BBC Radio Leeds

"BBC Radio Leeds"

BBC Radio leeds nowhere...

BBC Radio Leeds

BBC Radio Leeds

BBC Radio Leeds came to air on 24th June 1968 - largely to the surprise of an unsusppecting West Yorkshire audience. The station was one of a small group of pioneering, experimental local radio stations that were partly paid for out of local council rates. During the first few months, the station ran a greyhound, were accused of kidnapping singer Anita Harris, featured a talking budgie and launched a coffin in the high seas off Scarborough!

Early programmes bewildered listeners but today, the audience almost take the station for granted. Back in 1968, based in premises in the Merrion Centre, there was an Alan Bennett monologue and that all important talking budgie! The 30th birthday for the station, in 1998 included a mass baking of cakes, concerts, and special broadcasts made from shopping centres across the county. The station has more than 30,000 listeners listening on 92.4, 95.3 FM & 774AM and now broadcasts from studios at Woodhouse Lane in Leeds. Of note, Martin Kelner, ex-Radio 2 late night presenter, is one of the BBC Radio Leeds team.

In the 1990s, there was a suggestion that the station should be renamed BBC West Yorkshire FM - of course, it never happened!

Information amended from the excellent Aircheck UK webpage

BBC Radio Leeds Jingles

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