1959 in British radio

This is a list of events from British radio in 1959.

Events

• The BBC Third Programme becomes available in Wales on VHF from Wenvoe transmitting station.

Programme debuts

• 3 April
  • Pick of the Week on the BBC Home Service (1959–Present)
  • We're in Business (comedy series starring Peter Jones) on the BBC Home Service (1959–1960)
• 29 April – The Navy Lark on the BBC Light Programme (1959–1977)
• 3 July – Sing Something Simple on the BBC Light Programme (1959–2001)
• 25 November – Your Hundred Best Tunes on the BBC Light Programme (1959–2007)

Continuing radio programmes

1930s

• In Town Tonight (1933–1960)

1940s

• Music While You Work (1940–1967)
• Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018)
• Desert Island Discs (1942–Present)
• Family Favourites (1945–1980)
• Down Your Way (1946–1992)
• Have A Go (1946–1967)
• Housewives' Choice (1946–1967)
• Letter from America (1946–2004)
• Woman's Hour (1946–Present)
• Twenty Questions (1947–1976)
• Any Questions? (1948–Present)
• Mrs Dale's Diary (1948–1969)
• Take It from Here (1948–1960)
• Billy Cotton Band Show (1949–1968)
• A Book at Bedtime (1949–Present)
• Ray's a Laugh (1949–1961)

1950s

• The Archers (1950–Present)
• Educating Archie (1950–1960)
• Listen with Mother (1950–1982)
• The Goon Show (1951–1960)
• From Our Own Correspondent (1955–Present)
• Pick of the Pops (1955–Present)
• The Clitheroe Kid (1957–1972)
• My Word! (1957–1988)
• Test Match Special (1957–Present)
• The Today Programme (1957–Present)

Ending this year

• 29 December – Hancock's Half Hour (1954–1959)

Births

• 9 January – Andy Kershaw, world music presenter
• 11 April – John Myers, radio executive and presenter (died 2019)
• 22 May – Graham Fellows, comedy performer
• 2 October – Kevin Eldon, comedy actor

Deaths

• 26 January – Larry Stephens, comedy scriptwriter (born 1923)

See also

• 1959 in British music
• 1959 in British television
• 1959 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1959