 | |
| Broadcast area | Essex |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | FM: 95.3 MHz (Basildon andSouthend-on-Sea) FM: 103.5 MHz (Clacton-on-Sea,Frinton-on-Sea,Chelmsford,Walton,Harwich,Dovercourt,Colchester,Saffron Walden andBraintree) DAB: 12D Freeview: 716 |
| RDS | BBCESSEX |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Local news, talk and music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC Local Radio, BBC East, BBC London |
| History | |
First air date | 5 November 1986 |
Former frequencies | 729MW 765 MW 1530 MW |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | Ofcom |
| Links | |
| Website | BBC Essex |
BBC Essex is theBBC's local radio station serving the county ofEssex.
It broadcasts onFM,DAB, digital TV and viaBBC Sounds from studios on New London Road inChelmsford.
According toRAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 136,000 listeners as of May 2025.[1]
BBC Essex launched on 5 November 1986. It broke from the naming convention of "BBCRadio (county name)" so as to avoid confusion with Essex Radio (later Essex FM, nowHeart Essex). There was also a pirate station called Radio Essex in the 1960s, and currently, there is an independent commercial station calledRadio Essex.
BBC Essex set out to be different from existing BBC local stations, which were often perceived as rather "stuffy" and "worthy". It launched with a more upbeat sound, an almost "tabloid" news style and younger presenters than most stations; the BBC Essex symbol also did not feature the traditional BBC logo. However, in more recent years, the style has been toned down and the format is now more in line with the rest of the BBC local radio network.
The station has also employed a number of high-profile presenters includingAlex Lester,James Whale,Jonathan Overend (BBC Radio 5 Live), Tim 'Timbo' Lloyd (twice winner of Best Local DJ at the Sony Radio Awards),Mark Pougatch (ITV Sport),Dermot O'Leary (National radio & TV presenter)[2] and music promoterEric 'Monster' Hall.[3]
A revised programme schedule at the station was launched in September 2015 following the appointment of Louise Birt as Managing Editor in April 2015,[4] following the departure of predecessor Gerald Main, who held the role from 2007 until February 2015.[5]
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The strongest signal is 103.5FM, which comes from theGreat Braxted transmitter betweenWitham andTiptree. It also transmits the EssexDAB mux. The 95.3 FM signal fromSouth Benfleet is heard in most of the southernThames Estuary.
There are no longer anyAM transmitters broadcasting BBC Essex, the last two being closed in May 2021.[6] The 500 ftManningtree tower, which formerly transmitted BBC Essex on 729 kHz, also has Essex DAB.
The Bakers Wood (Chelmsford) transmitter, which formerly transmitted BBC Essex on 765 kHz, is another of the DAB transmitters. Local DAB signals, since 20 May 2002, are the Essex 12D multiplex, which has further transmitters at Maitland House (Southend-on-Sea town centre),Colchester,Sudbury (inSuffolk), and Rye Hill (south ofHarlow - on a water tower). BBC Essex also used to transmit on 1530 kHz fromRayleigh (Southend) until it ceased broadcasting in January 2018 as a cost saving measure.
The station also broadcasts onFreeview TV channel 716 across theBBC East,BBC London andBBC South East regions and streams online viaBBC Sounds.
From 10 to 17 April 2004, BBC Essex marked the fortieth anniversary of offshore radio in Britain by launching their own ship-based radio station, Pirate BBC Essex. Broadcasting from an old light vessel, the station transmitted sixties music and memories twenty-four hours a day all week. This was followed in August 2007 by another broadcast marking the anniversary of the closing of the pirate stations by theMarine Broadcasting Offences Act 1967.
Over the Easter Weekend in April 2009, the popularPirate Radio Essex programme was resurrected by popular demand from listeners,[7] occurring five days after the release of the comedy movieThe Boat that Rocked.[7] This was broadcast on theAM frequencies, as well as on the Internet, which resulted in many calls from as far away asNew Zealand. Presenters includedJohnnie Walker,Tony Blackburn,Dave Cash andKeith Skues as well as three of the station's presenters: Steve Scruton; Ian Wyatt & Ray Clark.[8]
BBC Essex presenter Ray Clark authored a book called 'Radio Caroline: The True Story of The Boat That Rocked' which was published in early 2014.[9] Clark retired from BBC Essex on 20 June 2014 after leaving his award-winning breakfast show in February that year.[10][11] Clark returned to BBC Essex in September 2015 to present a new, regular, Saturday morning show.[12]
Pirate BBC Essex took to the airwaves for one final time on 13 and 14 August 2017.Starting at 10 pm on 13 August 2017 Keith Skues presented his regular, 3-hour regional Sunday night show from the LV18 studio, and on 14 August 2017 programmes were broadcast commencing at 9 am, with the eventual closure at 3 pm, marking the 50th anniversary of the Marine Offences Act which closed most pirate radio stations.Guest presenters included Johnnie Walker,Roger 'Twiggy' Day,Tom Edwards and Norman St John.[13]
Local programming is produced and broadcast from the BBC'sChelmsford studios from 6 am to 6 pm on Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 2pm at weekends and for sports coverage.
Off-peak programming, including the late show from 10 pm to 1 am, originates from London or Manchester.
During the station's downtime, BBC Essex simulcasts overnight programming fromBBC Radio 5 Live.
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