1955 in British radio

This is a list of events from British radio in 1955.

Events

17 April – Opening of Hancock's Half Hour 2nd series on BBC radio. Two days before it is due to be recorded Tony Hancock walks out of a theatre performance suffering from "nervous exhaustion" and flies to Rome. Harry Secombe is brought in at short notice to replace him in the radio series and stars in the first three episodes, making a guest appearance in the fourth when Hancock returns. Andrée Melly joins the regular cast playing a French character.
2 May – Opening of Wrotham transmitting station in Kent, the UK's first VHF/FM transmitters.
22 September – The character Grace Archer is killed in a fire in the BBC radio serial The Archers, a spoiler for the launch of ITV on the same day.
The Welsh Home Service becomes available on VHF from the Wenvoe transmitting station.

Programme debuts

4 October – Pick of the Pops
''From Our Own Correspondent''

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 The Goon Show

''Hancock's Half Hour''

Births

5 January – Jimmy Mulville, producer
February – Dirk Maggs, Jersey-born radio producer
14 March – Felicity Finch, actress and reporter
5 April – Janice Long, née Chegwin, disc jockey
22 May – Dale Winton, broadcast presenter
31 May – Lynne Truss, writer, broadcaster and scriptwriter
14 June – Paul O'Grady, broadcast presenter and comedy performer
Approximate date – Christopher Douglas, comedy actor-writer