How BBC Radio London provided coverage of the Grenfell Tower fire

“We’re not a place of panickers; we’re not a town of over-reactors. We’re Londoners. All of us in our many forms and our different ways. Together in times like this.” Robert Elms

Robert Elms on BBC Radio London is renowned for his knowledge of popular culture, music and the history and fabric of London. But when it comes to the major breaking news stories and Robert's programmes sometimes turn to rolling news, he speaks for Londoners, eloquently and emotionally, often on the verge of tears.

Email from a Radio London listener: “Today I have been in tears hearing the breaks in the voices of all the reporters and presenters, showing they are as human and as much part of London living as everyone one of your listeners and the people we rub alongside everyday in our wonderful city.

London has had a very tough few months, and I'd just like to pass on my gratitude and thanks to every member of the BBC Radio London team. This must be London's annus horribus.

I hope that every member of the team gets a chance to have a break after elections, Westminster, London Bridge and indeed Manchester.”

Radio London is open 24/7 to listeners’ calls, texts, emails and, increasingly, social media comments. For us, the most important voice is that of real Londoners and there’s no better way of hearing those voices than by opening up the phone lines.

That ‘open door’ approach really comes into its own at times of major news events when many listeners’ first response is to call their radio station. Within minutes of the first reports of the Grenfell Tower fire, eye witnesses were calling Simon Lederman, who was on air at Radio London, to describe what they were seeing. 

One “eye-witness” followed Simon Lederman on air at 4am. Presenter Petrie Hosken lives in Shepherds Bush and saw the inferno at first hand as her cab drove along the A40. She was truly horrified and was therefore able to give a highly charged account as she arrived to present her programme.

As the true horror of the fire became apparent, our reporters also became eye witnesses as they watched the fire and the aftermath alongside the victims, the volunteers and the emergency services who they were interviewing. It was powerful and, at times, harrowing listening. 

In the days that followed, BBC Radio London became the conduit for their voices. Voices of suffering, voices of despair, voices of heroism, voices of anger, voices of unity.

The Grenfell Tower fire happened just eleven days after the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market and, with a General Election in between, BBC Radio London reporters, presenters found themselves repeatedly stretched to the limit. All of this happened just over two months after the terror attack at Westminster.

As is so often the case, these terrible news events happen in the middle of the night and often at weekends or bank holidays when staffing is at its leanest.

As first reports come in, senior Radio London news staff across London are called – most woken from deep sleep when they least expect it.

Reporters grab the first cab they can to head to the scene. More staff arrive at Radio London studios in Peel Wing, New Broadcasting House. The rolling news plan kicks in as all other content is dropped. Presenters appeal for eye witnesses to call.

As Editor, I also have to think ahead to the programmes coming up through the day. Non-news programmes are told to drop all content and stand down guests. This can be quite a challenge at weekends when many programmes are not news focused and not presented by journalists. They might be replaced by other presenters, but some have learned from long and sad experience to handle even the most sensitive and dramatic news stories.

That’s where presenters like Robert Elms and Jo Good come into their own. They don’t usually handle hard news, but they are intelligent, articulate Londoners who know how to tell the story, and they have the backing of experienced producers and senior journalists to guide them through the editorial issues.

There was a time when a handful of listeners would complain when programmes changed to rolling news. They would say they can get all the news elsewhere and that they need some “light relief”. But, as the years have passed and the horrific events have increased, we've heard more from the listeners who commend our coverage. As Jo Good once said on-air in response to one negative email, it would be disrespectful to the people who died and their friends and relatives, to talk about anything else.

When it comes to major news stories in London, BBC network news provides excellent coverage from a national perspective, but we’d like to think that what you get uniquely from BBC Radio London is the diverse voices of Londoners telling the story and expressing their feelings to reporters and presenters who share their experiences first-hand and can therefore convey the real impact and emotion.

I wanted to share in this post some of the comments from listeners sent to BBC Radio London after our coverage:

“It’s a times like this that we need positive support, and you’re always that, and for all people too. No matter what London or the World is going through your compassion for humanity shines through. Your warmth and your humour keeps our spirits up through the good stuff and the heart breaking stuff.” 

“Hi Robert, I think the coverage of the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower across BBC Radio London has been outstanding. The interview Anna O'Neill conducted with the Council leader yesterday showed pure emotion. She asked all the right questions, but proved she is a human being first and a journalist second. Thank you to everyone at BBC Radio London for covering this truly heart-breaking tragedy with respect and compassion.”

“We live in difficult and often dark times. When a tragedy happens, I believe the two best things we can do are to support and help each other for the duration and beyond, and do our best to make sure whatever happened never happens again. You and everyone at Radio London have helped unite the community by showing the great compassion, strength and resilience of the people of your beautiful, diverse city. You should be very proud of your people. They are amazing.” 

“I think the BBC London Radio coverage of all the terrible events happening in London has been excellent. Television coverage can be too graphic sometimes but radio, I feel, is a more measured medium. London must be feeling very bruised and battered right now but the spirit of the people shines through. Regards, Michelle”

And finally, from the Assistant Editor of the BBC News Channel on the night of the fire:

“I wanted to tell you what a brilliant job you did in grasping what was going on in the early hours, and starting to reflect the true shock at the tragedy.

Never - as I listened - did you speculate or allow eye-witness testimony to run without a rider. But neither did you distract from the powerful stories by slapping cautionary wording all over them. I thought you played a really difficult story incredibly well.

I also hope you have been able to talk to people today and share the awful experience you will have had in hearing so much horror first hand, and no doubt seeing much more on social media.

I know you are hugely impressive broadcaster of many years standing (though I only discovered you recently) and former exec, but I always think it is worth being reminded that it is good to decompress and check in with ourselves after covering such a powerful news story.

Again, I was so impressed by your broadcasting last night (as I listened on DAB many many miles out of the M25)

Best wishes

Rob”

David Robey is Editor, BBC Radio London