This is a list of events in British radio during 2002.

List of years in British radio (table)
In British television
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
In British music
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
+...

Events

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January

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  • 8 January – Scot FM becomes part of the Real Radio network when it is purchased by GMG Radio and is renamed accordingly.
  • January – Atlantic 252 closes after more than twelve years on air.

February

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  • 2 February – BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra begins broadcasting as a national digital station.
  • 9 February – Following the announcement of the death of Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Elizabeth II, some radio and television schedules are changed to make room for tribute programmes. Among the tributes paid to her is an edition of The Archers aired on 10 February, a programme on which the Princess made a personal appearance in 1984.[1]
  • mid February – 107.7 Chelmer FM is renamed Dream 107.7.
  • 28 February–1 March – The first three community radio stations – Bradford Community Broadcasting, Cross Rhythms in Stoke and Angel Community Radio (Havant) – start broadcasting as part of a trial of community radio which sees 15 stations go on air during 2002. The trial, under the title of “Access Radio”, saw each station originally licensed for one year. All three stations are still on air today.

March

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April

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  • No events

June

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  • No events

July

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August

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  • No events

September

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October

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  • 28 October – The BBC Asian Network is broadcast nationally for the first time after being launched on DAB.

November

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  • 11 November – BBC Radio Swindon launches as an opt-out service from Wiltshire Sound which is renamed BBC Radio Wiltshire.
  • 12 November – The Radio Authority announces that London station Liberty Radio has lost its licence to Club Asia, which has previously been broadcasting for several hours each day on Spectrum Radio. This is the first time in several years that the incumbent broadcaster's licence has not been renewed. The station has repeatedly only obtained a 0.1% share of listening.
  • 17 November – Mark Goodier presents the Top 40 on BBC Radio 1 for the final time on the 50th anniversary of the chart.[7][8][9]

December

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  • December – Talksport announces plans for the station's first ever music show. An easy listening music show entitled Champagne & Roses with Gerald Harper, is broadcast each Saturday evening. The show is axed after less than six months[10]
  • 20 December – Sir Jimmy Young presents his final lunchtime programme on BBC Radio 2 after nearly 30 years with the network, and 50 years with the BBC.[11]
  • 29 December – 'Doctor' Neil Fox presents the last Pepsi Chart Show.

Station debuts

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Programme debuts

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Continuing radio programmes

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1940s

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1950s

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1960s

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1970s

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1980s

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1990s

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2000s

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Ending this year

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Closing this year

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Deaths

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References

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  1. ^ "Princess Margaret dies". BBC News. BBC. 9 February 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Memo from IRN editor Jon Godel: Why we messed up on the Queen Mother's death announcement". The Guardian. London. 3 April 2002. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. ^ McLean, Gareth (11 April 2002). "TV review: The Falklands Play (BBC4)". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  4. ^ Billen, Andrew (15 April 2002). "Mrs T and sympathy". New Statesman. Progressive Media International. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. ^ "BBC Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002". BBC. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  6. ^ Plunkett, John (31 July 2002). "BBC spy drama spooks TV watchdog". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. ^ "… Radio 1 denied he has been fired because of falling listener figures, saying his contract is coming to an end.""DJ Goodier leaves Radio 1". Entertainment News. BBC News. 15 August 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  8. ^ "… station bosses want to replace him with someone younger, who will be more in tune with its target audience of 15 to 24-year-olds." Day, Julia (15 August 2002). "Countdown begins for Goodier's departure". Media Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  9. ^ "Mark Goodier is leaving Radio 1's weekly chart show after 15 years because he is considered too old for the job." Gray, Chris (16 August 2002). "Goodier drops out of the charts". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  10. ^ talkSPORT Station History – 2003 Archived 1 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine talkSPORT1089.co.uk
  11. ^ Lister, David (21 December 2002). "Sir Jimmy Young says Bye For Good at last, but adds: 'It wasn't my idea'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  12. ^ "Resonance FM celebrates 20 years of local radio in London". 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  13. ^ Dixon, Stephen (28 February 2002). "Obituary: Spike Milligan". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  14. ^ McDonald, Tim (3 December 2002). "Obituary: Stanley Black". The Guardian. London.