Swindon Group
About the event
7pm to 8.45pm, Thursday 18 September 2025
Don't miss this month's 'Free Talk' by British Comedy Award winner Paul Kerensa: "An Evening of (VERY) Old Radio – The BBC Year 1."
Following his successful 2022 tour "The First Broadcast: The Battle for the Beeb in 1922", this live one-man show/talk tells the tale of the very early BBC.
Paul (a radio history nut) will guide us through landmark moments and real-life characters, using rare clips, newly discovered tales of forgotten pioneers, and the occasional re-enactment.
He will also take us through Auntie's first year, from November 1922 to November 1923—reliving the first drama, religious broadcasts, Children’s Hour, and much more. Paul Kerensa has written for TV shows such as Miranda, Not Going Out, Top Gear, Bublé at the BBC, ITV’s Royal Variety Show, and Channel 4’s TFI Friday. He has also appeared on many radio shows and is a regular contributor to the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show’s Pause for Thought. As a performer, he has over 3,000 stand-up gigs to his name and was a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards.
This promises to be a highly entertaining evening. Paul's talk seeks to understand the present BBC by looking at its past—it informs, educates, and, above all, entertains as we revisit what was on the air 100 years ago.
Members and their guests are welcome to join us. Please respond to the Eventbrite invitation to book your free tickets.
Refreshments will be available as usual. There is also free parking but do remember to register your car on arrival at reception. You’ll also find information on future events, opportunities to view past club magazines, and time to socialise in the bar.
Price
Free
The Holiday Inn, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6AQ
Contact
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