1964 in British radio

This is a list of events from British radio in 1964.

Events

January

5 January – Alan Freeman returns as host of Pick of the Pops.
26 January – York Hospital Radio goes on air with its first programme.

February

No events

March

27 March – Children's Hour is broadcast for the last time, on the BBC Home Service.
28 March – Radio Caroline, a "pirate" radio station set up by Ronan O'Rahilly broadcasting from MV Caroline anchored in international waters off Felixstowe, debuts as Europe's first all-day English-language pop music station.

April

3 April – The radio comedy series I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again makes its debut, on the BBC Home Service.

May

12 May – "Pirate" radio station Radio Atlanta begins broadcasting from anchored off Frinton; in July its operations are merged with Radio Caroline.
27 May – Screaming Lord Sutch begins broadcasting from "pirate" station Radio Sutch on Shivering Sands Army Fort offshore in the Thames Estuary; he soon sells the operation to his manager Reginald Calvert who renames it Radio City.

June

29 June – Launch of Manx Radio, the Isle of Man's national radio station.

July

6 July – MV Caroline takes up a new anchorage on Bahama Bank off the Isle of Man and begins broadcasting as Radio Caroline North.

August

13 August – The world premiere of Mahler's Tenth Symphony, the unfinished work completed by Deryck Cooke, is given at the BBC Proms, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Berthold Goldschmidt.
30 August – The Third Programme begins broadcasting during the day on Sundays.
31 August –
*Farming Today moves from Network Three to the BBC Home Service where it takes over the early-morning slot previously occupied by Farm Bulletin.
* The Light Programme begins its day an hour earlier, at 5.30am.

September

3 September – Priaulx Rainier's Cello Concerto is given its première at The Proms by Jacqueline du Pré and the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Norman Del Mar.
19 September – The programme for the Last Night of the Proms includes Alan Rawsthorne's Piano Concerto no 1, played by Malcolm Binns.
26 September – The Light Programme begins broadcasting during the early morning and closes at 2am instead of midnight.

October

6 October – The variety programme Workers' Playtime is aired for the last time, on the Light Programme.

November

No events

December

1 December – Radio Caroline publicity officer David Block contacts the BBC to request a copy of the Queen's Christmas Message with the intention of broadcasting it on Christmas Day, but is turned down because Radio Caroline is not an authorised broadcaster.
12 December – The Third programme begins broadcasting on weekdays, providing a music service from 8am to 2pm
23 December – The "pirate" station Wonderful Radio London goes on air broadcasting from MV Galaxy anchored off Frinton with a Fab 40 playlist of popular records.

Station debuts

26 January – York Hospital Radio
28 March – Radio Caroline
29 June – Manx Radio
23 December – Wonderful Radio London

Programme debuts

17 March – Many a Slip on the BBC Home Service
3 April – I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again on the BBC Home Service
10 April – How's Your Father on the BBC Light Programme
26 July – Play it Cool on the BBC Light Programme

Continuing radio programmes

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? The Dales Billy Cotton Band Show

''A Book at Bedtime''

1950s

The Archers Listen with Mother From Our Own Correspondent Pick of the Pops The Clitheroe Kid My Word! Test Match Special The Today Programme The Navy Lark Sing Something Simple

''Your Hundred Best Tunes''

1960s

Farming Today Easy Beat In Touch

''The Men from the Ministry''

Births

11 January – Tony Livesey, journalist and radio presenter
24 February – Andy Crane, television and radio presenter
1 April – Jez Nelson, jazz presenter and media producer
16 May
*Rebecca Front, comic actress and scriptwriter
*Milton Jones, comedian
23 June – Jane Garvey, radio presenter
27 June – Lynn Parsons, radio and television presenter
5 August – Rory Morrison, radio newsreader and continuity announcer
19 September – Patrick Marber, comedy performer and writer
27 September – Gilles Peterson, disc jockey
12 November – Mohit Bakaya, Controller of BBC Radio 4
21 November – Liza Tarbuck, actress and radio and television presenter
28 November – Sian Williams, journalist and current affairs presenter
Unknown – Peter Kerry, writer of drama for radio and television

Deaths

21 March – Nancy Spain, writer and broadcaster, died in aviation accident
28 September – Sir George Dyson, radio's "voice of music"
10 December – Charles Samuel Franklin, radio pioneer