BBC Broadcasting House welcomes Her Majesty The Queen

The Queen will visit BBC Broadcasting House on Thursday 20 April 2006 to mark the 80th anniversary of the granting of the Corporation's Royal Charter.

The Queen will officially re-open the original Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London, which has recently been refurbished as a part of a redevelopment of the site.

The Queen's schedule is as follows:
Upon arrival at Broadcasting House, The Queen will meet the Director-General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, and the following BBC Radio breakfast presenters:

Radio 1 - Chris Moyles
Radio 2 – Sir Terry Wogan KBE
Radio 3 – Penny Gore
Radio 4 – John Humphrys and James Naughtie
Five Live – Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty
1Xtra – Jason and Iyare
Asian Network – Sonia Deol

The Queen will be shown a model outlining building project plans for Broadcasting House by Sir Richard MacCormac, Architect, and the BBC's Chief Operating Officer, John Smith, and will view a display of digital radio technology and Broadcasting House artefacts.

The digital radio technology consists of:
A DAB digital radio featuring an electronic programme guide (EPG)
A wi-fi radio, which can pick up, via wireless broadband, internet radio stations around the world including all the BBC's national stations
A plasma TV screen with a Freeview box, displaying the BBC's 24/7 radio service via digital TV
A laptop computer demonstrating listening to radio via the internet on the BBC Radio Player
Mobile devices capable of receiving radio services i.e. iPod featuring a selection of the BBC's podcasts and a new mobile telephone with DAB radio access

The Broadcasting House artefacts consist of:
A 'royal' microphone used by King George V for Christmas broadcasts in the 1930s
The 'King's Radio', a specially created version of a high quality radio set made by Murphy, the electronics manufacturer, and presented to King George V. The model was subsequently known to the public as the 'King's Radio.'
A cigar box in the form of Broadcasting House presented to Lord Reith on his 10th anniversary as Manager/Director-General of the British Broadcasting Company/Corporation.

The Queen will then watch a production for BBC 7's The Big Toe Radio Show. The Queen will meet presenters Kirsten O'Brien and Kevin Duala and young competition winners in the Drama studio.

The Queen will view a recording for Radio 4's Woman's Hour and meet presenter Jenni Murray, programme engineers and interviewees Dr Sarah Childs from Bristol University and Dr Rosie Campbell from Birkbeck College, London.

Dr Childs and Dr Campbell will be discussing the results of a Woman's Hour/ICM survey looking at the changing role of men and women in society.

The Queen will then join a reception hosted by the Chairman, BBC Governors, Executive Board members, senior BBC executives and artists associated with BBC Radio, including: Chris Evans, Sir Clement Freud, Richard Briers CBE, David Jacobs CBE, Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons OBE, Prunella Scales CBE and Timothy West CBE.

The Queen will receive a gift and unveil a plaque before departing.

As she leaves from BBC Broadcasting House, The Queen will meet local schoolchildren who will have gathered to wish her a happy birthday.

On being told they would be introduced to The Queen, some BBC radio presenters made the following comments:

Radio 2's Terry Wogan said: "The last time we met I had to tape back my somewhat large ears lest she'd have one of them off with the sword. Luckily she wields the blade like an expert and I got away with just a flesh wound."

Penny Gore, from Radio 3, said: "Well, since I'll have got up at 4.45am that morning to get ready for presenting Morning on Three, I think it would be safer if I stuck to a small bow rather than bending the knee... I don't want to risk any dizzy spells due to low blood-sugar if I attempt the full curtsey!"

Shelagh Fogarty, from Five Live, said: "I'll happily curtsey for any 80-year-old lady who wants me to, especially on her birthday!"

Sonia Deol, from the Asian Network, said: "Yes I will curtsey because it's the done thing with Royalty isn't it? But I haven't got a clue how to do it elegantly. In Birmingham we don't have much call for this sort of thing."

1Xtra's Jason & Iyare said: "Our mums would be proud, all we've got to do is remember not to curtsey because that's for girls."

Source: BBC Press Office

Latest news stories..

• Get our news headlines for your website • Submit your news story