This is the official the home of Tiswas Pies Again! which was produced as a series of compilation repeats, broadcast of Big Centre Television in 2015. These were the first proper TV repeats of Tiswas since the programme ended way back in 1982.
This is also the home of the Big Quiz from 2016 - the cheesy quiz show about the Midlands with no contestants and no prizes (apart from a lovely little glass trophy, that was once a photo frame).
Radio Stories is the latest UpAndHappy! Production for 2018, where we chat with the owners of those friendly voices who have spoken across the Midlands airwaves, for over 40 years.
Won a quiz on his show once..question was what was number plate on lady Penelope’s rolls Royce. Answer,,,,,fab 1…I won a video of an episode.signed by Gerry Anderson.shame I was 31.great days
I appeared on WCR on its first day of broadcasting. It's so great to see how it grew. Gordon Astley really was the voice of daytime Beacon 303. His breakfast show... his mid-morning show and his weekend show on Saturday (Wayne and Tracy show) were all amazing. All the big names on Beacon such as Mike Baker, Pete Clements, Andy Wynt... so many great names and moments. Gordon still inspires me to this very day. 8-)
hi kris,you were my hero.. i taped the show if i am correct every Friday or Saturday night ,then the cassette was in my car till it was worn out ,you played some fantastic music and i thank you so much,i love trevor nelson but they should give you a late night show and then nobody would need to go clubbing
I used to stay up late every weekday during my GCSEs and A levels to listen to the awesome Midnight Line - how on earth I passed my exams on such little sleep for several consecutive years I’ll never know lol! In the early days I remember Ian berating the listeners for not calling in! He used to say I know you’re there listening lmao and not long after he struggled to get everyone on. Good times I’ll always treasure my memories of the ‘Free for all phone ins, ghost stories and regressions as well as him and Dave slagging off the teeny bob music I loved lol’. Also I got into the Clash, Jam and awesome Kinks because they would sneak those songs in. This radio really enriched my teenage years and made them sooo much better when I was going through some personally horrible times. Thank you always 🤍
Ahh finally someone who felt the same as me! 1am, sometimes 2am finishes with a radio and headphones under the covers from the age of 12/13 onwards.... didn't make for great starts at school the next day! Learnt much more via the midnight line than I ever did at school. Thanks Ian for an education, and endless entertainment.
@@mikeyd0801 oh hey! Haha no one I know in real life ever listened so sometimes I wonder if this show was just a figment of my imagination! Do you remember when Ian used to say he wanted to plan a day trip/get together of the culture vultures?! I wonder if it ever happened. I wish Ian would do something similar again like set up his own YT channel. I’d definitely pay if he set up a Patreon!
@@moominmay Yes, although I'd have been too awe struck to attend I'm sure! Words that Ian used became part of my everyday vocabulary, like 'bobbins'! Again, ideal as no one at school listened. I think one friend did occasionally, or else maybe no one admitted it perhaps. Definitely started my love of talk-based radio, and later podcasts. I vaguely remember callers who were, to put it kindly, depressed, and Ian being just perfect in those situations. I can't say I really know what Ian got up to after, I can't remember if I stopped listening or he left, are you aware? I know talkradio came along in the late 90s, and I developed a similar affection for Ian Collins, and therefore continued late nights! I'd love to hear some of these old shows again...... they must be somewhere, right?
@@mikeyd0801 Oh yes the phrases lol. I went through a phase of dramatically adding ‘well with any luck and a following wind’ to any task I was discussing with someone lol. I also probably over used ‘axe wielding homicidal maniac’! I’m not too sure about what happened later to the show as I went away to uni in 92 and returned in 95 and don’t remember listening to it again so can only imagine it had ended by then. Yes some of the listeners were quite eccentric lol. I liked how kind Ian was to some of the elderly listeners like dear old “I’m coming Ian!’ Eric lol. Btw, you can also still hear some of the past shows - just search on here for ‘The Midnight Line Radio Show’. I’m currently making my way through them though it feels really strange and overwhelming at times as it really takes me back and evokes quite poignant memories.
@@moominmay haha yes I did just that last night funnily enough, I listened to the John Starkey episode, and on the next one an old friend's sister had her letter read out by Ian haha!! I was shocked. You're right, it is really odd to hear again, some of the language seems like it belongs in another era now. I mean Ian mentioned something along the lines of a caller smacking his partner in the mouth if she didn't quiten down!! Different times. I see most of the recordings are about 90 minutes long, which makes sense, as on those occasions when I realised I should really get some sleep for a change, I would record the show or part of it, - mostly on 90 minute tapes! So great to hear, even the news coming on and the old adverts. Will keep me entertained in the bath and various decorating jobs I should imagine. Local radio has all but disappeared really so this is a treasure.
I think the link has been lost with local communities, radio stations today generally don't have outside broadcasts anymore, I remember seeing Beacon in my home town of Stourbridge many times, you got to see and meet the DJs, great times.
What happened to ATV today presenter Derek Hobson his presenting from 1975 but his left in 1978 when Bob warman took over presenting ATV today he still alive
I feel privileged & very fortunate to have grown up with Beacon Radio, and the quality of programming will stay with me forever, there is nothing to touch Beacon nowadays, radio today is dull and lifeless with no characters anymore, at least we have the memories, they cannot take those away from us thank god.
Hi Kris. Just like to say thanks for all those great nights at The Rising Star night club in Bilston. Just turn 18 and listening to all the tunes you play. If I remember correctly your set was the early one , latest soul sounds. Fantastic. I loved your session. The rising star was my first experience. Believe it or not, of a night out at a club. I think it was Neil Jackson after you then Barry Brown with the reggae session. I was just reminiscing and put KKJ in the RU-vid search engine and the interview came up. That young face brought back so many memories. I can still see you behind the decks, on the stage with the massive KKJ on the front. Best times ever. Thanks again. PS. Just a quick question. Why was it when you finish you just suddenly said “Good night “ and shut everything down and just left us standing there on the dance floor. I hope I’ve stirred a few good memories mate. Good night!
I remember KKJ winning the Midlands Radio Presenter of the Year in 1979. Toyah Wilcox hosted the programme on BBC 1 Midlands. Dale Winton came second (I wonder what happened to his career?). He also said in 2016 that working at Beacon was like working on "WKRP in Cincinnati", the TV programme.
I remember Andy's first ever show on Beacon, it was on a Saturday night. I was in Hospital Radio at the time and I met him a few times, he was always supportive
Wonderful radio station. Got up early in the North West that April morning in 1976 to hear Mike Baker’s opening broadcast. To begin with “Sunrise” by Eric Carmen was a statement. Class music brilliantly presented by jocks who clearly were enjoying themselves. The station sounded as if it was coming from San Francisco rather than Wolverhampton.
