Dear all-that-is-holy. Just been trapped for two hours on a coach with Smooth Radio playing through the entire vehicle. There is a reason why Smooth
Category: Media
Radio Caroline sinking
It was some sort of day around this date-ish, back in 1980 that Radio Caroline sunk. It waited until lots of people were asleep, but
Save us from sofa journalists
Who remembers the days when supposed ‘news’ media actually had journalists who got off their arses and went out to research items and then composed
Radio Caroline or Radio Europa to make election broadcasts
Radio Caroline is set to return to the air with a party political broadcast telling you how to vote in May! Rumours are that the
To offend or to be offended, that is the question
I, probably like many others, have a number of discarded attempts at writing up my sad, depressing, witty and clever response to the whole Charlie
Stephen Fry takes god to task
Gay Byrne is an 80 year old Catholic who used to present a late night show broadcast across Ireland. He is a very god-fearing gentleman!
I’m still listening to Steve and Sue, I am
It was on 26th January 2013, which, I’ll have you know is now exactly 2 Earth years ago, that I first publicly anoraked about Steve
What are they doing to our porn?
Sex is fun, and what happens during it should always be defined by the two or more (or maybe just one) consenting adults involved. Trusting
The Islamophobia News Algorithm
Trying to decide what is ‘news’ and how important it is as news requires the application of a news algorithm. This is an essential way
Youth broadcasting under attack again
What’s on BBC4 TV you might ask. Pretty much what’s on BBC2. There’s not a big difference really, with the selection maybe being a tad
Why do old radio anoraks see nothing wrong with rape?
A guy called Ray Teret just got convicted on seven counts of rape and eleven counts of indecent assault. His victims were predominantly under the
Look at the black slave, listen to the singing about gays
Oh blimey. This is just so wrong on so many different levels. Can you believe this was actually broadcast on British television back in the
Community radio stations are not Super Stations
It passed me by, but probably the worst example of ‘community’ radio went bust and closed down a few weeks ago. The Superstation was supposedly a
Santa starts to climb Radio City 1’s Tower
He’s a month early, but it does look like Father Christmas has taken the opportunity to start the ascent to the top of the tower
The death of talking radio in Liverpool
The late night phone-in radio show broadcast by CityTalk, a Liverpool radio station, seems to be dying. It is hosted by long-time talking presenter Pete
The Friends of Ronan O’Rahilly Appeal
Little known to the world outside of radio anoraksia (enthusiasm) is the millionaire’s son and wealthy playboy and hustler of the 1960s, Irishman Ronan O’Rahilly.
Prayer in C
In recent times I’ve become slightly obsessed with Lilly Wood and the Prick. Well, to be more truthful, the single song “Prayer in C”, which,
Cold calling for TalkTalk
So, my elderly neighbour is on TalkTalk for her phone, broadband and TV. She pays for all of this despite rarely using the broadband. The
Why’s Global’s Newsroom’s mention’s?
And cue: “From Global’s Newsroom, this is Christopher England with LBC News / Capital News / Heart News …” What? The normal, non-anorak listening public
There will be no new Kenny Everett
I recently sighed and lamented the lack of ‘inclusive’ music radio (here). That’ll be music radio I can listen to and feel a part of,
Pop culture – Pop Music?
Here’s something I originally published over 10 years ago. I noticed that a re-publishing of it in 2008 was drawing traffic. Thus, I thought I’d re-publish
The search for inclusive music radio
Was radio ever presented by human beings? Was it ever experimental? Did it ever take chances or dare to be different? Here`s my problem: I
Look, the moon is not an egg, ok?
The new Doctor Who is great. I was in love with the Matt Smith Doctor Who. He came along just as the David Tennant Doctor
Open racism in the Guardian?
The Guardian ‘newspaper’ in the UK seems to be the acceptable face of racism and stereotyping. But why is it allowed to get away with
Quasar, the oldies radio station
Many years ago there was an offshore radio station called Radio Caroline. It stopped being an offshore radio station and became an internet radio station.
A taste of early radio anoraksia netiquette
Time, as we all know, is a funny one. As is the internet. As is communication via the internet. As is radio. As is radio
103 different Keys broadcasting in Manchester?
There’s changes afoot for radio station names in areas where Bauer Media currently operates. Here in Liverpool, what was operating on AM, a relay of
Oi mate, yer owl’s dead
I spent 2 hours watching this owl. It never moved. If it was a dead owl it would be sitting there rotting. It is not
OMG, it’s mental radio anorak day!
Jeeez. Spare me. It’s August the 14th. Noooooooooo. Back in 1967 this was the day that all the pop pirate radioships fell silent (except those
Liverpool’s radio for the racists
LBC primarily broadcasts from and for London, despite now trying to be a whole of ‘Britain’ radio station. Most of the phone-in caller responses to
Radio Anorak month begins
OMG. It’s August. August is a very bad month. It’s a month full of anniversaries of … (gulp) … radio stations births, deaths and marriages.
Is Cliff Richard innocent?
Cliff Richard. I guess he’s been there all my life. At first his songs were good pop songs, from before my era, then in my
People from the telly keep dying
In recent times, people that once meant something to me have started dying. I’m not speaking of family or friends, but of people from films,
No sex on TV?
What is wrong with these people who scream and shout about sex on TV or in the cinema? (I mean, in the film you are
Why do people put it up so high?
Once upon a time we were happy to have them with their own legs. Then we had them on handy cabinets. But now we are
Liverpool’s Radio City imitating early years of Radio 1
Who remembers when BBC Radio 1 first came on the air? No? Well, for many many years the station operated from 7 in the morning
The sound of the pirate radio underground
As music comes and goes, so do the pirate radio stations. Mainstream commercial music radio refuses to play new forms of music. It has to
BBC Radio Merseyside impossible to listen to
I know I’ve moaned about this before. I know I’ve even sent a complaint in via official channels. A nice techie man bothered to assemble
Replacing the short-wave numbers stations
For many many years, short-wave radio bands have been blessed with what are called ‘numbers stations‘. These are radio stations that come on at certain
The forgotten Radio Caroline North
We have less than 2 months until it will be Radio Caroline North‘s birthday. Sadly, I fear this occasion will pass without murmur, when really
Shocking studio sex orgy at Radio Caroline North
We can reveal that there is more to the pop-up Radio Caroline North than meets the eye. Indeed, it’s not just the radio station itself
When Radio Caroline anoraks lose the plot
Jewish religion anoraks are to blame for confusing today’s radio anoraks. Easter moves about from year to year owing to their fetish for celebrating their
BOAT! Radio Caroline North BOAT!
There’s a radio futurologist out there who hates me. Well, ‘hate’ is probably a strong word. Or maybe it isn’t. Well, whatever his emotions are,
This week, go Balearic
Episode 1 of Music Nation on Channel 4 was an interesting watch. Didn’t catch it? Well, it covered the start of the UK Garage music
Radio the way it should be?
So, as I mentioned, proper programming started on Thursday (3rd April) at 9am from pop-up Radio Caroline North. It started with John Dwyer, the main
Radio Caroline North Report #4
Here we go with a summary of the fourth day of me sitting as an armchair critic of Radio Caroline North. This is all that
Radio Caroline North Report #3
Another summary of my observations and public pronouncements about Radio Caroline North. These are from Wednesday, 2nd April: 09:15: Well, here we are at day 3
Radio Caroline North Report #2
So, this is from Tuesday, April Fool’s Day, and is a summary of what I witnessed and reported on day two of Radio Caroline North:
Radio Caroline North Report #1
Here’s the first of the daily reports from Liverpool about the progress of Radio Caroline North, a ‘pop-up’ 28 day radio service broadcasting from Birkenhead
The annoucement the BBC has been itching to make
You just know they hate humanity so much that they can’t wait for their worst fearmongering to come true so’s they can write this…
Peter Moore speaking of Radio Caroline North
Radio Caroline operates via radiocaroline.co.uk and is the same organisation that has control of the radioship Ross Revenge, the last home of Radio Caroline at
Radio Caroline North 2014 LIVE reports
For the world famous Christopher England rolling updates of news about the 28 day broadcast from Birkenhead using the callsign “Radio Caroline North” you need
Radio Caroline Hits 50
I’ve no idea who Rob Hadgraft is. (Apologies for that Mr Hadgraft!) However, Rob has produced a most interesting blog version of the events of
Old offshore radio DJs living for ego strokes
From time to time I watch as these every increasingly old and frail gentlemen shuffle about at memorial services. Some services are held every year,
When will Radio Caroline North start proper programmes?
Radio Caroline North. We’ve all heard the non-stop muzak. We’ve all seen them on the telly pretending they are broadcasting from a ship. But when
#SELFIE Earworm
I get got by earworms. You know, the tune or the song, or the phrase from a tune or song that gets stuck in your
But, This IS Liverpool
So, for some strange reason, the holier than thou brigade of Liverpool (most of whom don’t actually come from or live in Liverpool) are dissing
Mansize Radio is Alright Mate
I get bored very easily when it comes to ‘music radio‘. This causes me to seek out the cool and unusual to listen to, whilst
#SaveBBC3
I probably watch most new comedy via BBC3. And of course I watch Family Guy and American Dad via BBC3. A lot of people watch
Hating BBC Radio 1
Has daytime BBC Radio 1 managed to get rid of all the old people who were listening? I think it has. It must have been
Stop hyping old shite back into the charts, Three!
Three, please stop it. Okay, I loved the dancing pony last year. Four year old Socks was lovely as he moon-walked around Shetland. A real
This is Liverpool #TIL
There once was a sad ‘Towie‘ (The Only Way Is Essex) lookie-likeeeee ‘reality’ TV show called Desperate Scousewives. It bombed. Despite good photography of the
More Blue Jam
I recently anoraked on about Chris Morris‘s adventurous Blue Jam here. Blue Jam was one of the last concept or ‘mood’ radio shows, evah. Subsequently
Radio Caroline North returns
Driving past one of the best radio stations in Liverpool and looking in through the cool inviting window that gives direct vision of the main
We need new Blue Jam
Maybe I don’t realise it but I am potentially sounding like a long haired dinosaur rock enthusiast. Lovers of ‘progressive rock’ will lament the passing
TV and radio in Liverpool
So, it’s 10 o’clock at night and you have arrived in Liverpool. How can you use TV and radio to get an idea or two
Radio City’s local lies
There seems to be some debate about the pros and cons of a radio station originating programming in the area it is broadcasting to. This
One radio station for your life
Every decade or so, both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 upset their cling-on audiences. Both stations have a remit as to whom they
Raising money and creating awareness for the MPS society
Time for me to be a bit serious. I spy on people via social media. Facebook usually gives me an insight into other people’s private
LBC goes national again
“LBC” was the first ever commercial radio station operating in the UK. Well, in London. Indeed, it actually was the ‘London Broadcasting Company‘. Today, after
Harry Potter IS Doctor Who
Can anybody tell me why I just sat down and watched all, yes, all the Harry Potter films in one go? Correct, it’s a mental
Wholock: the camera never lies
If you are a Doctor Who and a Sherlock fan, then you’ll enjoy this. Even if you aren’t, don’t vomit or panic, but humour me.
Why do old people hate new music?
When I was young I was trying to make sense of all around me. I discovered music and I discovered radio. Radio brought me that
Pete Price’s gay aversion therapy
So, I was listening to Pete Price on Radio City the other night. Pete is a 67 year old gay man who hosts a Sunday
Death by Smooth Radio
I don’t listen to Smooth Radio. I’m far too young to want to listen to 30 safe dreary oldies being played over and over again.
Where’s DAT?
So, there I was just sitting there when along came a bunch of words from a man who is a hero of mine. The words
Russell’s Brand of politics and revolution of the broken mind
Watching millionaire socialist ex-junkie Russell Brand being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman, and then the left-wing biased social media praising him as a Messiah (that’s a
Awful old records on BBC Radio 1
It started as one an hour. Within a week it became two an hour. That’s two too many. I’m talking about the invasion of old
BBC closes TV station down for Mandela’s death
How strange and peculiar was the BBC‘s reaction to the death of Nelson Mandela? You couldn’t make it up. How is any of this in
Mark Dean is a Radio Caroline North hero
For whatever reason, last night on BBC Radio Lancashire, which is simultaneously broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester, the Monday to Thursday Late Show (10pm to
We need to stop our obsession with North America
The British TV and radio news, the British press and the British entertainment industry is dominated by North American products. Quite often the lead headline
Television, the drug of the nation
In many respects and to many people, I am a weirdo. I don’t conform to their norms, I’m different to them, and so this confuses
Innocent until proven guilty, but…
Quite a few ‘famous names’, well, for some it’s ‘used to be famous names’, are fingered and in the process of waiting for court dates
Are TV News presenters and reporters mad?
Someone somewhere (probably in America) started a really really stupid trend. Now they are all copying it. Have you noticed it? It is very very
How odd is Radio England UK?
So, a radio station using the name ‘England‘ has got to be cool, right? ‘England‘ is such a good name. No? Erm, well I’ve been
Sexual predator anoraks
A lot of people who had their 15 minutes of fame back in the 1960s or in some way worked within sniffing distance of the
Why Madeleine McCann … again?
Sigh. The lead story on BBC news all day, and for most of the weekend was all about the startling new non-evidence and thinking, alongside
The Borg jukeboxes remain sterile
The pirate stations know what you know, when it comes to radio. The BBC knows what you know, when it comes to radio. The BBC
Who are ‘The Borg’?
‘The Borg’ is a name given to the large corporate groups who operate a ‘portfolio‘ of networked non-adventurous commercial radio services or ‘brands‘. But, why
Commercial radio is disappearing
Commercial radio, licensed commercial radio, has just celebrated its 40th birthday. There have been many, notably only those who work, once worked, or wish they’d
Is there too much samey internet radio?
Being a sad old radio anorak, most of my only ‘Friends’ on Facebork are also sad old radio anoraks. And, I’ve noticed something that’s happening
Happy Birthday to the happy happy sound of Radio 1
On this date back in 1967, BBC Radio 1 was born. Happy Birthday, Radio 1. 46 years old, and still sounding like a modern teenager.
The day they killed LBC
Today is a sad day. A very sad day. For today I was forced to say goodbye to LBC. Forever. Today LBC radio was switched
Ronan O’Rahilly
I recently wrote a tongue in cheek article about Radio Caroline. However this, in contrast, is a very sombre few words on a very related
Radio Caroline Extra Extra, read all about it
It is compulsory for me to mention Radio Caroline at least once every few months, so as I listen to Carmen Allgood‘s excellent Indie Music
Sara Cox limbos out of Fearne Cotton’s way
Fearne Cotton returns to Radio 1‘s mid morning show this week, leaving Sara Cox with nowhere to go. Sara Cox exits Radio 1 and it’s
Bollywood soaps are so bloomin’ addictive
You know what it’s like when you’ve got 500 TV channels but nothing to watch? Well, being too busy, I rarely watch TV. Seriously. I
Don’t Be Beastly About AM Radio
(A guest article written by Peter Moore) This is for you, England; Don’t Be Beastly About AM radio. Well Christopher, AM radio was used in
Time to switch off all AM radio transmitters
I hear that another major German broadcaster is shutting down all its AM transmitters, and France is about to clear the AM broadcast band. Why
On My Death dot com
I knew somebody in the 1980s, who I latterly followed on Facebork. He died. His last ever post on Facebork was just something fairly random,
England's England 