Radio Moments - Clips David Lloyd

How many true radio greats are on air in a generation? A dozen? Jane Garvey is high on my version of that list.  And if the list is a chart, she's still on the way up. She leaves Woman's Hour at just the right time to carve out a Jane-shaped future - where she can own the next decade in UK radio and beyond.

Like most greats, her brilliance sounds effortless - and, frankly, I doubt she does have to put in the effort many would have to when seeking anything like the standards she does. Authentic, irreverent, intelligent, honest. All the traits which show radio at its best.

A baby boomer - just - inspired by the likes of Janice Long - and the poetic Ray Moore, she arrived at Radio 4's Woman's Hour via Radio Wyvern in Worcester, BBC Hereford and Worcester and the launch of BBC Five Live. 

Thirteen years later, she left the programme  - and this clip is from the final edition of Woman's Hour on 31st December 2019.

She's joined by the wonderful Elizabeth Day - who will also be a big part of radio's next era - and I've gone to pains to add on Jane's intro to the drama at the programme's end...

What a wonderful culture clash - with Alan Freeman at his peak hosting Pick of the Pops and hitting a Radio 2 junction.

27th September 2020 saw Keith Skues hit the stab on Mr Tambourine Man for the final time, as his 500th show marked the end of his broadcasting career at the BBC, aged 81. 

As he previewed some of the songs to come, he conceded that he might not fit them all in. Last shows can be like that. 

Other choice moments included:

“Are you familiar with a gentleman called Tim Davie?”

“Keith: ‘Why should I be?”

His 60-year career included: the British Forces Network in Cologne; pirate radio on board Caroline and London; BBC Radio 1 at its launch; programme director of Radio Hallam; and a long spell in BBC Local Radio.

His farewell show was broadcast across local radio in the East of England across BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Northampton, BBC Radio Suffolk and BBC Three Counties Radio.

Ten minutes before the end, hear him express his regret for never finding a wife.

Anyone who knows how Keith works know how well he prepares each show.  There are moments here he clearly couldn’t.