1977 in British radio

Events

January

• 3 January – At 6.45am, BBC Radio Cymru launches, and becomes the first broadcasting outlet dedicated wholly to programmes in Welsh. The service is part-time and restricted to breakfast shows, extended news bulletins at breakfast, lunchtime & early evening and a number of off-peak opt-outs from a sustaining Radio 4 Wales English-language feed.

February

• 14 February – The Annan Committee makes its recommendations and its principle recommendation for radio is for the privatisation of BBC local radio; this is not implemented.

March

• No events.

April

• 30 April – The first edition of the Saturday morning magazine programme Sport on Four is broadcast on BBC Radio 4; it will run until 1998.

May

• 2 May – BBC Radio 4 launches a new breakfast programme Up to the Hour. Consequently, the Today programme is reduced from a continuous two-hour programme to two 25-minute slots. This arrangement lasts for just over a year before Today reverts to a continuous broadcast. This summer, Today starts to carry a daily horse racing tip, which will continue until 2024.

June

• No events.

July

• No events.

August

• 22 August – The BBC Radio comedy The Men from the Ministry airs its final episode after fifteen years on air.

September

• No events.

October

• 2 October – The first edition of personal financial advice magazine programme Money Box is broadcast on BBC Radio 4; it will still be running into the 2020s.
• 11 October – Bing Crosby makes his last ever recordings, three days before his death, at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios.

November

• 28 November – BBC Radio 1 launches a weekday afternoon programme presented by Tony Blackburn. Previously, the station has simulcasted BBC Radio 2's afternoon show. Tony is replaced on mid-mornings by Simon Bates. Consequently Radio 1 now has its own all-day schedule on weekdays although the station continues to simulcast Radio 2 each night from 7pm, apart from the weekday late night John Peel programme.

December

• No events.

Station debuts

• 3 January – BBC Radio Cymru
• 9 May – BBC Radio Orkney, BBC Radio Shetland

Programme debuts

• 2 May – Up to the Hour on BBC Radio 4
• 6 September – The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4
• 2 October – Money Box on BBC Radio 4
• 26 October – File on 4 on BBC Radio 4
• 5 November – Albert and Me on BBC Radio 2 The Enchanting World of Hinge and Bracket on BBC Radio 4

Continuing radio programmes

1940s

• ''A Book at Bedtime''

1950s

• ''Your Hundred Best Tunes''

1960s

• ''The Organist Entertains''

1970s

• ''The Burkiss Way''

Ending this year

• 16 July – The Navy Lark
• 22 August – ''The Men from the Ministry''

Births

• 30 March – Hugo Rifkind, newspaper columnist and radio presenter
• 31 May – Joel Ross, radio and television presenter
• 22 August – Sarah Champion, radio and television presenter
• 28 September – John Finnemore, comedy writer-performer
• 25 October – Anita Rani, radio and television presenter

Deaths

• 5 September – Elsie Carlisle, "Radio Sweetheart Number One", singer
• 8 November – Ted Ray, comedian