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The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

Paul Kerensa
BBC
Radio Broadcasting
British Broadcasting Company
Election Night Specials
History Of Broadcasting
Gendered Programming
Broadcasting
Radio Caroline
Sykes Inquiry
Electrophone
Christmas
The Radio Times
Pirate Radio
Women's Hour
Cecil Lewis
Savoy Hill
Dr. James Ebenezer Boon
General Election
Simultaneous Broadcasting
Wireless Manhunt

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 from broadcasting’s golden era. Original music by Will Farmer. www.paulkerensa.com/oldradio

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes118Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The British Broadcasting Century

Latest Episodes

#117 The BBC's First Homosexual: a new play - with Dr Stephen Hornby and Professor Marcus Collins

A special episode about a new play about on the true tale of Britain's first broadcast debate on homosexuality. We're outside of our moment-by-moment t... more

Our moment-by-moment retrospective of British broadcasting has reached the BBC's first birthday - 14 November 1923.

We started covering that first year back on episode 18! It's taken a while to get here - but what a year it was. From the first BBC n... more

YouTube

Our timeline has reached the end of the BBC's first year in November 1923. So we're looking back at music broadcast in that period, with gramophone enthusiast, expert and entertainer Earl Okin.

From the BBC's first song (Kreisler's Liebesleid, playe... more

YouTube

11 November 1923: The BBC's first Armistice broadcast.

Back in our moment-by-moment timeline of what happened on the early BBC, it's three days short of its first anniversary.

The BBC aired 'The Great Silence', speeches including the Prime Minister... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Earl Okin
Expert, entertainer and collector of Gramophone records and 78s
Earl Okin Gramophone Show
Episode: #115 Early BBC Music and Gramophone Records with Earl Okin
Rachel Cowgill
Cultural Historical Musicologist, Professor of Music at the University of York
University of York
Episode: #114 BBC Armistice Broadcasts in the 1920s - with Professor Rachel Cowgill
Ray Clark
Broadcaster, author, expert in Radio Caroline and those glory years of pirate radio
Episode: #113 Radio Caroline and The Fleet's Lit Up
Dr. A Brad Schwartz
Author of Broadcast Hysteria, Orson Welles's War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News
Episode: #112 The First Radio Hoax: Broadcasting the Barricades - A Centenary Re-enactment
Tamsin Greig
Acclaimed actress known for her roles in British television and theatre.
Episode: #111 The Truth About The Truth About Phyllis Twigg: From the First Radio Drama to the Latest
Rory Kinnear
Renowned stage and screen actor from the BBC.
Episode: #111 The Truth About The Truth About Phyllis Twigg: From the First Radio Drama to the Latest
Aja Dodd
Newcomer actress portraying Jenny, a character in modern timeline.
Episode: #111 The Truth About The Truth About Phyllis Twigg: From the First Radio Drama to the Latest
Carina Saner
Great-granddaughter of Phyllis Twigg, involved in biographical research.
Episode: #111 The Truth About The Truth About Phyllis Twigg: From the First Radio Drama to the Latest
Nick Heal
Grandson of Arthur Burrows, engaging in the podcast to share family history.
Episode: #111 The Truth About The Truth About Phyllis Twigg: From the First Radio Drama to the Latest

Host

Paul Kerensa
Host of The British Broadcasting Century, a history-focused program exploring the birth and evolution of British broadcasting and the BBC.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 81 ratings
  • The British Broadcasting Century

    This is a first class education and a fascinating listen. Highly recommended. This podcast must surely be the most comprehensive and detailed history of the BBC. It would make a fascinating book too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vortex1969
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • The British Broadcasting Century

    This is a first class education and a fascinating listen. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vortex1969
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • The British Broadcasting Century

    Paul told me to write this review but I would have been up for affirming how great this podcast is anyway. A reminder of what we will lose if the ignorant succeed in blowing up the BBC in the battle of culture clash- I’m not panning progress, just saying that Paul proves that new media is a parody of true life-enhancing culture, not the real thing.

    Now Beeb, let’s get started on your improvements…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sdhhehhdhejj
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Very cool

    Hadn’t really planned on trying to learn this much about the Beeb but it’s well done and in depth. Bery enjoyable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    YouKnowHowWeDo
    United States4 years ago
  • Outstanding!

    I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this podcast so far - really fascinating for anyone even remotely interested in the history of radio. It’s excellently produced and very accessible, and Paul Kerensa is a wonderfully entertaining host!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    m@xl@ng
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many describe it as essential listening for media history enthusiasts and radio professionals.
Audience finds the archival sound clips and stories captivating and informative.
Listeners praise the show for its depth and entertaining delivery, noting it makes obscure broadcasting history accessible.
Fans appreciate the host's engaging, energetic style and well-researched storytelling.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#113 Radio Caroline and The Fleet's Lit Up
Q: Tell us about your way into this story and your connections with it.
Ray Clark shares how he first heard Radio Caroline in 1964, which sparked his passion for radio and ultimately led him to a career in broadcasting.
#107 On-Air Criticisms, James Cary and Miranda Hart
Q: If you were director general of the BBC, what would you do?
I would make less television. I wouldn't bother with daytime television since the commercial sector does all of that perfectly fine. I would focus on doing less but doing it better.
#106 6BM Bournemouth: The End of the Beginning at the BBC... and James Cridland
Q: How are you listening to audio and radio?
James primarily uses DAB and smart speakers to listen to audio and radio.
#105 2BD Aberdeen and R.E. Jeffrey: From First Gaelic Broadcast to First Sci-Fi
Q: What got you interested in researching local radio, particularly in Scotland?
Dr. Kocic explains that his personal experience of moving to Scotland and finding the absence of local BBC stations prompted him to delve into the issue.
#094 Wireless Manhunts on the BBC - in 1923 and 2023
Q: How did listeners perceive their interaction with the early broadcasters?
Listeners believed they were engaging interactively with the broadcasters through contests, requests, and letter writing, creating a personal connection, even if not every letter was responded to.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The British Broadcasting Century

What is The British Broadcasting Century about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused show that explores the birth and evolution of broadcasting in Britain, with a strong emphasis on the BBC and its archive. Episodes blend scholarly context, archival clips, and hosted storytelling to illuminate how early radio shaped culture, politics, and everyday life. Noteworthy is the mix of academics, journalists, and industry veterans who bring nuanced perspectives on programming, technology, and public service, often weaving in behind-the-scenes anecdotes and rare recordings. This combination of rigor and accessibility makes it a compelling listen for media professionals, students, and history buffs seeking a deeper understanding of broadcasting's formative decades.

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Which podcasts are similar to The British Broadcasting Century?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The British Broadcasting Century:

1. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
2. More or Less
3. No Such Thing As A Fish
4. Life Without
5. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

How many episodes of The British Broadcasting Century are there?

The British Broadcasting Century launched 6 years ago and published 118 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The British Broadcasting Century?

Recent guests on The British Broadcasting Century include:

1. Earl Okin
2. Rachel Cowgill
3. Ray Clark
4. Dr. A Brad Schwartz
5. Tamsin Greig
6. Rory Kinnear
7. Aja Dodd
8. Carina Saner

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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