1966 in British radio
This is a list of events from British radio in 1966.
Events
January
- 20 January – Radio Caroline ship loses its anchor in a storm, drifts and runs aground on the beach at Frinton-on-Sea.
February
- No events
March
- No events
April
- 17 April – The first regular stereo radio transmissions begin, on FM from the Wrotham transmitter and initially for the BBC Third Programme.
May
- 3 May – Pirate radio stations Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio commence broadcasting on AM, with a combined potential 100,000 watts, from the same ship anchored off the south coast of England in international waters.
June
- 20 June – Radio City affair: Major Oliver Smedley and a team board Shivering Sands Army Fort off the Kent coast, home of Radio City (pirate radio station), to repossess a transmitter supplied but not paid for. The next day, Calvert visits Smedley's home in Saffron Walden over the issue and is shot dead in a struggle.
July
- No events
August
- No events
September
- 27 September – Irish radio personality Terry Wogan makes his debut on the BBC, broadcasting on the Light Programme.
October
- 27 October – Welsh writer and broadcaster Gwyn Thomas makes a notable tribute to the children of Aberfan following the Aberfan disaster of 21 October, broadcast across the UK on the BBC Home Service's Today morning programme.
November
- No events
December
- No events
Unknown
- Britain's first student radio station, the University of Kent's UKC Radio is founded, initially as an audio feed through the radiator system. It airs until 2006.
Station debuts
- 3 May
- *Swinging Radio England
- *Britain Radio
- 4 June – Radio 270
- Autumn – UKC Radio
Programme debuts
- 7 January ; 23 April – Listen to This Space on the BBC Home Service
- March –The Embassy Lark 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 Show1950s
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 Simple1960s
Farming Today Easy Beat In Touch The Men from the Ministry I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Petticoat Line Round the Horne- ''The World at One''
Births
- 19 January – Henry Naylor, comedy writer-performer and director
- 8 February – Sarah Montague, journalist and broadcast presenter
- 11 March – Paddy O'Connell, broadcast presenter
- 1 April – Chris Evans, disc jockey and television presenter
- 12 July – Tamsin Greig, actress
- 2 August – Jamie Crick, radio music presenter
- 25 August – Tracy-Ann Oberman, actress
- 31 August – Alice Oswald, BBC Radio 4 poet in residence
- 9 September – Nikki Bedi, née Moolgaoker, broadcast presenter
- 15 September – Claire Sturgess, disc jockey and voiceover artist
- 26 October – Judge Jules, dance music disc jockey and producer
- 30 November – Andy Parsons, comedy writer-performer
- 31 December – Carlos, disc jockey
- Daljit Nagra, BBC Radio 4 poet in residence
- Alan Smith, radio news presenter
Deaths
- 11 April – A. B. Campbell, naval officer and broadcaster
- 2 June – Stephen King-Hall, naval officer, politician and broadcaster
- 21 July – A. G. Street, broadcaster on country matters
- 2 December – Giles Cooper, broadcast dramatist