Birmingham was a BBC radio powerhouse. Now even The Archers is leaving | Letter
Former BBC employee Owen Bentley laments the final nail in the coffin for what once was a hub of quality programmingI can understand why the BBC is reluctant to build...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Former BBC employee Owen Bentley laments the final nail in the coffin for what once was a hub of quality programming I can understand why the BBC is reluctant to build a new drama studio for The Archers when it moves to Digbeth, seeing that there is no other radio drama being made in Birmingham that would plump out its use ( BBC to stop recording The Archers in Birmingham for first time in its 75-year history, 12 October ). Is this to be the final nail in the coffin of programme-making for the national networks in the Midlands? At its peak in the 90s the Birmingham Network Radio department was the major provider of programmes to Radio 2 and 5 outside London, and for Radio 4 and 3 it had award-winning specialisms in features, environment, farming, drama and music programming plus, of course, The Archers. Continue reading...