Programming
Programmes broadcast on Radio 7 were either three or more years old or had been broadcast twice on their original station. Since rebranding, the station is broadcasting more recent Radio 4 material. However, both Radio 7 and 4 Extra have commissioned original programmes.
The schedule spans the The Goon Show (1950s) and Round the Horne (1960s), through Radio 2 favourites like The News Huddlines, Castle's On The Air and Listen to Les to recent Radio 4 shows such as Little Britain and Dead Ringers. There is also speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy or horror seven days a week in The 7th Dimension, broadcast 6pm and midnight. It regularly features Doctor Who audio dramas starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor.
Children's programmes have included The Little Toe Radio Show, aimed at younger children and consisting of short serials, stories and rhymes, and The Big Toe Radio Show with phone-ins, quizzes and stories for the 8+ age group. Little Toe was renamed to CBeebies Radio. The audience of children between 4 and 14 was reported to be 25,000 and in February 2011 the BBC Trust approved a reduction in hours dedicated to children from 1 400 to 350.
The station has broadcast original programes. Newsjack is a topical news sketch show in the spirit of Radio 4s Week Ending which encourages contributions from listeners. Spanking New on Seven was stand-up comedy, and the BBC New Comedy Competition a competition for new comedians. Those who went on to have their own series on Radio 7 include John-Luke Roberts with Spats and Miriam Elia with A Series of Psychotic Episodes.
The Mitch Benn Music Show features comedy songs introduced by Mitch Benn. The Colin and Fergus' Digi Radio comedy sketch show ran for two series in 2005–2006. Serious About Comedy was a weekly show presented by Robin Ince in which comedians and comedy critics discussed comedy television, radio, DVDs, and films. Tilt is a satirical look at the week's news of views other than the norm. Knocker is a sitcom about a market researcher, written by and starring Neil Edmond.
The Comedy Club is hosted by Arthur Smith and occasionally Andi Osho. On Radio 7 this was fronted by Alex Riley (Monday to Thursday) and Phil Williams (Friday and Sunday), who joined in January 2010. Pitched as "two hours of contemporary comedy", it is broadcast from 22:00 to midnight Sunday to Friday. Comedy previously available as CDs on the Laughing Stock label is also broadcast.
Science fiction programmes, such as Doctor Who, are broadcast during 7th Dimension presented by Nicholas Briggs. Some programmes in this slot are from North America such as The Twilight Zone. Other North American series include Garrison Keillor's Radio Show from the U.S. and Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe from Canada.
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Famous quotes containing the word programming:
“If there is a price to pay for the privilege of spending the early years of child rearing in the driver’s seat, it is our reluctance, our inability, to tolerate being demoted to the backseat. Spurred by our success in programming our children during the preschool years, we may find it difficult to forgo in later states the level of control that once afforded us so much satisfaction.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)