The cryptic-looking equation above is the secret formula for BOK — the most talked-about thing in radio for some years: it was handed to us by none other than Kenneth Horne, who from tonight will once again preside (in the Light Programme) over the process in which its various elements combine into the powerful, even explosive, mixture whose chief side-effect is laughter.

To identify the two Ks is easy: one stands for Horne himself, and the other for Kenneth Williams whose quick-silver properties can take shape in many forms, from querulous old Ambrose to gushy Charles. The Ps? One for Hugh Paddick, the substance of Snaith and the overhydrated Birkinshaw, one for Paul Fenoulhet, the musical matrix of the mixture, and one for Bill Pertwee.

Betty Marsden is undoubtedly the first M, and the other must be Eric Merriman, whose brooding countenance belies the verbal wit and flashing fancies that run through his scriptwriting brain. One J is Jacques Brown, the producer and catalyst of it all. But the second J only yields its identity to further research: it seems that Janet Waters is entering BOK for the first time. That leaves 4H. Obviously a compound element but, being the last, easily isolated—the Hornets, a singing group evolved out of last season’s Fraser Hayes Four.

Article source: the Radio Times published 13 October 1960

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Is it really a year since Tony Blackburn delivered his first disc at 7.0 in the morning? A year since Robin Scott announced his first team of DJs to launch the Wonderful new service? A year since the first jingle broke in on the air, since that swinging chick appeared at the top of the Radio Times pages; since those buttons were handed out which said ‘I’m a Radio One-upman’?

It;’s no longer like that at the beginning of the second year. Those very bright and highly professional young men who invaded the studios last September have become part of the BBC scene – and the Scene is part of the BBC. Their voices are familiar to millions who tune into 247 metres – whether it’s for the Daily Disc Delivery with Tony, for the Daily Whatsit with David, for the New Sounds with Peel, for R. & B. with Mike, Foreverett with Kenny, for… but why go on? You know who we mean, and here are pictures of some of those who are in the programmes this week.

The year ahead in Radio 1 and 2

It is probably fair to say that after their first year in action Radio 1 and Radio 2 haw established their patterns, their identities. and their listeners. As the second year dawns will there be major changes as a result of experience in the first one? The brief answer from Robin Scott, Controller of the two programmes, is ‘no’. His longer and more precise one is a qualified ‘yes’.

The intention at the start was to give listeners a wider choice of programmes than they had on the old Light Programme, and to give them this choice for as much of the time as possible. This intention has been kept very clearly in mind. At first the ‘choice time’ was just under fifty-three hours a week, and this has grown gradually until from September 30 it will be more like sixty-two hours.

This policy is to be most fully carried out at the major listening periods: breakfast, lunchtime, and early evening. To some extent this has happened already. Breakfast Special, with its team of John Dunn, Paul Hollingdale, and Ray Moore, will continue to provide the best in middle-of-the-road and light music on Radio 2 as a contrast to the Tony Blackburn Show on Radio 1, and at ‘going home time’ Roundabout on Radio 2 will still be placed against the David Symonds Show and the latest pop records on the other side.

There are, however, important changes at lunchtime. From Monday to Friday, beginning on October 21, the new Radio 1 Club will be in session from noon till 2.0. This is described in more detail on this page. On Radio 2 at the same time, starting on September 30, there will be a two-hour programme of sweet music. Sam Costa will be the first lunchtime host for this programme.

At the weekend the amount of alternative programmes will be considerable. The pattern on Radio 1 remains consistent through Saturday, with Chris Denning taking over the 2.0 to 4.0 p.m. spot for a spell, while Radio 2 is separate until 7.30, except for the return of Jack Jackson’s Record Roundabout from 1.0 till 2.0 and Country Meets Folk at 5.30. On Radio 2 Max Jaffa returns with a new-style Saturday morning show, and Frank Chacksfield delivers some of his characteristic sounds of sweet music in the afternoon. On both Saturday and Sunday nights Pete Murray will he host in the two-hour show to midnight on both programmes.

The picture is similar on Sunday. Eric Robinson continues with his Melodies for You in the morning, and, until the beginning of November, John Hanson will have his show in the afternoon. From November 10 there will be a new sweet music ‘Spectacular’ with such names as Semprini and Kenneth Alwyn figuring prominently. It will be an audience show recorded at the Camden Theatre.

‘Specialist’ music will continue to get its fair share on both programmes. Jazz Club on Wednesday (Radio 1) and Jazz at Night (both) will be matched on Sunday nights by Jazz on One (Radio 1) and Humphrey Lyttelton at five past midnight (both). That means more Jazz on VHF than before. ‘Progressive’ pop, Country and Western, and folk music continue much as they are, and Mike Raven’s Sunday night Rhythm and Blues increases from an hour to ninety minutes. Both programmes share some of the best in Latin-American music on Saturday evenings.

Among the non-musical programmes planned for the coming twelve months are Follow This Space, a sequel to Listen to This Space, which will begin on Sunday evenings in mid-October and I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again early next year — both on Radio 1 and 2. The Sunday afternoon comedy spot in Radio 2 will be filled by the Navy Lark, followed in the New Year by the Ken Dodd Show, and in the spring by the other Ken in Round the Horne. The irrepressible Clitheroe Kid is back in October.

In Five to Ten from September 30 Bernard Miles will be reading his own adaptation of stories from the New Testament in his Hertfordshire dialect: a must for his many fans.

Sport, finally, takes its place in the line-up. The Mexico Olympics and the Test Series in South Africa are the highlights of the coming months and there will be up-to-the-minute coverage of both. Commentaries on the big boxing matches will be broadcast — ‘live’ from the ringside — as well as all the important mid-week football.

Year Two looks like a pretty full one — start listening NOW.

Radio 1 Club

Lunchtime Pop in the second year of Radio I takes on a new and rather exciting form. On October 21 Radio 1 Club opens its doors — well known to many pop fans already — in lower Regent Street, just off Piccadilly Circus. Of course, if you listen to Radio 1, you’re already a member of about the largest pop club in the world. But this is a way of putting your membership on record, and getting some special advantages as wall — which is part of what a club’s all about.

The object of the Club is to enable its members to come along at lunchtime, from Monday to Friday, meet the DJs, top guest stars, here some of the leading groups ‘live’, ask for request records, or collect autographs, or dance — or just sit around and have a snack.

To become a member all you have to do is send a stamped addressed envelope to Radio 1 Club Membership, BBC, P.O. Box 1AA, London. W.1. and your card will be sent to you. Fill it in as soon as you gat it. If you’re one of the first 10,000 to apply you will also gat a free lapel button — shown above. Your membership card will get you priority entrance to the Club, subject to the capacity of the premises.

Radio 1 Club news will be reported in Radio Times every week — where you can also see full details of all the other Radio 1 programmes. And here’s another advantage of joining this Club of the air. A lucky membership card number will be picked every day at the lunchtime session by one of the day’s guest stars. The prize will be record tokens for the top five pops. In addition to this one lucky card number will be drawn each week and published in Radio Times. The winner will receive tokens for the five top pop LPs.

Playing host each day will be one of the Radio DJs, they will all be taking part at some time, but to start the ball rolling for the first four weeks your hosts will be (in daily turn) Keith Skues, Johnny Moran, Dave Lee Travis, Stuart Henry, and Pete Drummond.

Plans are in hand to open Radio 1 Club branches throughout the country — but don’t wait for the Club to come to you, join right away, you might even be a lucky prizewinner. But prize or no prize, this is a club for pop fans — and if that means you, start writing.

Radio 2 is one too

For Radio 2 however it is not quite the same sort of birthday; the Light Programme was an old favourite when it changed its name. These twins are not identical, and they are getting less and less so – particularly at lunchtime, when Sam Costa has his new two-hour show, in the morning, with Breakfast Special, and in the early evening with Roundabout – if you like your music a bit sweeter.

What with one wavelength and another there’s a Wonderful year ahead.

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