This is a list of events from British radio in 1948.
Events January 3 January – Sports Report, the world's longest-running sports radio programme, debuts on the BBC Light Programme. 5 January – The first episode of Mrs Dale's Diary, the first significant British radio serial drama, is broadcast on the Light Programme. 28 January – The Copleston–Russell debate, a debate between Bertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston on the existence of God, is broadcast by the BBC.
February No events.
March 23 March – Radio comedy Take It from Here, written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden and starring Jimmy Edwards, is first broadcast on the Light Programme; this first series is set in a fictitious commercial radio station office.
April 12 April – Philosopher C. E. M. Joad is caught travelling by train without a valid ticket which ends his career as a BBC Radio broadcaster. 21 April – Ralph Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 6 is premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult at the Royal Albert Hall in London and broadcast on the Home Service.
May to September No events.
October 12 October – Topical debate programme Any Questions? is first broadcast on the West of England Home Service chaired by Freddie Grisewood; originally intended to run for six fortnightly editions only, it will still be on the air weekly (on BBC Radio 4 nationally) 75 years later.
November No events.
December 26 December – The first series of the BBC's annual Reith Lectures, Bertrand Russell on Authority and the Individual, begins broadcasting on the Home Service. 28 December – For the second series of Take It from Here, writers Muir and Norden begin to adopt its familiar three-part sketch show format.
Undated Steuart Wilson becomes head of music at the BBC and Harman Grisewood replaces George Barnes as controller of the BBC Third Programme.
Debuts 3 January – Sports Report (BBC Light Programme, 1948–Present) 5 January – Mrs Dale's Diary (BBC Light Programme, 1948–1969) 23 March – Take It from Here (BBC Light Programme, 1948–1960) 1 May – Top of the Form (BBC Light Programme, 1948–1986) 12 October – Any Questions? (BBC Home Service, 1948–Present) The McCooeys (1948–1955)
Programme endings 29 March – Monday Night at Eight (BBC Home Service, 1937–1948)
Continuing radio programmes 1930s In Town Tonight (1933–1960)
1940s Music While You Work (1940–1967) Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018) Desert Island Discs (1942–Present) Family Favourites (1945–1980) Down Your Way (1946–1992) Have A Go (1946–1967) Housewives' Choice (1946–1967) Letter from America (1946–2004) Woman's Hour (1946–Present) Twenty Questions (1947–1976)
Births 8 March – Gyles Brandreth, writer, broadcaster and politician 14 April – Rob Cowan, classical music presenter 29 May – Michael Berkeley, composer and classical music broadcaster 9 June – Nick Clarke, news presenter (died 2006) 18 June – Philip Jackson, actor 25 August – Harriett Gilbert, radio arts presenter 30 August – Robin Lustig, radio news presenter 13 December – Andy Peebles, DJ (died 2025) 22 December – Noel Edmonds, broadcast presenter and producer Paul Lewis, financial broadcaster
See also 1948 in British music 1948 in British television 1948 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1948
References