Roundabout East Anglia was a BBC radio programme providing news and current affairs coverage for the East Anglia region of England during the 1970s.[1] It was broadcast on the area's VHF frequency of BBC Radio 4 as a regional opt-out from the flagship Today programme, from 6.45am to 8.45am each morning.[2]
The programme covered the same geographical area as the BBC's television news programme Look East.[2] It was also broadcast from the same building as Look East, BBC East's regional headquarters at All Saint's Green in Norwich.[1] Presenters who worked on Roundabout East Anglia included Ellis Hill, John Mountford, and Christopher Trace.[2] In addition to the news items there was also lighter, more features-based content such as advice from gardening experts.[3]
Roundabout East Anglia came to an end in early-1980s. This was due both to BBC budgetary cutbacks in regional broadcasting,[4] and because a dedicated BBC Local Radio service was to be introduced to part of the area for the first time, with BBC Radio Norfolk launching in September 1980.[1] Several Roundabout East Anglia personnel transferred to working for Radio Norfolk when that service began, with John Mountford becoming the station's first breakfast show presenter.[5] However, it wasn't until 1990 that Suffolk got its own local BBC radio station.
A look back at the programme's history was broadcast in 2012 on BBC Radio Norfolk and John Mountford was one of the presenters who was interviewed for the programme.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "1". Taking the Norfolk Air: BBC Radio Norfolk - The First 25 Years. Grice Chapman. 2005. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0-9545726-7-X.
- ^ a b c "BBC Radio Norfolk's 25th anniversary". BBC.co.uk. 9 September 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Skipper, Keith, ed. (1990). BBC Radio Norfolk - The First Ten Years. Jim Baldwin Publishing. p. 46.
- ^ Kenneth Gosling (27 February 1980). "MPs to see BBC chief over fears for regions". The Times. p. 5.
- ^ BBC Radio Norfolk - The First Ten Years, page 15.
- ^ BBC Programme Index