British Radio Trivia

1. Who is the writer and creator of 'Absolute Power'?

From Quiz Absolute Power

Answer: Mark Tavener

The characters of Prentiss and McCabe first appeared in a series of crime novels which Mark Tavener and Peter Baynham co-wrote and adapted for Radio 4. These series, beginning with 'In the Red' and concluding with 'In the End', featured Prentiss and McCabe as side characters who held senior, though unspecified, jobs at the BBC. At the end of the series they are fired from their jobs, losing their well-renumerated sinecures and forcing them to make their way in the ruthless corporate world. This is the origin of Prentiss McCabe and the set-up for 'Absolute Power'.

From Quiz Flowers In The Rain

Answer: Radio London

Blackburn made his first radio appearance on pirate station, Radio Caroline South in 1964, broadcasting from international waters off the coast of Frinton-on-Sea, Essex aboard the ship MV Mi Amigo. In 1966, he jumped ship, and moved to Radio London, which broadcast from the same waters as Caroline, aboard the MV Galaxy. When the Marine Broadcasting Act came into effect on 14th August 1967, effectively making pirate radio illegal, Blackburn joined the fledgling Radio One, and made history with "Flowers In The Rain" on September 30th the same year,

From Quiz Elvenquest

Answer: Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto

'Elvenquest' has run for four series since 2009 and lovingly parodies the fantasy genre while still managing to tell an engaging and, mostly, coherent story. One of the show's great strengths is that it still manages to appeal to listeners like myself, who have little or no interest in the fantasy genre and little knowledge of the source material the show is spoofing. Anil Gupta has claimed in interviews that it was important to the writers that the show was more than just a Tolkien parody, and that they intended for the programme to have a distinct setting and characters and compelling narrative, all of which they have achieved brilliantly.

From Quiz Think the Unthinkable

Answer: James Cary

'Think the Unthinkable' ran for four series between 2001 and 2006 and received considerable praise from critics and audiences alike. In 2002 the show's first episode won a silver Sony Radio Comedy Award. James Cary has written for a number of television and radio shows. His Radio 4 work includes colaborations on two shows with Milton Jones, the WWII code-breaking sitcom 'Hut 33' and the sketch show 'Concrete Cow'.

From Quiz The Casebook of Max and Ivan

Answer: Lewis Macleod

Malcolm is wild, unpredictable and occasionally violent and has a habit of turning up at the least opportune moments to demand his rent money. Despite generally being something of a liability to the duo's business, he does frequently, and entirely inadvertently, help them solve their cases. The eponymous duo are played by Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzales who have been performing together since they met at university in 2008. As well as playing versions of themselves in 'The Casebook of Max and Ivan', they have appeared on the BBC television sitcom 'W1A', appeared at the Edinburgh Festival and founded a London school of improvisational comedy.

From Quiz Reluctant Persuaders

Answer: Nigel Havers

Nigel Havers is brilliant as the self-obsessed, sexist alcoholic Rupert Hardacre whose days as an advertising legend are at least thirty years behind him but who refuses to face this fact. Largely due to Hardacre's alcoholism and lack of knowledge of how the modern advertising industry works, the agency is far from successful. 'Reluctant Persuaders' is written by Edward Rowett.

From Quiz A Day in the Life of Radio Four - The Morning

Answer: 05:20

This is one of the few constants in the R4 timetable throughout the week. At 5:20 GMT or BST, R4 takes its frequency back from the World Service which use the frequency overnight.

From Quiz Terror In the Air

Answer: Valentine Dyall

This classic series ran for many years, from 1943 to 1955, and made the Man in Black a household name. Episodes were a mix of new and classic horror stories in a half hour dramatization introduced by the Man in Black. Valentine Dyall, the original and longest-serving actor in the part, played him in 9 series, and also in the 1949 series "The Man in Black". Franklin Dyall, his father, played him in the second series; Edward de Souza played the part in the 1988 series "Fear on Four"; and Mark Gatiss in "The Man in Black", broadcast between 2009 and 2011.

From Quiz Let's Go "Round The Horne"

Answer: Kenneth

Kenneth Horne was born in 1907. A businessman before WWII it was while serving in the RAF he became involved in radio, creating the fondly remembered "Much-Binding-In-The-Marsh" with colleague Richard Murdoch. When the War ended "Much-Binding" continued for some years then Horne made "Beyond Our Ken" followed by "Round The Horne", all on the BBC.

From Quiz Count Arthur Strong's Radio Shows

Answer: Steve Delaney

Steve Delaney originally developped the character of Count Arthur while he was at drama school in the 1980s but put him to one side while pursuing his TV acting career in the '80s and '90s. Interestingly, some of Delaney's real TV appearances coincide with some of the many TV appearances the Count claims to have made. Delaney had roles in British TV dramas 'Juliet Bravo' and 'All Creatures Great and Small', both of which Count Arthur regularly reminisces about. Of the wrong answers, both Peter Serafinowicz and Dave Mountfield have appeared in 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show' while Graham Fellows is another very accomplished character comedian, most famous for his creations John Shuttleworth and Brian Appleton, as well as a short-lived pop career as 'Jilted John'.

From Quiz Radio Caroline at 50

Answer: Frederica

The 'Frederica' was originally a 702 ton Danish ferry. 'Mi Amigo' was another ship owned and used by 'Radio Caroline'. The 'Mebo II' was a radio ship used by 'Radio Nordsee International' (RNI.) 'Veronica' was another of the Pirate stations which proliferated in the North Sea in the 1960s.

From Quiz Video Killed the Radio Star

Answer: Hancock's Half Hour

'Hancock's Half Hour' was first aired on 2nd November 1954. It departed from the usual format at that time by having a single story line for the whole episode. The first TV episode appeared in July 1956. The final radio show was broadcast on 29th December 1959. The TV series ran for another 18 months.

From Quiz In Other Words - UK Radio

Answer: Stop the Week

"Stop the Week" was broadcast on Saturday evenings on BBC Radio 4 from 1974 until 1992.

From Quiz The Comedy Wit of Tony Hancock

Answer: A belisha beacon.

"In the Police" was first broadcast in February 1957. Tony Hancock and Bill Kerr join the police because they are unemployed. Although not answering to any of the job requirements, the two report for duty. On the beat at night, Hancock mistakes a belisha beacon (a traffic sign) for an intruder. He is also sent to check that the bars close on time but is found hours later, "on top of Eros, singing bawdy songs." The statue of Eros stands in Piccadilly Circus, London. All the scripts were written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

From Quiz "Just a Minute"

Answer: The Minute Waltz

Nicholas then carries on with, "as 'The Minute Waltz' fades away...." He then introduces the players, a brief discussion of the rules, and explain where the show is taking place as it does change venues. "The Minute Waltz" is the common name for "Waltz in D Flat Major" by Frederic Chopin. Nicholas Parsons has been the chairperson, or host, for almost all of the shows, but he has swapped places with the players on a few occasions early in the show's history.

From Quiz "Round The Horne"

Answer: Barry Took and Marty Feldman

Eric Merriman wrote "Beyond Our Ken", the predecessor of "Round The Horne", but after a disagreement with the BBC he decided not to continue. Barry Took and Marty Feldman were brought in, and together they wrote the first 50 episodes.Marty Feldman then left to go back to performing, although he was consulted on some of the sketches in the last series, in particular "Julian and Sandy". His place was taken by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Donald Webster. Frank Muir and Denis Norden wrote for various radio and television shows including "Whack-O", "Take It From Here" and "The Glums". Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan were members of "The Goons".

From Quiz This Is Classic FM

Answer: Simon Bates

Whilst Simon Bates was at BBC Radio 1 he attracted viewers in the millions with many unique and original competitions and features which included 'Our Tune'; a love-story. Bates joined the station in 1997 to front a show on the weekends which played all the great contemporary classics featured in films from around the world. Furthermore, he fronted the flagship 'Morning Show' through the week.

From Quiz Classic BBC Radio Comedy Shows of Yesteryear

Answer: The Navy Lark

"The Navy Lark" ran for a remarkable 245 episodes between 1959 and 1977. The main stars were Richard Caldicot as Captain Povey, Leslie Phillips as Sub-Lieutenant Phillips, Jon Pertwee ("Dr. Who") as Petty Officer Pertwee, Stephen Murray as Lieutenant Murray and Ronnie Barker as Able Seaman Johnson. It was, and remains, the longest running British radio sit-com of all time. Catch-phrase: "Left hand down a bit"- Leslie Philip's navigation left much to be desired and this phrase invariably spelt impending doom.

From Quiz D'ye Ken John Peel?

Answer: John Robert Parker Ravenscroft

Alan Watson and Francis Leslie Houghton were the forenames of John's two brothers. When John got married to Sheila Gilhooly in 1974, his father suggested that he changed his name to Gilhooly as it was "more distinguished" than Ravenscroft.

From Quiz Dabbling with my DAB

Answer: Dick Barton, Special Agent

'Dick Barton' was the first British daily radio serial, and was on the radio between 1946 and 1951, until replaced by 'The Archers', which is now the world's longest running drama serial. Dick Barton, with his sidekicks Jock and Snowy, was hugely popular, pulling in audiences of 15 million. It is now occasionally broadcast on Radio 7 in the 'Crime and Thrillers' hour.

From Quiz Pop Went The Pirates

Answer: August 1967

The Television Act of 1954 gave the BBC and selected independent companies the right to broadcast in the UK. The Marine Broadcasting Offences Act extended the laws to cover offshore broadcasts.

From Quiz Junior Choice

Answer: Leslie Crowther

Ed Stewart presented the show from 1968 to 1980. All of the choices, including Ed Stewart, have also presented the children's TV show "Crackerjack".

From Quiz Ten Acts John Peel Championed

Answer: Pulp

John Peel was a DJ at a gig at Sheffield Polytechnic, when a young Jarvis Cocker gave him a tape of his band, Pulp. Peel listened to the tape and was impressed enough to invite Pulp to the BBC studios to record a session for his show. Although it was some ten years or so later, after many changes to the bands line-up, before Pulp became a success. Cocker was always grateful to Peel for giving him his first break.

From Quiz Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor

Answer: The R101

The Doctor meets his newest travelling companion aboard the ill-fated R101 airship which crashed in Beauvais in October 1930. The story, "Storm Warning", is based on actual historical events.

From Quiz British TV and Radio Catch Phrases

Answer: Listen With Mother

"Listen with Mother" ran from 1950 to 1982. The theme music used was 'Berceuse' from Gabriel Faure's Dolly Suite.

From Quiz Left Hand Down a Bit!

Answer: Lord Nelson

He took them through an epic adventure recounting on how he lost his arm when a Spanish waiter-gentleman dropped a hundred-weight of paella on his arm, in a sea food restaurant called the Santa Claws. Later, when they're in Naples, Leading Seaman Goldstien asks if he can have shore-leave to go and visit his Welsh friend from the valleys. When asked "What Welsh friend? We're in Italy!" he replies "Oh come off it sir! You must have heard the expression, "See Naples and Dai!"

From Quiz Name That DJ

Answer: Kenny Everett

He really had 'SOMETHING'. What memorable characters.

From Quiz British Golden Oldie Radio Times

Answer: Jimmy Clitheroe

All I can remember about this show is listening to it on a Sunday at lunch time

From Quiz Absolute Power

Answer: Stephen Fry

'Absolute Power' ran for four series on Radio 4 between 2000 and 2004, returning for a one-off special in 2006. Charles Prentiss is the younger and more ambitious of the firm's partners, he in completely unscrupulous and will do anything to succeed. His motto is 'Never knowingly out-wheezed', and, indeed, their seem to be no depths he will not sink to in order to achieve the best results for Prentiss Mccabe and their clients. Stephen Fry is an extremely well-known voice on British radio as well as one of the most recognisable faces on television, particularly due to his popular comedy partnership with Hugh Laurie and his long stint as presenter of the BBC 2 panel show 'QI'.

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