1952 in British radio

This is a list of events from British radio in 1952.

Events

January

22 January – First broadcast of The Goon Show under this title on the BBC Home Service. Michael Bentine leaves the cast at the end of this series. After the start of the third series, Spike Milligan, the principal writer, suffers a nervous breakdown and is absent from performing and writing credits from the episodes commencing 9 December into 1953.

February

6 February – Following the death of King George VI, discovered at 7.30am, the BBC broadcasts the news at 11.15am; the news is repeated seven times, every 15 minutes, and then the BBC goes silent for five hours.
15 February – State funeral of George VI: The funeral procession through London and ceremony inside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, are broadcast on BBC radio. The commentary by Richard Dimbleby subsequently receives comment for its poignancy.

March to July

No events.

August

26 August – Hit radio series Welsh Rarebit, broadcast from the BBC Cardiff studios, transfers to television.

September

26 September – Comedy series In All Directions is first broadcast on the BBC Home Service. Unusually for this period, the script originates from improvisation between the two stars, Peter Ustinov and Peter Jones, edited by Frank Muir and Denis Norden. In the series, which continues to 1955, Jones originates his spiv character Dudley Grosvenor.

October

15 October – First broadcast of a series of Sherlock Holmes, with Carleton Hobbs in the title role, which will continue intermittently until 1969.

November

No events.

December

No events.

Programme endings

July – Calling All Forces, on the BBC Light Programme

Continuing radio programmes

1930s

''In Town Tonight''

1940s

Music While You Work Sunday Half Hour Desert Island Discs Family Favourites Down Your Way Have A Go Housewives' Choice Letter from America Woman's Hour Twenty Questions Any Questions? Mrs Dale's Diary Take It from Here Billy Cotton Band Show A Book at Bedtime

''Ray's a Laugh''

1950s

The Archers Educating Archie

''Listen with Mother''

Births

4 February – Harriet Cass, radio newsreader and announcer
11 March – Douglas Adams, writer )
12 March – Chris Needs, Welsh radio host
23 May – Dillie Keane, cabaret writer-performer and broadcaster
11 September – Catherine Bott, soprano and music presenter
10 December – Clive Anderson, broadcast presenter, comedy writer and barrister
26 December – Jon Glover, actor

Deaths

19 April – Steve Conway, singer