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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Writing tips from the BBC's first comedy-drama - we still rely on in shows we enjoy today... A Substack is based on our recent podcast on Gertrude Jennings' Five Birds in a Cage from Nov 1923, thanks to Prof Tim Crook, Dr Caroline Rance and Nicola Morgan paulkerensa.substack.com/p/writing-ti...

paulkerensa.substack.com

Writing tips from the BBC’s first comedy-drama

Five Birds in a Cage was on the BBC in November 1923 - and sets the tone for so much we still enjoy today

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Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

And we're off! Day 1 at Loughborough University as a part-time postgrad, with Communication & Media and International Relations, Politics and History depts. Great to meet up with my two superbvisors (my stupid word - which won't make the thesis) To the books!

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Paul Hayes @paul-hayes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

70 years ago today, the BBC showed a recording of the CBC's Flight into Danger - later remade as the film Airplane!, and one of the important steps on the way to the creation of #DoctorWho. To celebrate, here's a much longer edit of my audio documentary telling Flight into Danger's story:

youtube.com

Flight into Danger - The Story of the Original Airplane! (an audio documentary)

YouTube video by Paul Hayes

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Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Very glad to undertake a PhD with @lborouniversity.bsky.social - looking at British broadcasting's origin story. Very grateful to supervisors Profs Marcus Collins and Dominic Wring + to all who've supported the @bbcentury.bsky.social podcast + this research rabbit-hole. Six years of study begins...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE AHOY! Ep 127: Gertrude Jennings' Five Birds in a Cage - The BBC's First Comedy Drama Our guests are Prof Tim Crook and She Wrote Too podcast's Dr Caroline Rance + Nicola Morgan - on this overlooked writer, whose play was on air 29 Nov 1923 bbcentury.podbean.com/e/127-gertru...

bbcentury.podbean.com

#127 Gertrude Jennings' Five Birds in a Cage - The BBC's First Comedy Drama | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

The BBC's first: in-house drama for adults non-Shakespeare drama comedy drama studio production of a modern stage play drama to be reviewed on air writer to be on two channels at once ...however yo...

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Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Very glad to be quoted (and @bbcentury.bsky.social podcast too) in @paul-hayes.bsky.social excellent BBC article on 70 years of Norwich broadcasting (no Alan Partridge mentions...). "TV and radio historian" - I shall wear that wear that badge with pride. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

BBC East celebrates 70 years of broadcasting from Norwich

The BBC set up its first East of England regional service in a converted Georgian mansion in 1956.

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

My latest for the BBC - to mark 40 years of ‘Casualty’: A brisk romp through the TV and radio archives to explore how the BBC has captured hospital life over the decades. Including, among others, Dr Finlay’s Casebook, Angels, and This is Going to Hurt

bbc.co.uk

Life Support

Hospital dramas on the BBC

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Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Oh look! Tonight BBC Radio 4's Front Row is repeating the edition about early television first broadcast at Easter; with me, the BFI's Lisa Kerrigan, novelist Francis Spufford, and legendary producer Joy Whitby. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, The Birth of Television: A Forgotten History

Samira Ahmed and guests discuss the forgotten history of the early days of television.

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

It was fantastic to speak to fellow BBC broadcasting history nerd and programme-maker Paul Karensa for the most ambitious podcast around charting 100 years of BBC radio. We talked about the start of international radio, the Russian Archers and the New Zealander who became the voice of Albania.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

NEW PODCAST KLAXON AHOY O'CLOCK! Ep 126: The BBC Goes Transatlantic... and International Shortwave Radio 6 Nov-2 Dec 1923: The BBC + the USA had a conversation, across an ocean, across a week. Hear about this & Archive on 4's The Sound of Soft Power Enjoy! bbcentury.podbean.com/e/126-the-bb...

bbcentury.podbean.com

#126 The BBC Goes Transatlantic… and Shortwave Radio | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

26 November-2 December 1923, and the BBC and the USA had a little conversation. Well, a big conversation, across an ocean, across a week, heard by listeners east and west of the Atlantic. Our moment-b...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

bbcentury.podbean.com

#126 The BBC Goes Transatlantic… and Shortwave Radio | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Our next podcast episode in a day or two, on the BBC's first transatlantic transmissions of Nov 1923. Meanwhile, our other recent eps: ep125: The First Relay Station - Sheffield 6FL ep124: Broadcasting House 1932 ep123: The Archers Live at 75 ep122: The Birth of Television podfollow.com/bbcentury

podfollow.com

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archive...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I don't care that this isn't British broadcasting and therefore not quite relevant to this profile. It should really be on all profiles...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A Patreon vid from Biggin Hill. From first air-to-air radio comms, to first transatlantic programmes on the BBC... More on the British Broadcasting Century podcast next week, and a brief timeline on the Patreon post now. Thanks to all who support here. Pip pip! www.patreon.com/paulkerensa/...

patreon.com

VID: Biggin Hill - The first air-air communication & transatlantic broadcasts | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

VID: Biggin Hill - The first air-air communication & transatlantic broadcasts by The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa on Patreon. Join The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Today I'm recording the next podcast, at Biggin Hill Airport where our Nov 1923 tale is set. It's the tale of US radio heard in the UK (Morse + jazz) and the BBC heard in the US (Reith sings God Save the King!) Podcast next week at podfollow.com/BBCentury + a vid tonight at patreon.com/paulkerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Next podcast sends the early BBC global, with Nov/Dec 1923's transatlantic broadcasts. Our guests will be Prof Simon J Potter and BBC presenter/producer Josephine McDermott, whose recent documentary The Sound of Soft Power is about international radio - a fab listen: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

The Documentary - The Sound of Soft Power - BBC Sounds

Does the world still need international radio as a tool of soft power?

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

What have BBC promos ever done for Romesh, Cleese, Julie Walters, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson...? My latest Substack - on BBC promos from 1985-2026 via two pubs, TVC reception, God Only Knows at Ally Pally, and reap reap reaping what we sow. paulkerensa.substack.com/p/what-have-...

paulkerensa.substack.com

What have BBC promos ever done for Romesh, Cleese, Julie Walters, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson...?

A man walks into a pub... twice - hoping to save the licence fee.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

New podcast ahoy! Our timeline's at Nov 1923: the BBC's 1st relay station Sheffield 6FL, whose history has never been told. Andrew Barker has found aplenty - thanks to him, BBC Radio Sheffield + Sheffield City Archives for rare audio from its co-founder. Enjoy! bbcentury.podbean.com/e/125-the-bb...

bbcentury.podbean.com

#125 The BBC's First Relay Station: Sheffield 6FL and Fred Lloyd | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

We're back in our moment-by-moment timeline of British broadcasting's early days, and it's just after the BBC's first birthday... 16 November 1923: Sheffield 6FL becomes the BBC's first relay station,...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

bbcentury.podbean.com

#125 The BBC's First Relay Station: Sheffield 6FL and Fred Lloyd | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

A new podcast episode lands shortly. Our latest is on 1932's BBC Broadcasting House, with Dr Elizabeth Darling, author of the marvellous new book Palace of the Ether (and be subscribed for the next episode - on 1923's first relay station Sheffield 6FL): bbcentury.podbean.com/e/124-broadc...

bbcentury.podbean.com

#124 Broadcasting House 1932: Palace of the Ether - with Dr Elizabeth Darling | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

Broadcasting House, 1932: The BBC's first purpose-built home. When it first opened, some likened it to a ship, others to a New York skyscraper. And it was once called a Palace of the Ether... That's ...

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Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Didn't we have a lovely time last night at Westbury Festival? A superb audience came to hear how the Beeb began + where it got us. Loads of great questions and comments - and the next Evening of (Very) Old Radio is next Wed in Weston-super-Mare. Then these fine places... Come, or book it for yours.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Tomorrow - Westbury, near Bath/Swindon/Frome. www.westburyfestival.org.uk/events/an-ev...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

‘What has the BBC ever given us?’ - asked John Cleese 40 years ago. With one of the same stars as the recent ad, and two of the same jokes. (for more answers, come tomorrow to Westbury Festival’s An Evening of (Very) Old Radio…) youtu.be/lUzQ2qIgG6Y?...

youtu.be

John Cleese, What Has The BBC Ever Given Us ?

YouTube video by Sid N

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Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: The BBC Then and Now heads to Westbury Festival, Wilts this Thursday. Then Weston-super-Mare’s Blakehay Theatre next Wednesday. Come and be informed, educated & entertained. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin… www.westburyfestival.org.uk/events/an-ev...

westburyfestival.org.uk

Paul Karensa : An Evening of (Very) Old Radio: the BBC then and now

Looking for a great night out with one of Britain's top comedy writers? Don't let the title fool you... this isn't just a talk about the BBC! Paul Kerensa is a British Comedy Award-winning comedian a...

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Paul Kerensa @paulkerensa.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Sad to hear Ed Stourton had died. Journalist, presenter, writer snd historian - he had me on R4 Sunday, I had him on my podcast about his superb book Auntie’s War, with some great stories of the BBC in WW2. Knowledgable, enthusiastic, missed. Glad we had this chat: podfollow.com/bbcentury/ep...

podfollow.com

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa: #052 Auntie’s War - with Edward Stourton

The BBC in WW2 is our focus for the third of our summer specials - longer-form chats with brilliant authors and their take on a century of British broadcasting.This time meet Auntie's War author an...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

The British Broadcasting Century episode 124 has landed - a tribute to and tour of 1932's Broadcasting House - with 'Palace of the Ether' author Dr Elizabeth Darling. Links below, enjoy, and do share if you like it! Next time: Sheffield 6FL, the first relay station in Nov 1923 pod.fo/e/445a4d

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Next podcast lands tomorrow. Ep 124, how time flies. Last eo was on The Archers. What a show! What a run! Next ep is on Broadcasting House 1932, with Palace of the Ether author and architectural historian Dr Elizabeth Darling. What a building! What an interview! Subscribe? podfollow.com/bbcentury

podfollow.com

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

A video for patrons, about 1932's Broadcasting House. Next podcast episode is an audio tour of its finest rooms - from its grand lobby (largely unchanged) to studios resembling a drawing room and a chapel (sadly changed, but probably for the best...) Vid's here: www.patreon.com/paulkerensa/...

patreon.com

VID: Broadcasting House, 1932 - my favourite pics | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

VID: Broadcasting House, 1932 - my favourite pics by The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa on Patreon. Join The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa's community for exclusive co...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

On the latest British Broadcasting Century podcast - The Archers Live at 75, now on tour hosted by comedian Angela Barnes. How many episodes have there been? Has anyone heard them all? Too late to start? Hear the podcast + catch the show. Next ep? 1932's vast and glamorous Broadcasting House...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I had a blast as ever at that palace o' research, the British Library. Here's: 1) me lost amid the Radio Timeses 2) the BVWS mags 3) Reith, Marconi and co 4) Cecil Lewis: 1922's 1st BBC Deputy Director of Progs, who on 1991's Desert Island Discs asked Sue Lawley if she'd ever made love in a hammock

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Twas present day Broadcasting House for me today... then I edited the next podcast episode about 1932's Broadcasting House. No fake fireplace + fake book-shelves in today's studio... Find out more about the old BH on next week's podcast (audio) plus a video next week on patreon.com/paulkerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Longwave is lost to us (like my password was last night so I had to this there and not here...)

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Angela Barnes @angelabarnes.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

This was a lot of fun. Talking about The Archers is obviously something I never like to do, but when my arm is twisted… 😉

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

NEW POD EP AHOY! ep 123: A chat with comic Angela Barnes, who hosts a live show in celebration of The Archers: the ?th oldest BBC programme still on the air... Find out on the podcast! Plus BBC cuts - ideas from you good folks. Link in comments. Next time: an audio tour of Broadcasting House, 1932.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Podcast no 123 lands tomorrow - on 75 years of The Archers. Subscribe, radio history fans! podfollow.com/BBCentury

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Tom Robinson @tomrobinson.com · 24/06/2026

Trying to identify a piece of instrumental light music I remember BBC Dance orchestras playing on the Light Programme's Music While You Work show in the early-mid 1950s. I stil remember the melody - plonked out here on one finger piano. Anyone else out there old enough to be able to help?

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Next podcast soon - our season of chats on broadcasting history-ish places you can go this summer. ep 121 was on Mitch Benn's Asking Elvis show at Edinburgh Fringe ep 122 was on Prof John Wyver's Early TV conference in July ep 123 will be on The Archers Live at 75 Join us! podfollow.com/BBCentury

podfollow.com

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

You're BBC DG. What do YOU cut? Dozens have their say, as we try and save half a billion pounds. On Substack, for the readers... paulkerensa.substack.com/p/youre-bbc-...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Our latest Patreon video (for the lucky few who I'm mostly grateful subscribe there) is a walk-and-talk (no mean feat), whizzing through the mighty work of Phyllis Twigg, first radio dramatist and TV cook. Thanks to all who subscribe there and keep the podcast going. www.patreon.com/paulkerensa/...

patreon.com

VID: The Walk-and-Talk returns (as does walking and talking, gladly) | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

VID: The Walk-and-Talk returns (as does walking and talking, gladly) by The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa on Patreon. Join The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa's communi...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Ok, open question, no judgment. You're DG of the BBC. You need to save a LOT of money. What do you axe? Shows small and big, probably a channel, maybe a whole genre? I'm all ears. Today we've heard R4 will lose The World Tonight + Midnight News. What else to lose? radiotoday.co.uk/2026/06/bbc-...

radiotoday.co.uk

BBC networks face savings review

The BBC is to review its portfolio as part of new savings plans.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The first four employees of the BBC: Burrows, Lewis, Anderson, Reith. Others were offered jobs - eg RH White as Engineer, turning it down as he thought broadcasting was going nowhere. Reith was at least 3rd choice, with a journalist + business leader offered it first, saying no for similar reasons.

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Some nice BBC metaphors (as church + coral), 1959 Encounter mag article: "...the BBC was itself part of the ceremony: that crozier, a microphone... beneath that rich cope, Richard Dimbleby..." & "...like a coral reef, cells multiplying until it was a vast structure..." archive.org/details/dli....

"...The BBC was creating its own ritual... A monarch has a birthday, the national anthem is played before the news; one monarch dies, the loudspeakers go silent; another monarch dies, they relay only solemn music... Occasionally the liturgy is altered... as if the BBC was itself part of the ceremony: that crozier, really a microphone; the censer boys, attendant producers; and, beneath that rich cope, Richard Dimbleby himself..."
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"The BBC 'came to pass silently, invisibly; like a coral reef, cells multiplying until it was a vast structure, a conglomeration of studios, offices, cool passages along which many passed to and fro; a society, with its king, lords and commoners, its laws and dossiers and revenue and easily suppressed insurrection.' By the time a new idea has received the benediction of each order of the hierarchy, it has usually ceased to be an idea and become a piece of case-law, binding rather than freeing. It is a wonder, indeed, that in such circumstances the producers at the BBC should ever achieve anything of enterprise or moment..."

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE AHOY! The British Broadcasting Century no 122: The Birth of Television and The End of Radio 4 Longwave With Prof John Wyver, whose book + conference is all about early television. And we pay tribute to longwave. Have a listen, have a blast. bbcentury.podbean.com/e/122-the-bi...

bbcentury.podbean.com

122 The Birth of Television and The End of Radio 4 Longwave | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

On this special episode, we delve into early television with Professor John Wyver, whose book and conference is all about those overlooked decades of Stooky Bill, I think that's a pen, and vertical sc...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Over in our Facebook group, I've been listing the longest-running BBC progs still on today. A few in the 1920s (inc some cheats: annuals eg The Boat Race + some name-changers eg The Week's Good Cause), hardly anything in the 1930s (odd!), then some 1940s faves. Join! www.facebook.com/groups/bbcen...

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Next podcast interview just recorded - with the wonderful Prof John Wyver, on early television, his book Magic Rays of Light, and his conference The Cultures of Early Television (see link; free to register). The podcast should be out later this week. www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-cultures...

illuminationsmedia.co.uk

The Cultures of Early Television - Illuminations

John Wyver writes: I’m delighted to unveil the schedule for the The Cultures of Early Television, a University of Westminster conference that I am convening on 2 and 3 July at Portland Hall in London....

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I've just removed the season numbers from the podcast. They didn't really mean anything anyway (episode numbers stay). Any break lasts about a month before I crack on, so the tale is just one long glorious season... Episodes 1-121 - all part of season one, kind of - are here: bbcentury.podbean.com

bbcentury.podbean.com

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa | Paul Kerensa

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A new podcast episode is imminent (on a recent favourite on Radio 2 from 2005-14), so one last mention of our latest on the centenary of the General Strike, and how it changed the BBC. Some say it's our best episode(s - a three-parter) yet. See if you agree! bbcentury.podbean.com/e/120-the-ge...

bbcentury.podbean.com

#120 The General Strike at 100, part 3: Reith's Jerusalem | The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

And did the Beeb, in ancient times, broadcast to England's* mountains green?... ...Till Reith has built Jerusalem, transmitting to England's* green and pleasant** land. *and Scotland, Wales and Nort...

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