1970

• The musicians Union turned down a bid by the BBC to allow a weekly extra 100 hours 'needle time' needed to separate Radio 1 from Radio 2. It would have allowed separate programming from 7pm. The Union felt the increased needle time would affect the amount offered to musicians for live performances.

April

• Johnnie Walker started a daily one-hour show at 9Am, following Tony Blackburn. This was broadcast on 247m only - not carried by Radio 2.  

• Johnnie's show was followed closely by Jimmy Young with Raymondo and listeners 'sur le continent' (Radio 2 1500m could be heard in France and parts of Germany).

• Radio 1 Club continued at midday, with some newer names 'on trial'; Richard Park, a Glasgow D.J., Dave Eager (see below), Phil Jay, Peter York, Gary Taylor from The Herd and Chris Grant. 

Dave Eager on the Radio 1 Club

Dave Eager with Lucky Numbers

• Tony Brandon reappeared at 2pm with a one-hour show, replacing Dave Cash.

• An influential new series, Sounds of the Seventies was launched, playing 'adventurous contemporary sounds'. This show was presented by a variety of D.J.'s including David Symonds, Bob Harris, Mike Harding, Andy Ferris, Stuart Henry, Pete Drummond, Alan Black and John Peel.

Stuart Grundy announces Sounds of the 70's

Pete Drummond trail for Sounds of the 70's  

Jimi Hendrix 'Scene and Heard' interview

• August saw a special edition of Scene and Heard was broadcast celebrating the Isle of Wight festival. All the line-up were included in the programme apart from Jimi Hendrix. Producer Jeff Griffin was determined to speak to Hendrix, who eventually agreed to talk to one of the programme's contributors, Keith Altham. Keith spoke to Hendrix in a hotel in London's Park Lane on 12th September. Very little of the interview was ever broadcast, because of the way Jimi was talking, often mumbling and laughing. He was found dead two days after it was recorded.

• Special programmes of this year included the Beatles Story (March) Edwin Hawkers Singers (Spring Bank Holiday) and the Radio 1 D.J.'s Christmas Party (Dec).

Saturdays

• Kenny Everett was sacked in April over comments made on-air, having joked that the wife of the then Transport minister had passed her driving test by bribing the examiner!

• Noel Edmonds took his time slot on Saturdays. Noel had previously been heard since April with a weekly 2 hr show.

• John Peel was heard on Saturday afternoons.

• Also in April, the evening show Jazz Club, was replaced by a programme for new D.J. talent and included Gary Taylor, Andy Finney, Peter York and Chris Grant; this show ran until October and was replaced with Mike Raven.

• Scene & Heard moved to Saturdays. 

• A new series, Folk on One, began on Saturdays; artistes featured included Fairport Convention, Ralph McTell and Magna Carta. 

Sundays

• Stuart Henry lost his afternoon show and was replaced by John Peel until April.

• John introduced a new Radio 1 series; 'In Concert' which included performances by Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Mott the Hoople and Procol Harum

• Johnnie Moran started a new oldies show in April called 'All Our Yesterplays' and was followed by 'Cash at Four' with.. you guessed it.. Dave Cash, who was ably supported by Bob miller and his Millermen.

1970 OTHER

• March - Jimmy Young broadcast his show from Mrs.. Rose Sharkey's front room (14ft x 12ft) in Acton Terrace, Wigan. 

• Palm Sunday - Dave Lee Travis recited an 'amended' psalm 23 on -air; 'the Union is my Shepherd I shall not work' and later apologised. 

• April - Jimmy Young was not relayed on Radio 2's 1500m LW much to the consternation of British Forces families in Germany.  

• August - a bomb scare at one Radio 1 club caused DLT and 200 fans to be evacuated.

• David Symonds resigned saying he thought 'Radio 1 was disliked by most young people'. 

• The Postmaster General was considering commercialising Radio1; the Guardian carried a story with headline 'Tough Fight to Save Radio 1'. The outcome was a plan for Independent Local Radio, since it was decided a national commercial station could not compete with Radio 1.