1971 in British radio
This is a list of events in British radio during 1971.
Events
January
- 3 January – The Open University begins broadcasts on the BBC.
February
- 1 February – Radio-only and combined radio & television licences are abolished.
March
- No events.
April
- No events.
May
- Michael Freedland presents the first edition of magazine programme You Don’t Have to be Jewish on BBC Radio London.
June to December
- No events.
Station debuts
- 2 January – BBC Radio Newcastle
- 26 January – BBC Radio Blackburn
- 25 February – BBC Radio Humberside
- 29 April – BBC Radio Derby
Programme debuts
- 15 February – Lines from My Grandfather's Forehead, BBC Radio 4
- 28 February, 5 December – Parsley Sidings, BBC Radio 2
- May – You Don't Have to Be Jewish, BBC Radio London
Continuing radio programmes
1940s
Sunday Half Hour Desert Island Discs Down Your Way Letter from America Woman's Hour1950s
The Archers The Today Programme The Navy Lark Sing Something Simple1960s
Farming Today In Touch The Men from the Ministry I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again Petticoat Line The World at One The Official Chart Just a Minute The Living World1970s
PM Start the Week Week Ending- ''You and Yours''
Births
- 5 January
- *Joanna Gosling, journalist and newsreader
- *Jayne Middlemiss, radio and television presenter
- 18 January – Leona Graham, broadcaster and voiceover artist
- 29 January – Clare Balding, BBC Sports presenter, journalist and jockey
- 10 May – Simon Jack, financial journalist
- 23 May – Claudia Hammond, radio presenter
- 27 May – Petroc Trelawny, classical music presenter
- 1 June – Nihal Arthanayake, broadcaster
- 17 August – Bridget Christie, stand-up comedian
- 7 October – Aasmah Mir, Scottish-born radio presenter
- Katie Breathwick, radio presenter
Deaths
- 28 May – Ralph Wightman, writer and broadcaster on countryside matters
- 16 June – John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, Scottish broadcasting executive