BBC Radio Bristol

"One of the family..."

BBC Radio Bristol

BBC Radio Bristol

BBC Radio Bristol

BBC Radio Bristol started yapping in a very posh English accent to listeners without a very posh English accent on 4th September 1970 to serve the now dead county of Avon.

Kate Adie, Michael Buerk Baldrick from the Blackadder were all something to do with the Whiteladies Road crew at the start. In 1970, a new recruit was a local newspaper reporter by the name of Roger Bennett - and 32 years later, Roger was still working from 5am every morning - now holding the title of the UK's longest serving Breakfast Show presenter.

He stepped down in December 2002. April 1988 saw the splitting of frequencies - for a BBC station, this is most unusual - the 1323AM service became the UK's only AM only BBC local radio station - see below for more information on BBC Somerset Sound.

BBC Radio Bristol reporters were in attendance when Concorde took off for the first time from Filton Airfield, and on the momentous occasion when the SS Great Britain returned to Bristol docks. The demolition of Eastville Stadium took centre stage on Radio Bristol and there was also live broadcasting with the people of the St. Paul's region when the area was regenerated. Also notably, BBC Radio Bristol were on hand to cover the sailing of the replica ship, The Matthew to Newfoundland plus it's return to port in Bristol in 1998.

"One of the family" Jingles from Alfasound were replaced in 1988 by a package by Jan Leary. Although why the station theme for the 95.5 frequency sang "Ninety Fire Point Fire" is beyond anyone here. Any possible explanations would be welcome.

25 years after launch, the station celebrated it's Silver Jubilee as listeners raised over £30,000 for Cancer and Leukaemia in Children. It's also raised a considerable amount of awareness for a new Children's Hospital for Bristol - the Wallace & Gromit Appeal. After 30 years, the station remains totally committed to bringing local news to local people.

Station reporters are based in Taunton, Bath, Bristol, Wells, and Weston-super-Mare, and broadcast to the West for 16 hours a day reaching a quarter of a million listeners. Airtime is shared with BBC Somerset Sound (now BBC Somerset).

On 12th November 2007 BBC Radio Bristol's main frequency changed to 94.9 MHz from the Dundry transmitter. The former 95.5 MHz frequency from Mendip was reduced in power to the north, and commenced broadcasting BBC Somerset programmes from 3 December 2007.

Information amended from the excellent Aircheck UK webpage

BBC Radio Bristol Jingles

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