BBC Radio Wiltshire
Encyclopedia
BBC Wiltshire is the BBC Local Radio
station and BBC Online service for the English
county
of Wiltshire
. The station marked its 20th anniversary in 2009.
The first presenter heard on air was Paul Chantler. The early logo of the station featured the White Horse at Westbury
. BBC Wiltshire Sound had a reputation for solid local programming focusing on news and information.
From 1991 to 1994 the station's Programme Editor was Mike Gray, who left to found the successful Kiss 102
and Kiss 105
radio stations in Manchester and Yorkshire. Amongst Mike's innovations was giving 17 year old Swindon student Mark Franklin his own programmes, which led to him being spotted and hired as a presenter on Top Of The Pops
. Other specialist music presenters at the time included leading jazz singer Rosemary Squires.
One of BBC Wiltshire Sound's best-known features was the long-running soap opera Acrebury in which all the characters were voiced by presenter and actor Gerry Hughes, for which he was awarded a Guinness World Record. The city of Salisbury
was given its own breakfast show for a time, due to its relative isolation in the south of the county. However both the Salisbury breakfast show and Acrebury were discontinued as part of a virtual relaunch of the station in 2000. Along with a number of presenter departures, the changes led to listener protests at the station's headquarters and unflattering headlines in the local newspaper.
The 2000 relaunch gave listeners in Swindon
separate programmes from the rest of the county, introduced in response to the rapid growth of the town and its new unitary authority
status. New presenters brought in for the Swindon programmes included Dan Chisholm and Peter Heaton-Jones
.
on 103.5 (Newton Barrow, near A360, 5 miles north-west of Salisbury
), 104.3 (Naish Hill, near A342 4 miles west of Calne
which is for west Wiltshire), 104.9 (Marlborough for east Wiltshire) FM
; 1332 (Lacock
, near A350, 4 miles south of Chippenham
) and 1368 (Old Town, Swindon, near B4006) AM; DAB
and via the BBC iPlayer
. Swindon's BBC Wiltshire broadcasts on 103.6 and its transmitter is located at Blunsdon
which is two miles north of Swindon next to the A419
with a terrain height of 450ft.
The station is also carried on the NOW Wiltshire
DAB Digital Radio
multiplex
.
The transmissions can also be heard live on the website bbc.co.uk/wiltshire.
region simulcast Keith Warmington - Access All Areas and Trevor Fry's late show. At weekends, evening programming is shared with BBC South West
and BBC West
, including live late shows from David Sheppard
(Saturdays) and Douglas Mounce (Sundays). BBC Wiltshire simulcasts programming from Radio 5 Live overnight.
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
station and BBC Online service for the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county
Counties of England
Counties of England are areas used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. For administrative purposes, England outside Greater London and the Isles of Scilly is divided into 83 counties. The counties may consist of a single district or be divided into several...
of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. The station marked its 20th anniversary in 2009.
BBC Wiltshire Sound (1989-2002)
The station was launched as BBC Wiltshire Sound on 4 April 1989, with its main studios and headquarters in Prospect Place, Swindon. The station was not initially titled 'BBC Radio Wiltshire' because at that time its competitor GWR owned the copyright of 'Wiltshire' and 'Radio' in whatever combination.The first presenter heard on air was Paul Chantler. The early logo of the station featured the White Horse at Westbury
Westbury White Horse
The Westbury or Bratton White Horse is a hill figure on the escarpment of Salisbury Plain, approximately east of Westbury in England. Located on the edge of Bratton Downs and lying just below an Iron Age hill fort, it is the oldest of several white horses carved in Wiltshire...
. BBC Wiltshire Sound had a reputation for solid local programming focusing on news and information.
From 1991 to 1994 the station's Programme Editor was Mike Gray, who left to found the successful Kiss 102
Kiss 102
-History:The frequency was originally issued to Sunset 102 Radio - The Kickin FM but that suffered some financial problems. In May 1993, the Radio Authority made a decision to prematurely terminate Sunset's licence, apparently accusing the station of providing inaccurate information about its...
and Kiss 105
Kiss 105
Kiss 105 was an dance music radio station based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It was part of a new breed of regional radio stations as opposed to independent local radio.-History:...
radio stations in Manchester and Yorkshire. Amongst Mike's innovations was giving 17 year old Swindon student Mark Franklin his own programmes, which led to him being spotted and hired as a presenter on Top Of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. Other specialist music presenters at the time included leading jazz singer Rosemary Squires.
One of BBC Wiltshire Sound's best-known features was the long-running soap opera Acrebury in which all the characters were voiced by presenter and actor Gerry Hughes, for which he was awarded a Guinness World Record. The city of Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
was given its own breakfast show for a time, due to its relative isolation in the south of the county. However both the Salisbury breakfast show and Acrebury were discontinued as part of a virtual relaunch of the station in 2000. Along with a number of presenter departures, the changes led to listener protests at the station's headquarters and unflattering headlines in the local newspaper.
The 2000 relaunch gave listeners in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
separate programmes from the rest of the county, introduced in response to the rapid growth of the town and its new unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
status. New presenters brought in for the Swindon programmes included Dan Chisholm and Peter Heaton-Jones
Peter Heaton-Jones
Peter Heaton-Jones, , is a British politician and journalist who has held senior positions in the media and politics in both the UK and Australia....
.
BBC Radio Wiltshire and BBC Radio Swindon (2002-2009)
On 11 November 2002, the separation was enhanced when the station was effectively split into two different services: BBC Radio Swindon, covering the town and surrounding areas, and BBC Radio Wiltshire for the rest of the county. Originally the two stations had their own discrete programmes for most of the day, but by 2007, following a number of schedule changes and presenter departures, only the breakfast shows remained separate. All other programmes were simulcast on both stations.BBC Wiltshire (2009-present)
On 4 April 2009, exactly 20 years after the original launch, the two stations effectively merged again and became a single entity branded as BBC Wiltshire. This became the umbrella name for the radio station and online service, in common with branding policy across most of the BBC local radio network. Swindon retained its own breakfast show, for which the branding Swindon's BBC Wiltshire is used.Transmission
BBC Wiltshire broadcasts from its studios in SwindonSwindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
on 103.5 (Newton Barrow, near A360, 5 miles north-west of Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
), 104.3 (Naish Hill, near A342 4 miles west of Calne
Calne
Calne is a town in Wiltshire, southwestern England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
which is for west Wiltshire), 104.9 (Marlborough for east Wiltshire) FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
; 1332 (Lacock
Lacock
Lacock is a village in Wiltshire, England, 3 miles from the town of Chippenham. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the National Trust, and attracts many visitors by virtue of its unspoiled appearance.-History:...
, near A350, 4 miles south of Chippenham
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
) and 1368 (Old Town, Swindon, near B4006) AM; DAB
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 via the BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer, commonly shortened to iPlayer, is an internet television and radio service, developed by the BBC to extend its former RealPlayer-based and other streamed video clip content to include whole TV shows....
. Swindon's BBC Wiltshire broadcasts on 103.6 and its transmitter is located at Blunsdon
Blunsdon
Broad Blunsdon is a village in the Borough of Swindon, England, about north of Swindon itself.Together with the nearby villages of Blunsdon St Andrew and adjoining Lower Blunsdon, the settlement is usually known simply as Blunsdon...
which is two miles north of Swindon next to the A419
A419 road
The A419 road is a primary route between Chiseldon near Swindon at junction 15 of the M4 with the A346 road, and Whitminster in Gloucestershire, England....
with a terrain height of 450ft.
The station is also carried on the NOW Wiltshire
NOW Wiltshire
NOW Wiltshire is a local commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, which serves West Wiltshire and Bath. It launched on 7 February 2003 and is operated by Now Digital who are owned by Global Radio.-Stations carried:* BBC Wiltshire...
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....
multiplex
Multiplexing
The multiplexed signal is transmitted over a communication channel, which may be a physical transmission medium. The multiplexing divides the capacity of the low-level communication channel into several higher-level logical channels, one for each message signal or data stream to be transferred...
.
The transmissions can also be heard live on the website bbc.co.uk/wiltshire.
Programming
All daytime programmes are broadcast across the county, with the exception of breakfast when Swindon has its own separate programme. From 7pm - 1am each weekday, all BBC local radio stations in the BBC WestBBC West
BBC West is the BBC English Region serving Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.-Television:...
region simulcast Keith Warmington - Access All Areas and Trevor Fry's late show. At weekends, evening programming is shared with BBC South West
BBC South West
BBC South West is the BBC English Region serving Devon, Cornwall and the Channel Islands.-Television:BBC South Wests television service consists of the flagship regional news service Spotlight, the opt-out service BBC Channel Islands, the topical magazine programme Inside Out and a 20-minute...
and BBC West
BBC West
BBC West is the BBC English Region serving Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.-Television:...
, including live late shows from David Sheppard
David Sheppard (broadcaster)
David Thomas Sheppard is a presenter on BBC Local Radio.He is currently to be heard broadcasting on BBC Radio Devon's 'Shep and Jo Show' with Jo Loosemore each weekday afternoon 3 till 7.- Early life and career :...
(Saturdays) and Douglas Mounce (Sundays). BBC Wiltshire simulcasts programming from Radio 5 Live overnight.
Weekdays
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0500 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Up All Night Up All Night (radio show) Up All Night is a programme broadcast on the national radio station BBC Radio 5 Live in the United Kingdom, and is on air between the hours of 1 am and 5 am every night... |
London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0500 - 0530 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Morning Reports |
|
| 0530 - 0630 | Faye Dicker | 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... |
| 0630 - 0900 | Matthew Smith 103.6 FM & 1368 AM only: Graham Mack |
Swindon Swindon Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east... |
| 0900 - 1200 | Mark O'Donnell | |
| 1200 - 1400 | Graham Seaman | |
| 1400 - 1600 | Sue Davies | |
| 1600 - 1900 | Lee Stone | |
| 1900 - 2200 | Keith Warmington | 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... |
| 2200 – 0100 | Trevor Fry |
Weekday variations
| Day | Time | Main presenter/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0100 - 0130 | UK Black: Eddie Nestor Eddie Nestor Eddie Nestor is an English actor, stand up comedian, TV and radio presenter, who is best known for his starring roles in The Real McCoy and Desmonds, as well as playing a small role in Trainspotting.He hosted... |
London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0130 - 0200 | Desi Download: Satnam Rana Satnam Rana Satnam Rana is a presenter for the BBC, currently presenting on BBC news programme Midlands Today and features on BBC WM. She worked at Five Live for two years then came to BBC Birmingham where she has been working since 2002.-Early life:... |
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
|
| 0200 - 0230 | Faith in England: The Reverend Gavin Ashenden | Brighton Brighton Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain... |
|
| 0230 - 0500 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Up All Night Up All Night (radio show) Up All Night is a programme broadcast on the national radio station BBC Radio 5 Live in the United Kingdom, and is on air between the hours of 1 am and 5 am every night... |
London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
|
| Thursday | 1900 - 2100 | BBC Introducing: Will Walder & Marie Lennon | Swindon Swindon Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east... |
| 2100 - 2200 | Keith Warmington | 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... |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0500 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Up All Night Up All Night (radio show) Up All Night is a programme broadcast on the national radio station BBC Radio 5 Live in the United Kingdom, and is on air between the hours of 1 am and 5 am every night... |
London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0500 - 0600 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Morning Reports |
|
| 0600 - 0900 | Graham Rogers | Swindon Swindon Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east... |
| 0900 - 1300 | Mark O'Donnell | |
| 1300 - 1500 | Marie Lennon | |
| 1500 - 1800 | Laura Rowlings | |
| 1805 - 2000 | The Vintage Top 40 | Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound... |
| 2000 - 2200 | Geoff Barker's Rock 'n' Roll Party | |
| 2200 - 0100 | Graham Torrington's Saturday Night Love Songs |
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0500 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Up All Night Up All Night (radio show) Up All Night is a programme broadcast on the national radio station BBC Radio 5 Live in the United Kingdom, and is on air between the hours of 1 am and 5 am every night... |
London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0500 - 0600 | BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... : Morning Reports |
|
| 0600 - 0700 | Soul and Inspiration | Swindon Swindon Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east... |
| 0700 - 1000 | Lee Stone | |
| 1000 - 1300 | Graham Rogers | |
| 1300 - 1400 | Johnny Coppin | Gloucester Gloucester Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham.... |
| 1400 - 1530 | Paul Moss | |
| 1530 - 1700 | Manny Masih | |
| 1700 - 1900 | Alex Lewis | 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... |
| 1900 - 2000 | Sounds of Brass: Phillip Hunt | Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound... |
| 2000 - 2200 | Swingers and Singers: David Lowe | |
| 2200 - 0100 | Graham Torrington's Night Time |