Don’t touch that dial! Radio times of our lives..
Radio waves were identified by German physicist Heinrich Hertz in 1886, but it was Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi who developed wireless technology with transmitters and receivers at the end of the
19th Century.
It was originally known as “wireless telegraphy”, hence the first sets got the “wireless” moniker. “Radio” comes from the Latin “radius” – a spoke of a wheel or beam of light. Britain’s first radio broadcast came from Marconi’s research station in Chelmsford, Essex, on June 15, 1920, with Aussie opera singer Dame Nellie Melba belting out tunes.
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The BBC began broadcasting in
1922 to just 30,000 people with radio receivers. Until 1971, listeners needed licences which initially cost 10 shillings (50p).
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In France, the Eiffel Tower survived planned demolition because of its use as a radio transmitter during World War One.
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The first Royal Christmas Message, written by Rudyard Kipling, was given on radio by George V in 1932 and broadcast to 20million people. High-quality FM radio was invented the next year.
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In 1938, Orson Welles, left, caused panic in the US when his radio version of HG Wells’ War Of The Worlds made some think a Martian invasion had started.
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Britain’s longest-running broadcasts are the Shipping Forecast, dating back to 1924, Desert Island Discs, first broadcast in 1942, and The Archers, which first went out in 1951.
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Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s radio speeches, left, boosted World War Two morale, while coded broadcasts helped alert agents and the Resistance abroad.
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Radio 1 launched in 1967 with DJ Tony Blackburn promising “too much fun” and a barking dog sound.
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Pirate stations like Radio Caroline operated from sea in the 1960s to avoid UK broadcasting rules. Commercial radio only started in
1973, before going national in 1992 with Classic FM.
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Radio 2 is the most popular station with 15m weekly listeners and Ken Bruce’s morning show topping ratings. The late Sir Terry Wogan, below, was recently voted UK’s top radio broadcaster ever.
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The title for Queen’s 1984 hit Radio Ga Ga came from drummer Roger Taylor’s son saying “radio ca-ca” after hearing a bad song. Lady Gaga credits it for her stage name.
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Robin Williams improvised his rousing radio speeches as a US forces DJ in 1987’s Good Morning, Vietnam.
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Asked if she posed nude for a calendar, Marilyn Monroe quipped: “It’s not true I had nothing on – I had the radio on!”