Hip hip hurrah! Our centenary special, landing on the 100th birthday of professional public broadcast radio in Britain. Hear the best/only (possibly) re-enactment of the Melba Concert, sent from Chelmsford to the world on June 15th 1920 - exactly a century before this episode lands.

Relive the songs, the fire, a genuine joke, the panic when it goes off-air... and discover how an attempt at Daily Mail Radio sparked British broadcasting into being.

This podcast is here to inform, educate + entertain on the origins of the BBC, radio and life as we know it - but has no affiliation with either the British Broadcasting Corporation or the British Broadcasting Company (which, in fairness, ceased trading in 1926, so that was always unlikely).

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Join Paul TONIGHT on Facebook Live, with a live talk/Q&A on The History of the BBC (basically this entire podcast series condensed into an hour). £Pay What You Want, details here or on our Facebook page.

Your questions/comments (written) or early broadcasting memories (recorded) are welcome via email.

This episode's guest was Lorna Farrell, and her Facebook page of prayers and poems is here.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROADCASTING! Here's to the next 100...

#004 Happy 100th, Radio! Melba: The Voice

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

#004 Happy 100th, Radio! Melba: The Voice