Gerald Durrell, holding his chimpanzee Chumley, in a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Natural History Unit programme from 1958.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in Bristol opened on 18 September 1934. Two years after Broadcasting House in London opened as the first purpose built broadcast centre in the UK, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Bristol studios went live, offering speech and drama production for the west of England and national ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ radio networks.
The Lord Mayor of Bristol officially opened the Whiteladies Road studios and offices, on the 18 September 1934. The centre which included an important large space to hold an entire orchestra was one of the most modern radio centres of its day. The Second World War threw the spotlight on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in Bristol, when the Corporation's entire Entertainment Department was billeted there.
After the war, Frank Gillard, a native of the Westcountry, and one of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s foremost war correspondents and mastermind of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ local radio, became head of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Western Region at Bristol until 1963. During his time there his plans for the foundation of local radio in the UK began to germinate, and he was also responsible for devising the sound and style for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Bristol is best known today as the home of the world-famous Natural History Unit, the Antiques Roadshow, Gardeners' World, and Countryfile amongst others.
Further reading
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Broadcasting House, Bristol
A history of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Bristol studios.
September anniversaries
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Close down of Television service for the duration of the War
1 September 1939 -
The Morecambe and Wise Show
2 September 1968 -
Chamberlain announces Britain is at war with Germany
3 September 1939 -
Start of first series of Porridge
5 September 1974 -
Droitwich transmitter becomes operational
6 September 1934 -
The News Quiz
6 September 1977 -
Casualty
6 September 1986 -
Only Fools and Horses
8 September 1981 -
The Woodentops
9 September 1955 -
First live Children's ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ from 'the Broom Cupboard'
9 September 1985 -
The Saga of Noggin the Nog first transmitted
11 September 1959 -
Crackerjack
14 September 1955 -
The Royle Family
14 September 1998 -
Opening of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Bristol
18 September 1934 -
First episode of Fawlty Towers
19 September 1975 -
First episode of I, Claudius
20 September 1976 -
The Old Grey Whistle Test
21 September 1971 -
The Shock of the New
21 September 1980 -
CEEFAX: world's first teletext service
23 September 1974 -
Pride and Prejudice
24 September 1995 -
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television for Schools begins
24 September 1957 -
Question Time
25 September 1979 -
The Epilogue
26 September 1926 -
Start of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ European Service, News in French, German and Italian
27 September 1938 -
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Singers
28 September 1924 -
The beginning of The Third Programme
29 September 1946 -
Have I Got News For You
28 September 1990 -
War and Peace
28 September 1972 -
First episode of Come Dancing
29 September 1950 -
Start of Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4
30 September 1967 -
Chamberlain returns from Munich
30 September 1938