BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

BBC Radio 2

Zoe Ball

Zoe joins Radio 2's weekend line-up to present the Saturday Early Breakfast show, after recent stints sitting in for Dermot O'Leary and Ken Bruce.

Each week Zoe has puzzles and difficult questions in Ball of Confusion, plus guest contributors Kirsten O'Brien, Hilary Oliver and Ambrose Heron take turns to round up family events and movies in Here Comes The Weekend.

You can also join the Sleepover Club. It's junior choice for the new millennium. If you've got a houseful of kids camping in the lounge for the weekend, or you're going to be up all night partying with your friends, then you can join. Every week Zoe and Emma Forbes will be inviting a group of members to pick a favourite tune and make a special dedication on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Zoe Ball: 29/08/2009

29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Zoe Ball, 29/08/2009

Zoe is joined by Kirsten O'Brien to look at fun events across the UK.

Zoe is joined by Kirsten O'Brien to look at fun events across the UK in 'Here Comes The Weekend'.

This week Zoe is joined by Kirsten O'Brien to look at fun events across the UK in 'Here Comes The Weekend'.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Sounds of the 60s

Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn spins the biggest sixties hits and shares fond memories of the decade.

Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn: 29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn, 29/08/2009

With Sounds of the Sixties. Features the Beatles' A-Z and 4-in-a-row from the Fab Four.

With Sounds of the Sixties. Brian plays four songs in a row featuring each of the Beatles on lead vocals.

Brian Matthew presents the programme for all fans of the music of the 1960sThis week the Radio 2 Beatles weekend continues: The A-Z of The Beatles working its way through their entire catalogue, reaches The Long And Winding Road. There is also a unique 4-in-a-row featuring each of Liverpool's finest taking turns on vocals.Brian has been at helm since 1990, bringing to the programme his distinctive voice and unmatchable experience of sixties pop shows which often featured the Beatles.

Jonathan Ross

Music, guests and lively conversation with Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross: 29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Jonathan Ross, 29/08/2009

Liza Tarbuck and Huey Morgan sit in for Jonathan Ross with music and guests.

Liza Tarbuck & Huey Morgan sitting in for Jonathan Ross with guests Les Dennis and Rosalind Halstead.

Liza Tarbuck and Huey Morgan

Pick of the Pops

Counting down two popular music charts from this week in decades past.

Pick of the Pops: 29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Pick of the Pops, 29/08/2009

Dale Winton counts down the charts from one week in 1964 and 1973.

Dale Winton counts down the charts from one week in 1964 and 1973, with hits from Chuck Berry, Billy Fury, Marianne Faithfull, Roger Daltrey and Wizzard.

Dale Winton counts down the charts from this week in 1964 and 1973, with hits from Chuck Berry, Billy Fury, Marianne Faithfull, Roger Daltrey and Wizzard.

Dale Winton with chart hits from this week in 1964 and 1973.

Dermot O'Leary

Dermot O'Leary presents live music sessions from new and emerging bands.

Dermot O'Leary: 29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Dermot O'Leary, 29/08/2009

Shaun Keaveny sits in for Dermot O'Leary with actor Jason Isaacs and music from Hockey.

Shaun Keaveny sits in for Dermot O'Leary. He speaks to Hollywood star Jason Isaacs and there's music from Hockey.

Shaun Keaveny

Sitting in for Dermot O'Leary. With live sets by Chicago indie folk-rock band Wilco and Oregon funky dance-punk act Hockey. Plus Jason Isaacs.

Going Out With Alan Carr

Alan Carr hosts fun and laughs on Saturday night

Alan Carr hosts fun and laughs on Saturday night. Whether you're putting on your lippy for a night out or dialing up a curry, Going Out With Alan Carr will put you in a feel-good mood

Going Out With Alan Carr: 29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Going Out With Alan Carr, 29/08/2009

Fun, laughs, chat and music with Alan Carr and co-host Emma Forbes.

Alan Carr helps kick start Saturday evening, hosting two hours of fun and laughs, with Emma Forbes playing head girl to his naughty class comic. Whether you're putting on your lippy for a night-out or dialing up a curry, Going Out With Alan Carr will put you in a feel-good mood.

If you're on the way out to a Stag or a Hen, a night down the pub or a karaoke bar, Alan will send you on your way with a spring in your step, playing great disco classics and modern pop, from Abba to Prince and Duffy to Dusty.

If you're planning a dinner-party, a night at the pub or a hot date, let Alan sort out your entertainment for the night ahead. He'll even help you look the part in his regular feature, Wardrobe Disaster!

And if you're having a quiet night in front of the box, why not take part in Alan's Last Dance!

Going Out with Alan Carr

Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits

A selection from the week's American charts, plus classics from the last six decades.

Paul plays his selection from this week's American charts, plus classics from the last six decades.

Paul Gambaccini

Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits: 29/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Paul Gambaccini with America's Greatest Hits, 29/08/2009

Playing Beatles hits and tracks from the US charts of the week and the past five decades.

The Beatles' conquest of America early in 1964 launched "the British Invasion" of the pop charts. I Want to Hold Your Hand was the first of twenty number one singles in the States and in April 1964, the Beatles set a record that is likely never to be broken, when they occupied all five of the top positions on Billboard's Top Forty, with Can't Buy Me Love sitting at number one.

To mark Radio 2's Beatles Bank Holiday, several of Paul's regular features take on a Beatles theme tonight. Each week, in The First, My Last, My Everything, Paul plays tracks from the first and last album chart entries by an artist - excluding Greatest Hits and other compilations. This week, there are tracks from the US album Meet The Beatles, Let It Be by The Beatles, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Milk And Honey by John Lennon.

It's Not The Same Old Song features two different songs with the same title. Tonight we hear Tell Me Why by the Beatles and Elvis Presley but they are not the same old song. Number ones on this date in history include Help! by The Beatles (1965) and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey by Paul & Linda McCartney (1971).

Paul plays the Beatles' US number ones Eight Days A Week, Yesterday and The Long And Winding Road - none of which was released as a single in the UK.
And there are also the usual new tracks from this week's US charts, including Albums, Digital Songs, Rock, R&B and Country.

George Harrison: What Is Life

BBC Radio 6 Music - George Harrison: What Is Life

Michael Palin presents a tribute to his friend George Harrison. First broadcast in 2009.

Michael Palin presents a tribute to his friend George Harrison, including archive interviews with George and contribuitons from his friends and family. First broadcast in 2009.

Michael Palin presents a tribute to his friend George Harrison, who died in November 2001. It features archive interviews with George, as well as contributions from his wife and son, Bob Geldof, Jim Keltner, Jeff Lynne, Brian May, Gary Moore, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, Ravi Shankar and the Beatles' producer George Martin.

The programme highlights George's contribution to the extraordinary and enduring legacy of the Beatles. Although John or Paul would usually sing the lead vocal, George played a vital role in the distinctive harmonies that enhanced the Beatles' records. Guitarist Gary Moore demonstrates the brilliance of George's solos on their records. And Ravi Shankar talks about how George's love for Indian music and culture influenced Beatles records.

After the Beatles split in 1970, all four released solo records but - to the astonishment of many - it was George who initially achieved the most commercial and critical success. His single My Sweet Lord was a worldwide number one in 1971 and returned to the top of the UK chart in 2002. He organised the Concert for Bangladesh and the triple album of the recordings topped charts around the world. This event, and George Harrison's understanding of the power and responsibility that rock musicians could wield in the world, have had a lasting influence.

George's solo career had periods of great productivity and also two phases when his profile dipped below the horizon. He enjoyed a late 1980s 'comeback' with his hit album Cloud Nine, released the number one single Got My Mind Set On You and two albums with his supergroup The Traveling Wilburys (featuring Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty). The year after George died Brainwashed was released, which featured the music he had worked on since his last solo album in 1987. Among them was the beautiful instrumental Marwa Blues, which won a Grammy Award.

First broadcast on Radio 2 in 2009.

BBC Radio 6 Music

Classic concerts & sessions from the BBC's vast music store. It's your musical heritage.

BBC 6 Music brings together the cutting edge music of today, the iconic and groundbreaking music of the past 40 years and unlimited access

As part of Radio 2's Beatles weekend, Michael Palin presents a tribute to his friend George Harrison (1943-2001), celebrating his achievements as Beatles guitarist and singer/songwriter from Don't Bother Me to Something. Plus his patchy but noteworthy post-1969 solo career, including My Sweet Lord, What Is Life and the seminal charity rock event/album release The Concert for Bangladesh. Featuring an archive interview with Harrison, plus input from wife Olivia and son Dhani, producer George Martin, Ringo Starr, and guitarists Gary Moore, Tom Petty and Brian May. Producer Kevin Howlett
(Revised)
I believe In yesterday: page 10

Bigger than Jesus

03/12/2005

BBC Radio 2 - Bigger than Jesus

Story of the interview in which John Lennon said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

Documentary telling the story of Lennon's infamous interview in which he claimed the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, securing his reputation as the Beatle with attitude.

On 4 March 1966 the Evening Standard published an interview between Maureen Cleave and John Lennon entitled How Does A Beatle Live? In the course of a description of the Beatle's everyday life in Weybridge, Cleave quoted Lennon as saying: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that. I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now. I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity."

The interview caused little controversy on publication in England, where it was regarded as just another example of the waning relevance of the church for the younger generation. But when it was reprinted in an American magazine four months later, on the eve of a Beatles tour of the States, it caused outrage and the Beatles' American tour of 1966 took place against a background of death threats and fear.

Although Lennon expressed regret for any offence caused by his remarks at an uneasy press conference in Chicago, he wouldn't withdraw them. The traditionally asinine encounter between press and pop star had been replaced by a crackling confrontation and Lennon was now cast in the role of spokesman for a generation. A new type of journalism would soon emerge that reflected this change: When Rolling Stone first appeared the following year, its cover star was John Lennon. 

Paul McGann tells the story of this extraordinary event and its aftermath. It's a story of fame, the mass media, pop music and religion, of two cultures clashing. Illustrated with contemporary sound archive, listeners will hear from those who were in the Beatles' inner circle at the time and from those who protested against them. 

Contributors include Maureen Cleave who conducted the original interview with Lennon; the Alabama DJs who burned Beatle records in protest; Cynthia Lennon, who helped Lennon sort the sacks of mail that arrived at their Weybridge home; press officers Tony Bramwell and Tony Barrow; Barry Tashian, whose group The Remains were the support act on the Beatles' stormy tour of North America; Lennon biographer Ray Connolly; and legendary rock 'n' roll PR (and former Lennon publicist) BP Fallon.

First broadcast in December 2005, five days before 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death.

A 2005 programme recalling a critical moment in the history of popular culture when on 4 March 1966 London's Evening Standard published an interview in which John Lennon stated that for the era's youth The Beatles had overtaken Jesus in popularity.

Sgt Pepper Recreated

26/12/2007

BBC Radio 2 - Sgt Pepper Recreated

Musicians record their own interpretations of tracks from the classic Beatles album.

Another chance to hear the programme that celebrated the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, with engineer Geoff Emerick.

Another chance to hear the special re-recording of Sgt Pepper, broadcast on Radio 2 to mark the 40th anniversary of the classic album.
Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Stereophonics, Bryan Adams and Jamie Cullum, are among the artists who joined original multi-award winning audio engineer Geoff Emerick in the studio to record their own interpretations of the famous album tracks.  
Using the original analogue four-track equipment Geoff demonstrates the innovative techniques employed for the recording at Abbey Road studios back in 1967. The programme also hears from the artists about the importance of Sgt Pepper and listens in on the recording in action to see just how different the experience is for them. 
Tracklisting:
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Bryan Adams
With A Little Help From My Friends - Razorlight
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Athlete
Getting Better - Kaiser Chiefs
Fixing A Hole - The Fray
She's Leaving Home - Magic Numbers
Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite - Jamie Cullum
Within You Without You - Oasis
When I'm Sixty Four - Russell Brand
Lovely Rita - Travis
Good Morning Good Morning - The Zutons
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) - Stereophonics
First broadcast in June 2007 (when it was called Sgt Pepper's 40th Anniversary).

A look at the techniques behind 
The Beatles' 1967 opus Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Richard Allinson

Richard Allinson in his early-morning weekend residency with music and features

Richard Allinson in his early-morning weekend residency with three hours of music and features

Richard Allinson: 30/08/2009

30/08/2009

BBC Radio 2 - Richard Allinson, 30/08/2009

Richard Allinson invites you to chill out with mellow tunes.

Richard invites you to join the 3.46 club and helps ease you into Sunday morning. The Big Chillout tunes include The Orb, Portishead, Miles Davies, Norah Jones and Herb Alpert.

Another chance to be part of Richard's 3.46 club as he helps ease you into Sunday morning. 

This week's Big Chillout tunes include The Orb, Portishead, Miles Davies, Norah Jones, Herb Alpert and the Album Of The Day is Sheryl Crow's debut, Tuesday Night Music Club.

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Sounds of the 60s

Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn

29/08/2009

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