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Roger Eckersley's account of life behind the scenes in the new Broadcasting House of 1932.

4 Extra Debut. Behind the scenes in the new Broadcasting House of 1932 described with awe and humour by failed chicken farmer-turned-radio pioneer Roger Eckersley. From Nov 2012.

Roger Eckersley was persuaded in 1923 to give up his loss-making chicken farm and join the newly formed BBC. He stayed there for the rest of his career, holding many positions including Director of Entertainment.

This year, 2012, is not just the 90th anniversary of the BBC, but also the 80th of its move from Savoy Hill to the now iconic Broadcasting House.

Eckersley's memoirs, The BBC and All That, published in the 1940s, include beautifully drawn descriptions of that first month in Broadcasting House. He often smuggled in small groups of friends for unofficial tours of the hidden areas of the BBC, including drama studios, sound effects stores and the boiler room in the basement - his favourite.

He had a wonderfully unstuffy and rebellious nature - surprisingly appropriate for a BBC that was regarded by the Establishment of the time as an unruly upstart. He relished tales of being banned from broadcasting live football commentaries, so paying a string of eye-witnesses to leave the ground at regular intervals and give descriptions of the action they had just seen. He was part of the Pronunciation Committee when George Bernard Shaw and poet laureate Robert Bridges almost came to blows over the how to say "acoustic", and found himself in a discussion about jazz with Queen Mary during which, he learned from an appalled friend afterwards, he had persisted in calling her "My Dear".

The BBC and All That brings to life once more the feelings of awe and excitement experienced by the radio pioneers who worked within the walls of the brand new Broadcasting House.


Abridged and Produced by Neil Cargill

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.

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Roger Eckersley's memoirs of life behind the scenes in the new Broadcasting House of 1932

Behind the scenes in the brand new Broadcasting House of 1932, described with both awe and humour by failed chicken-farmer turned BBC Radio pioneer Roger Eckersley

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