Close to Home - The Story of Local Radio

As well as the launch of BBC Radios 1 to 4 in 1967, that year also saw the arrival of the BBC's first batch of local radio stations:

* BBC Radio Leicester on 8th November
* BBC Radio Sheffield on 15th November
* BBC Radio Merseyside on 22nd November.

Made to mark BBC Local Radio's 40th anniversary in 2007 - Libby Purves takes an affectionate look back at the first chaotic days of local programming.

There's everything from unruly guests and erratic phone-ins to technological mishaps.

Libby charts the history of the stations which were to bring us the likes of Kate Adie, Tony Adamson, Michael Buerk, Paul Heiney and Des Lynam.

From its early beginnings, and after much deliberation and research, the BBC began to build a network of local radio stations across England. The project was driven mainly by the energy of Frank Gillard, then BBC Radio's Managing Director.

The other five stations in the pioneering batch of eight BBC local stations were:

* BBC Radio Nottingham (31st January 1968)
* BBC Radio Brighton (14th February 1968)
* BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent (14th March 1968)
* BBC Radio Leeds (24th June 1968)* BBC
* BBC Radio Durham (3rd July 1968).

Libby explores how the ideals of the early pioneers survived into the 21st Century.

Producer: Paula McGinley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007.