A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1979.


The usually invaluable Timeline of the BBC page at the Wikipedia has this to say about the 27th January 1979: 
"BBC Radio 2 closes down for the last time."
Given that the channel is still broadcasting, what this obviously means is the BBC Radio 2 closes down programmes for the day for the final time.  Until that date, Radio 2 had been ending transmissions for the day at 2am with a News Summary.  But the last time this occurred was at 2am on Saturday the 27th.  

On Sunday 28th the late news was moved to midnight and instead filling the gap between 2am and 5am, according to the BBC Programme Index, we find You and the Night and the Music (named for the popular Schwartz & Dietz song), its first edition presented by Colin Berry (pictured about with El Tel), who for years gave the marks of the British jury on Eurovision, with interruptions now and then with an update on "the second day's play in Adelaide".

So it's been since.  You and the Night and the Music seems to have ended 20th January 1984, replaced with a new slot, Nightride "to keep you company if you work or drive through the night or simply can't sleep" joined later by "A Little Night Music".  As time went on the slots shifted and various DJs covered the shifts, notably Alex Lester who worked overnight at Radio 2 between 1992 and 2017 in various capacities.

At time of writing, most evenings between midnight and 3am are covered by OJ Borg with an hour of content from BBC Sounds, a documentary or "mixtape" filling in the gap until Owain Wyn Evans takes over at 4am.  Of course, the landcape in which both broadcast has changed, there's no longer the need to be awake at these times to listen to the programmes with OJ and Owain's archives stretching back at least a month.


Life on Earth


"The story of life, from the first primitive cells to the plants and animals that now live around us."
[iPlayer]

"From its earliest days, the BBC set out to chronicle the natural world, but this ambition reached new heights from the late 1970s. In part seven of our 13-part series on the history of the BBC, David Hendy explores how David Attenborough’s string of wildlife blockbusters enthralled television viewers and transformed our view of the natural world..."
[History Extra]

"Broadcast in 1979, it took three years to make and involved a staggering one and a half million miles of travel. Viewers were exposed to more than 650 different species of animal, in a survey of life from bacteria to man and all in between."
[BBC Clips][BBC Programme Index]

Williams composed the music for Life on Earth and this is a nearly four hour interview with him.
[The British Entertainment History Project]


People


"Ita Burns from the BBC canteen is the wine tasting winner."
[BBC Rewind]


Places


"The BBC moved into this theatre, situated in the grounds of Guy’s hospital near London Bridge station, in 1979."
[TV Studio History]

"The first day of BBC Radio Foyle."
[BBC Rewind]

"Official opening of BBC Wales C1 studio in Broadcasting House, Cardiff."
[BBC Rewind]


Programmes


"Terry & June Filming Locations looks at locations used in the classic BBC television sitcom starring Terry Scott and June Whitfield."
[James Harding]

"Twenty years ago a song called I Like Trucking and a gorilla named Gerald revolutionised TV comedy. Gerard Barry pays tribute to Not the Nine O'Clock News and explains why it's still significant today."
[The Guardian]

"We'll dive into the behind-the-scenes details of Tatsunoko Production's 1978 series "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman," created by Ryu Nakanishi, Hajime Yatate, and Tokuichi Koike. Then, we'll take a look at the journey of "Gatchaman" to the United States, where it was rebranded as "Battle of the Planets" and brought to audiences by Toon Makers and Sandy Frank Entertainment."
[Toy Galaxy]

"When discussing the origins of Yes Minister, one story seems to loom above all: a nervous BBC delaying the series until after the 1979 election. The following version of this tale, told by writer Jonathan Lynn, seems a good a place to start as any."
[Dirty Feed]

"The stars of the classic BBC sitcom recall Rolls-Royces, chilly location shoots – and an increasingly tubby beagle."
[The Guardian]

"Vera Gilbert reports from the BBC Maida Vale Studios, where the BBC Radiophonic Workshop is celebrating its 21st birthday."
[BBC Archive]

"John Lloyd and Dr Pamela Stephenson talk about their pioneering BBC TV sketch show Not The Nine O’Clock News."
[BBC Sounds]


Politics 


"The BBC has been attacked by the government many times in its history. The events of last year were just the latest."
[Transdiffusion]

"The BBC has always regarded impartiality as one of its definding characteristics and it is a matter for satisfaction that our coverage of the salient political events of this year - the General Election and the change of government - incurred no significant criticism for any major political party."
[World Radio History]

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