frank Hennessy, and Chris Needs
Chris Needs
Christopher Needs MBE is a radio broadcaster, currently working with BBC Radio Wales. He has been broadcasting for several years, and started his radio career with the Touch AM radio station before moving on to co-present the mid-morning magazine show Live Time on Radio Wales while also appearing...
' Friendly Garden which goes out every weeknight evening from 10pm, and 'Wales on the Menu
Wales on the Menu
Wales on the Menu is a BBC Radio Wales series where restaurateur, writer and food critic Simon Wright challenges home cooks of Wales to get their dishes on the menu of top restaurants across the UK...
', where food critic Simon Wright tests the Welsh public's dishes in top London restaurants, before a panel of tasters decide whether it's good enough to put 'Wales on the Menu'.
Sports coverage
Radio Wales's sports coverage includes Sportstime, presented by Steve JamesSteve James
Steve James may refer to:* Steve James , American actor* Steve James , Welsh contemporary Christian musician* Steve James , English cricketer and journalist* Steve James , English football player...
and broadcast on Saturdays between 14.03 and 18.30 during the football and rugby season. The programme is also transmitted every Tuesday night from 19.03 to 21.00 and is again hosted by Steve James
Steve James
Steve James may refer to:* Steve James , American actor* Steve James , Welsh contemporary Christian musician* Steve James , English cricketer and journalist* Steve James , English football player...
, who took over the presenting role from Rob Phillips in early 2007. Sportstime is also aired on other days if there is other football happening throughout the week, usually on MW only.
Both programmes feature localised FM commentary of Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in the south-east of Wales, Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in the south west and Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in the north of Wales with a rolling service of match updates and results on medium wave. The station's commentators are Ian Gwyn Hughes (also BBC Wales Football Editor), Ian Beddow, Rob Phillips and Simon Davies. The summarisers are former Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe
Kevin Ratcliffe
Kevin Ratcliffe is a former Welsh footballer who spent most of his career playing for Everton. He was born in Mancot, near Queensferry in North Wales.-Club career:...
, former Wales and Norwich striker Iwan Roberts
Iwan Roberts
Iwan Wyn Roberts is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker for a number of English league clubs. The most notable period of his club career was with Norwich City...
, ex Wales and Crystal Palace striker Ian Walsh
Ian Walsh (footballer)
Ian Patrick Walsh is a former Wales international footballer.-Club career:Walsh began his career at Crystal Palace, winning the FA Youth Cup in 1977, before forcing his way into the first team, making his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Chester City on 4 September 1976 at the age of 18, where he was a...
, Malcolm Allen, the ex Wales and Newcastle centre forward, and Jason Perry, a former Cardiff City defender.
Radio Gwent and Radio Clwyd opt-outs
In 1978, a series of week-long experimental community stations were broadcast prior to the launch of BBC Radio Wales, using an RTE OB transmitter; the stations were BBC Radio Deeside, BBC Radio Merthyr, BBC Radio Rhondda and BBC Radio Wrexham.Following the closure of the Shotton Steelworks in February 1980, Radio Deeside was re-established on a more permanent basis as an opt-out service from Radio Wales. In October 1981 Radio Deeside had its transmission area extended, moved to studios in Mold (then later Wrexham) and was renamed BBC Radio Clwyd. It closed in October 1993.
BBC Radio Gwent, based in Cwmbran
Cwmbran
Cwmbrân is a new town in Wales. Today forming part of the county borough of Torfaen and lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbrân was established in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Cwmbrân means Crow...
, broadcast from 18 April 1983 until March 1991. Radio Gwent was available on FM, and since its closure has continued to relay the national Radio Wales service on the same FM frequencies to the Monmouthshire area.
Both of these stations operated at peak times only, and carried Radio Wales at other times.
The loss of Radio Clwyd and the subsequent local bulletins was resented by some listeners in north-east Wales, who felt that the main Radio Wales programming concentrated too much on Cardiff and the South Wales valleys. On 21 January 2003 their complaint was raised in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
The growth of commercial local radio dedicated to a local audience meant these stations found it hard to compete. Radio Clwyd offered just a few hours a day against its competitor Marcher Sound which was broadcasting 24 hours a day with local accents. Following the closure of Radio Clwyd, local bulletins for north-east Wales continued until 2002, staff having moved from Mold to Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
in the summer of 1998.
A tribute site is online with a new edition (2006) of the magazine programme "Roundabout", looking back at the history of Radio Clwyd.