Media UK

BBC Radio Devon - news archive

This is an archive of news about BBC Radio Devon. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Jacksons in talks for Devon documentary
From Digital Spy. Posted April 2 2008, 3.08pm
The Jackson family are in talks to star in a documentary about their forthcoming move to Devon. (more)

It's All Gone Pete Tong
From Radio Today. Posted March 17 2008, 8.05am
BBC Radio 1 are negligent. We've got the proof, it's a Radio Today exclusive. Pete Tong deliberately mentioned there was a house party. In a house. Somewhere. And at some time.As you can imagine, over 2,000 people, probably all drug addicts or teenage mothers we imagine, turned up and wrecked the 21-bedroom manor house in Devon on Friday night. And according to one eye-witness statement we've just made up, Tong himself urinated in a wardrobe while naked. (more)

Alan Dedicoat back in Devon
From Radio Today. Posted January 18 2008, 1.33am
Voice of the Balls Alan Dedicoat returned to the local radio station he worked at before landing a job at BBC Radio 2 in 1987. (more)

Voice of the Balls Returning to BBC Radio Devon
From Merry Media. Posted January 15 2008, 4.19pm
The famous National Lottery Voice of the Balls, Alan Dedicoat, will be helping BBC Radio Devon celebrate its 25th anniversary on Thursday 17 January. . (more)

Radio Kent Journalist Jonathan Witchell Dies
From Merry Media. Posted December 18 2007, 9.48pm
BBC Radio Kent broadcast journalist Jonathan Witchell died last weekend at the age of 33 following a short illness. Jonathan was with Radio Kent for 10 years and has also worked at Radio Devon and Radio Lincolnshire. . (more)

BBC Radio Kent journalist dies
From Radio Today. Posted December 18 2007, 8.28pm
BBC Radio Kent broadcast journalist Jonathan Witchell has passed away at the age of 33 He died on Saturday 15th December following a short illness. Jonathan studied at Salford University before completing a Masters degree at Stirling University and joining BBC Radio Devon. (more)

Radio Devon is BBC favourite
From Radio Today. Posted December 10 2007, 9.00pm
BBC Radio Devon has won an award for the Best Regional Radio Station in the media category of the 28th annual Plain English Campaign awards. BBC Radio Five Live's Midday News has also been awarded a gong for Best National Radio Programme. (more)

Radio Devon on the move
From Radio Today. Posted December 3 2007, 7.35am
BBC Radio Devon is set to move away from premesis in Mannamead to a new state-of-the-art, digital broadcasting centre at Sutton Harbour in Plymouth. It is part of the BBC's purpose built broadcast centre which will also house BBC South West television. (more)

Macquarie hands back Devon radio licence
From Media Guardian. Posted November 29 2007, 11.51pm
· Ofcom embarrassed by Australian group's move· Critics had slammed award over local bidders (more)

Freelancer of the fortnight: Marilyn Devonish, Watford
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted September 18 2007, 12.00am
Journalism.co.uk caught up with Marilyn, who specialises in lifestyle coaching and writing    (more)

BBC adds text and EPG data to its DRM trial
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 13 2007, 1.44pm
The BBC has chosen London based digital radio specialists Unique Interactive to provide Display Text and Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) data for their Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) trial. The initiative is centred on BBC Radio Devon in Plymouth in the South West of England [855 kHz], and is set to assess the practicality of digital [...] (more)

Royal visit for Devon and Cornwall newspapers
From Hold the Front Page. Posted May 15 2007, 12.00am
Charles and Camilla help weeklies celebrate their 150th anniversary (more)

RAJAR Q1-07 - BBC Radio Devon
From Merry Media. Posted May 10 2007, 11.53pm
BBC Radio Devon has gained 3,000 extra listeners over the last year and now has an average weekly audience of 269,000, a record for the station, according to latest official figures.. (more)

David Fitzgerald to join Radio Devon
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted May 2 2007, 4.30pm
Radio and television personality David Fitzgerald is joining BBC Radio Devon. (more)

DRM arrives in Devon
From Radio Today. Posted April 21 2007, 10.39pm
One hundred radio listeners in Plymouth are getting ready to tune in to their BBC local radio station on Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM). A year-long trial in the county will re-use Radio Devon's 855AM medium wave frequency, from this Monday (23rd April). (more)

BBC Radio Devon Try Out New Technology
From Merry Media. Posted April 21 2007, 5.57pm
On St George's Day, 23 April, 100 Devon radio listeners will be eagerly tuning into BBC Radio Devon using a brand new technology to UK listeners, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).. (more)

Channel 103 & Palm 105.5 Favourites in SW England
From Merry Media. Posted April 20 2007, 3.45pm
The Breakfast Show on Channel 103 hosted by Peter Mac and The Drivetime Show on Palm 105.5 hosted by Darren Shortt have been crowned the Best in South West England in a poll on Merry Media.For the next couple of months Merry Media will be moving from one region to the next in the UK to find the best Breakfast and Drivetime shows on local radio. We started off in South West England. Peter Mac won the Most Favourite Breakfast Show title for the South West, with 31% of votes, followed closely by Gordon Sparks from the Plymouth Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Devon with 30% of votes. In third place was the BBC Radio Devon Breakfast Show with Matt Woodley with 10% of votes.. (more)

BBC Radio Devon DRM tests to start on 23 April
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 6 2007, 1.06pm
The BBC has confirmed that the first tests of DRM on mediumwave for a UK domestic audience will commence on 23 April. 100 volunteers have signed up to participate in the year-long trial, which will broadcast BBC Radio Devon in DRM mode to the Plymouth area on its assigned frequency of 855 kHz. The AM transmitter [...] (more)

Ofcom awards six licences
From Radio Today. Posted February 13 2007, 10.21am
Community Radio took another step forward today with the awarding of six more licences for community groups. The new stations, which are all given a licence for five years are located in Gwent, Swansea, Devon, Somerset and two in Cornwall. (more)

BBC trials DRM in Devon
From Radio Today. Posted February 9 2007, 3.18pm
Digital radio on medium-wave took another small step closer to the mainstream today as the BBC announced trials of the technology in Plymouth. The Corporation, in conjunction with transmission provider National Grid Wireless, is experimenting with the Digital Radio Mondiale, or DRM, technology on its Radio Devon AM frequency in Plymouth, 855 kHz. (more)

BBC first to launch DRM trial in UK
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted February 9 2007, 2.12pm
The BBC is to launch a trial of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) to find out whether the use of medium wave for digital radio is a practical option.As part of the trial, BBC Radio Devon will use DRM technology for a year from its existing medium-wave transmitter in Plymouth.An audience panel will be recruited and panel members will be given radios which are capable of receiving DRM as well as the existing FM and DAB services.The trial will be the first of its kind in the UK using medium-wave to provide DRM to UK listeners.John Allen, Head of New Services for BBC English Regions, said: "The trial will help us understand whether DRM has a role to play in the all-digital future for BBC Local Radio in the UK."Listeners to BBC Radio Devon on AM in Plymouth will have to retune their radio to FM or DAB to continue listening while the DRM trial takes place.The BBC has also announced plans to grow its network of DAB transmitters by ten, with most of the new services in operation by the end of April.Glasgow, Gwent, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and the South Downs are among the areas that will benefit from increased digital radio coverage following today's announcement.All ten transmitters are being built and will be operated for the BBC by Arqiva.Jenny Abramsky said: "I'm delighted to be able to announce these new transmitters. They represent a real and worthwhile improvement to the coverage of our DAB digital radio network. It shows the BBC's continuing commitment to making our services available on DAB digital radio." (more)

BBC Devon scoops gardening award for phone-in
From Breaking Radio. Posted December 1 2006, 7.59am
BBC Radio Devon has scooped the radio broadcast of the year gong at this year's Garden Writers' Guild awards for its weekly phone-in, It's All Gone Pear Shaped.BBC Radio Devon scoops radio broadcast of the year at this year's Garden Writers' Guild awards for its weekly phone-in, It's All Gone Pear Shaped. (more)

Gardening group roots for BBC Devon
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted December 1 2006, 7.36am
BBC Radio Devon has scooped the radio broadcast of the year gong at this year's Garden Writers' Guild awards.The station was recognised for its weekly gardening phone-in, It's All Gone Pear Shaped, produced and presented by Pippa Quelch.Quelch hosts the hour-long show on BBC Radio Devon every Sunday, in which listeners can put their questions to local horticultural experts.The Garden Writers' Guild ceremony aims to reward the best in gardening and horticulture writing, photography and broadcasting.Straight-talking Yorkshireman, Geoffrey Smith, once described as the Geoffrey Boycott of gardening, won the lifetime achievement award.Now 78, he has been a professional gardener for over 50 years and became a regular panelist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. (more)

New website launched to celebrate Canadian old-time radio
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 6 2006, 9.33am
The Canadian Old-Time Radio Alliance (COTRA) has set up a website to celebrate Canada’s accomplishments at a time when radio was king. COTRA president, Devon Wilkins says “Countries like the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and South Africa have had the good sense to keep that part of their heritage alive by making it possible for [...] (more)

Gemini FM DJ lottery win
From Radio Today. Posted February 11 2006, 3.18pm
A Devon newspaper is reporting that Gemini FM presenter Dean Brame is rumoured to have won upto 2.5million pounds on a recent draw on the National Lottery. Details are very sketchy but the newspaper obviously believes there is something in it or they would not have ran the story. Dani Finch, acting programme controller of Gemini FM, told the Western Morning News: "I am not prepared to comment on a speculative story I have no prior knowledge of." (more)