Radio Luxembourg 208 - Your Station Of The Stars

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20120531

Noel Edmonds tells the story of the original pop music station in the UK - Radio Luxembourg. It was hugely influential for millions of 'under the bedclothes listeners' starved of 60s pop music but frustrated by the signal that faded in and out. This month marks the 80th anniversary of the first test transmissions to Britain - a full service started in 1933 and it is 20 years ago that it finally closed down to UK listeners.

The first 'jock' in 1933 was Stephen Williams but then remember all these stars who broadcast on 208: Tony Blackburn, Steve Wright, Chris Moyles, Pete Murray, Jimmy Young, Jack Jackson, Roy Plomley, Jimmy Savile, Dave Cash, Simon Dee, Teddy Johnson, Peter Powell, Kid Jensen, Paul Burnett, Rosko, Brian Matthew, Shaw Taylor, Hughie Green, David Jacobs, Don Moss, Barry Alldis, Alan Dell, Alan Freeman, Keith Fordyce, Kent Walton, Kenny Everett, Bob Harris, Tony Brandon, Tommy Vance, Neil Fox, Tony Prince, Mike Read, Stuart Henry, Dave Christian, Mark Page, Sandy Beech and someone called Noel Edmonds - who started his radio career there.

PART 1

Noel takes us back to 1932 and preparations to fire-up the mighty Junglinster transmitter on a long-wave frequency Luxembourg didn't actually own. Once on air commercial radio then came to the UK for the first time much to the chagrin of the BBC, but popularity boomed until the outbreak of World War 2. We hear about William Joyce and his treachery, but then it was back to business after the war in 1946. During the 1950s the station kept several paces ahead of the BBC and pulled in millions of listeners who were captivated by the popular music and presenters. But then in 1964 came the pirate ships in the North Sea.

Noel Edmonds tells the story of Luxy, the original pop music station in the UK.

20120607

Noel Edmonds continues the story of the original pop music station in the UK - Radio Luxembourg. It was hugely influential for millions of 'under the bedclothes listeners' starved of 60s pop music but frustrated by the signal that faded in and out. This is the story of a radio station, broadcast on an extremely poor frequency, but loved by millions of music fans.

This month marks the 80th anniversary of the first test transmissions to Britain - a full service started in 1933 and it is 20 years ago that it finally closed down to UK listeners.

Listeners were led to believe that everything heard on the station was broadcast live from the 'Grand Duchy' in Europe, although the reality meant that whilst some presenters were sat in front of a mic in this tiny country, much of the programme output was pre-recorded in London.

PART 2

Noel traces the impact of the pirate stations and how the BBC finally reacted after government policy kicked it into life. Luxembourg in turn moved to unfettered pop music with its team of Big Six djs in the early 1970s and, with a new general manager, carved a fresh position of influence with music fans. But the end was only 20 years away - so what happened? And what was the legacy of 208? With contributions from Paul Burnett, Tony Prince, Mark Wesley, David Jensen, Steve Wright, Brian Matthew, station manager Alan Keen and Radio Luxembourg archive recordings.

How 208 was influential for millions of under-the-bedclothes listeners starved of music.

Noel Edmonds tells the story of Luxy, the original pop music station in the UK

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20120531	Noel Edmonds tells the story of the original pop music station in the UK - Radio Luxembourg. It was hugely influential for millions of 'under the bedclothes listeners' starved of 60s pop music but frustrated by the signal that faded in and out. This month marks the 80th anniversary of the first test transmissions to Britain - a full service started in 1933 and it is 20 years ago that it finally closed down to UK listeners. The first 'jock' in 1933 was Stephen Williams but then remember all these stars who broadcast on 208: Tony Blackburn, Steve Wright, Chris Moyles, Pete Murray, Jimmy Young, Jack Jackson, Roy Plomley, Jimmy Savile, Dave Cash, Simon Dee, Teddy Johnson, Peter Powell, Kid Jensen, Paul Burnett, Rosko, Brian Matthew, Shaw Taylor, Hughie Green, David Jacobs, Don Moss, Barry Alldis, Alan Dell, Alan Freeman, Keith Fordyce, Kent Walton, Kenny Everett, Bob Harris, Tony Brandon, Tommy Vance, Neil Fox, Tony Prince, Mike Read, Stuart Henry, Dave Christian, Mark Page, Sandy Beech and someone called Noel Edmonds - who started his radio career there. PART 1 Noel takes us back to 1932 and preparations to fire-up the mighty Junglinster transmitter on a long-wave frequency Luxembourg didn't actually own. Once on air commercial radio then came to the UK for the first time much to the chagrin of the BBC, but popularity boomed until the outbreak of World War 2. We hear about William Joyce and his treachery, but then it was back to business after the war in 1946. During the 1950s the station kept several paces ahead of the BBC and pulled in millions of listeners who were captivated by the popular music and presenters. But then in 1964 came the pirate ships in the North Sea. Noel Edmonds tells the story of Luxy, the original pop music station in the UK.
02	20120607	Noel Edmonds continues the story of the original pop music station in the UK - Radio Luxembourg. It was hugely influential for millions of 'under the bedclothes listeners' starved of 60s pop music but frustrated by the signal that faded in and out. This is the story of a radio station, broadcast on an extremely poor frequency, but loved by millions of music fans. This month marks the 80th anniversary of the first test transmissions to Britain - a full service started in 1933 and it is 20 years ago that it finally closed down to UK listeners. Listeners were led to believe that everything heard on the station was broadcast live from the 'Grand Duchy' in Europe, although the reality meant that whilst some presenters were sat in front of a mic in this tiny country, much of the programme output was pre-recorded in London. PART 2 Noel traces the impact of the pirate stations and how the BBC finally reacted after government policy kicked it into life. Luxembourg in turn moved to unfettered pop music with its team of Big Six djs in the early 1970s and, with a new general manager, carved a fresh position of influence with music fans. But the end was only 20 years away - so what happened? And what was the legacy of 208? With contributions from Paul Burnett, Tony Prince, Mark Wesley, David Jensen, Steve Wright, Brian Matthew, station manager Alan Keen and Radio Luxembourg archive recordings. How 208 was influential for millions of under-the-bedclothes listeners starved of music. Noel Edmonds tells the story of Luxy, the original pop music station in the UK