Radio 4 UK Theme
The BBC Radio 4 UK Theme is an orchestral arrangement of traditional British airs composed by Fritz Spiegl (and possibly Manfred Arlan) which was played every morning on BBC Radio 4 between 23 November 1978 and 23 April 2006.
The piece was used as a start-up theme to introduce the Shipping Forecast, and was always the first item broadcast after Radio 4 resumed service following the night-time handover to the BBC World Service. In 2006, Mark Damazer's decision to cancel the UK Theme to make way for a "pacy news briefing" caused much controversy in the United Kingdom, including extensive discussion in the British media and even in Parliament.
Read more about Radio 4 UK Theme: Context and Usage, Description, Cancellation, The Single
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