# 1977 in British radio

This is a list of events in British radio during 1977.

## Events
### January

* 3 January – At 6.45am, BBC Radio Cymru launches, and becomes the first broadcasting outlet dedicated wholly to programmes in Welsh. The service is part-time and restricted to breakfast shows, extended news bulletins at breakfast, lunchtime & early evening and a number of off-peak opt-outs from a sustaining Radio 4 Wales English-language feed.

### February

* 14 February – The Annan Committee makes its recommendations and its principle recommendation for radio is for the privatisation of BBC local radio; this is not implemented.

### March

* No events.

### April

* 30 April – The first edition of the Saturday morning magazine programme Sport on Four is broadcast on BBC Radio 4; it will run until 1998.

### May

* 2 May – BBC Radio 4 launches a new breakfast programme Up to the Hour. Consequently, the Today programme is reduced from a continuous two-hour programme to two 25-minute slots. This arrangement lasts for just over a year before Today reverts to a continuous broadcast. This summer, Today starts to carry a daily horse racing tip, which will continue until 2024.

### June

* No events.

### July

* No events.

### August

* 22 August – The BBC Radio comedy The Men from the Ministry airs its final episode after fifteen years on air.

### September

* No events.

### October

* 2 October – The first edition of personal financial advice magazine programme Money Box is broadcast on BBC Radio 4; it will still be running into the 2020s.
* 11 October – Bing Crosby makes his last ever recordings, three days before his death, at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios.

### November

* 28 November – BBC Radio 1 launches a weekday afternoon programme presented by Tony Blackburn. Previously, the station has simulcasted BBC Radio 2's afternoon show. Tony is replaced on mid-mornings by Simon Bates. Consequently Radio 1 now has its own all-day schedule on weekdays although the station continues to simulcast Radio 2 each night from 7pm, apart from the weekday late night John Peel programme.

### December

* No events.

## Station debuts

* 3 January – BBC Radio Cymru
* 9 May – BBC Radio Orkney, BBC Radio Shetland

## Programme debuts

* 2 May – Up to the Hour on BBC Radio 4 (1977–1978)
* 6 September – The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 (1977–Present)
* 2 October – Money Box on BBC Radio 4 (1977–Present)
* 26 October – File on 4 on BBC Radio 4 (1977–Present)
* 5 November – Albert and Me on BBC Radio 2 (1977–1983)
* The Enchanting World of Hinge and Bracket on BBC Radio 4 (1977–1979)

## Continuing radio programmes
### 1940s

* Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018)
* Desert Island Discs (1942–Present)
* Down Your Way (1946–1992)
* Letter from America (1946–2004)
* Woman's Hour (1946–Present)
* A Book at Bedtime (1949–Present)

### 1950s

* The Archers (1950–Present)
* The Today Programme (1957–Present)
* Sing Something Simple (1959–2001)
* Your Hundred Best Tunes (1959–2007)

### 1960s

* Farming Today (1960–Present)
* In Touch (1961–Present)
* Petticoat Line (1965–1979)
* The World at One (1965–Present)
* The Official Chart (1967–Present)
* Just a Minute (1967–Present)
* The Living World (1968–Present)
* The Organist Entertains (1969–2018)

### 1970s

* PM (1970–Present)
* Start the Week (1970–Present)
* Week Ending (1970–1998)
* You and Yours (1970–Present)
* I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–Present)
* Good Morning Scotland (1973–Present)
* Hello Cheeky (1973–1979)
* Kaleidoscope (1973–1998)
* Newsbeat (1973–Present)
* The News Huddlines (1975–2001)
* The Burkiss Way (1976–1980)

## Ending this year

* 16 July – The Navy Lark (1959–1977)
* 22 August – The Men from the Ministry (1962–1977)

## Births

* 30 March – Hugo Rifkind, newspaper columnist and radio presenter
* 31 May – Joel Ross, radio and television presenter
* 22 August – Sarah Champion, radio and television presenter
* 28 September – John Finnemore, comedy writer-performer
* 25 October – Anita Rani, radio and television presenter

## Deaths

* 5 September – Elsie Carlisle, "Radio Sweetheart Number One", singer (born 1896)
* 8 November – Ted Ray, comedian (born 1905)