BBC Three Counties Radio


BBC Three Counties Radio is the BBC's local radio station serving the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios at Grove Park in Dunstable.
According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 125,000 listeners and a 5.8% share as of December 2023.

History

BBC Radio Bedfordshire (1985–1993)

The station launched as "Radio Bedfordshire" on 24 June 1985, serving the whole of Bedfordshire plus North Buckinghamshire and the northern parts of Hertfordshire. Therefore Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Milton Keynes, Knebworth, Berkhamsted, Tring, Harpenden, Leighton Buzzard, Aylesbury, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Hitchin were served by the new station. In 1992, the station became known as "BBC Radio Bedfordshire with Herts and Bucks".

BBC Three Counties Radio (1993–present)

The station changed to its present name on 5 April 1993. The new name was intended to reflect the wider reach across the three counties and to give equal service to all. The editorial area was not, at that point, expanded but enhanced studio facilities and staff were devoted to Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
New transmitters at Epping Green and Bedmond extended the coverage area to Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and west Hertfordshire in late 2005.
BBC Three Counties Radio became available on DAB radio on 14 February 2013. In June 2015, the station moved from its Luton base to new studios in Dunstable.
In 2025, the station celebrated the 40th anniversary of its launch on 24 June 1985.

Programming

Local programming is produced and broadcast from the BBC's Dunstable studios from 6am to 2pm weekdays. Weekdays from 2pm to 10pm are BBC East regional programming. Saturday 6am to 10pm BBC East shared programming. Sundays 6am to 6pm BBC East regional shared programming. Many of the regional shows are broadcast from the studios of Three Counties Radio. All other times such as late and overnight programming is England-wide shared programming.

Presenters

Notable current presenters

  • Andy Collins

    Notable past presenters

  • Nana Akua
  • Jon Gaunt
  • Tony Hadley
  • Iain Lee
  • Gordon Astley
  • Nick Lawrence
  • John Radford
  • Stephen Rhodes
  • Dave Lee Travis