2001 in British radio

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This is a list of events in British radio during 2001.

Events

• February - Jo Whiley begins presenting her weekday morning programme, The Jo Whiley Show on BBC Radio 1.
• 28 June - Chris Evans is dismissed by Virgin Radio for repeatedly failing to arrive at work. Evans was replaced by the older Steve Penk, whom Evans criticised for his age - 39 versus Evans's then 35.^[1] Evans subsequently attempted to sue Virgin Radio, claiming that he was unfairly dismissed and denied share options worth £8.6 million,^[2] but in 2003 was found to have been fairly dismissed and not entitled to the share options.^[3]
• August - the KM Group take full control of Neptune Radio and CTFM.
• 11 September - Following a terrorist attack on the United States, and the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City, live on television, most broadcasters abandon regular programming in order to provide up to date coverage of unfolding events.
• 4 October - Premier Christian Radio receives an official warning from OFCOM, the Radio Authority for broadcasting "items that were offensive to people of other, non-Christian beliefs".^[4]
• 16 October - Saga 105.7 FM, the first radio station dedicated to the over-1950s is launched in Birmingham.
• October - BBC London Live changes its name to BBC London 94.9.
• October - The Sky News Radio service is expanded to provide hourly news bulletins, audio and scripts for a number of clients in the commercial radio sector.
• 2 November - It is reported that police are to examine an edition of BBC Radio 2's Jimmy Young Show broadcast on 31 October to decide whether comments made on the programme by Abdul Haq, a spokesman for the extremist Muslim group al-Muhajiroun amount to incitement. Haq said he and other Muslims would "continue to struggle and strive until we see the flag of Islam flying over 10 Downing Street". The show drew over 50 complaints.^[5]
• 17 December - Release of the Gordon Haskell song How Wonderful You Are which was issued as a single after mass promotion by BBC Radio 2 where it became a favourite of listeners after being played on the Johnnie Walker show.^[6] The song was the most requested song of all time at the station and became the Christmas number-two in the UK charts.^[7]
• 20 December - Enda Caldwell presents Atlantic 252's final programme before the station goes off air after twelve years. It continued with an automated output for a few weeks before finally ending in January 2002.

Station debuts

• 3 June - Compass FM
• 4 July - Quay West 107.4 (2001–2010)
• 16 October - Saga 105.7 FM (2001–2007)
• 5 November - 3TR FM (2001–2010)
• Unknown - Garrison FM

Closing this year

• 20 December - Atlantic 252 (1989–2001)

Deaths

• 27 March - Irene Thomas, 81, radio personality
• 22 October - Cliff Adams, 77, musician and bandleader^[8]

References

1. "Penk replaces Evans at Virgin Radio". BBC News. 2001-07-02. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
2. "Evans sues for lost Virgin shares". BBC News. 2001-12-14. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
3. "Christopher Evans v SMG Television et al.". Royal Courts of Justice. 2003-06-23. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
4. Notes of Radio Authority Meeting, Radio Authority, 4 October 2001.
5. Leonard, Tom (2 November 2001). "Police study Jimmy Young Show after 'incitement' complaints". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
6. Eden, Richard (24 December 2001). "And then they go and spoil it all for Gordon Haskell". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
7. "Haskell's 'old school' rules". BBC News. 13 January 2002. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
8. "Cliff Adams obituary". The Guardian. 1 November 2001. Archived from the original on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.