Discover UK Radio Archive
We're coming back, streaming from outside the UK this time, with unique recordings from the heydays of UK offshore radio and the US pop and rock stations which often influenced them. Our mission, as before, is to trawl the planet for hitherto unheard of, or well-known recordings of shows from and about those stations, their jingles, themes and presenters, in essence their vibe, which has been missing from the airwaves for decades, sadly never to return. Always on the lookout for those shows which are still informative and entertaining, and fun in 2026, but which have never or rarely been heard before! Details of forthcoming shows are listed below...
Thank you to all who listened to our first test stream a couple of weeks ago. featuring the inimitable Kenny Everett. Kenny's last Capital FM show was a particular success, so it is repeated here in the rundown of 14 August specials (I know, I know, it's not even pirate, but hey it was arguably Big L who led to Kenny's success). We couldn't let 14 August pass without some memories of the effective end of the heyday, or first heyday, of offshore radio. We may add additional features over the weekend of 15/16 August 2026, but initially please take a listen to the former Radio Site's presentation of 2000. You will hear, Ronan. Philip Birch, Johnnie walker, Simon Dee, Keith Skues, Dave Cash, Tommy Shields and many more. Recordings of Caroline, London and PAMS jingles. Following that, 'Sounds from the Seas', another documentary further taking the narrative from 14 August 1967 onwards featuring Tony Prince, Ed Stewart, Paul Kaye, Mark Roman, Tony Windsor, Pete Drummond, Tony Allen, Robbie Dale, Don Allen, Roger Day and messages from artists of the time, and of course the highly emotional closedown of Wonderful Radio London at 3pm on 14 August 1967 with their 'Sonowaltz' (aka 'Big Lil') theme, closedowns from some of the other pirates and the continuation of Caroline until 3 March 1968 (credits to Radio Broadcast Library).
Then the last Kenny Everett show from Capital FM on Saturday 27 September 1980. The latter has rarely been aired and although is a scoped aircheck, all of Kenny and his bits and jingles are there, with much of the music intact. It is of high quality FM off air and is sure to lift your mood as it features Kenny at his very best! Please note that these recordings are on 24/7 rotation (as that is all we can offer during the test stream), so you will find that you join the stream at any point during the presentation. Link to Listen Now above left and press the play icon. This stream will run until approximately midnight on Sunday 16 August only.
In the edit suite for when we come back with a full service (details will be announced later this summer) are a couple of presentations from BBC Radio London in 1982. At that time, the continuing voice of the pirates, Tony Blackburn, hosted a show on the station and on one famous occasion had what the author at any rate reckons was THE voice of offshore Radio London, Big L, and that was Tony Windsor. Who can forget his deep "Hello" greeting?! Real name Tony Withers, he was instrumental in promoting many of the DJs who later became household names. He started out on Radio Atlanta in 1964, under his own name, before the station became Radio Caroline South, and he was later a key presenter on Wonderful Radio London. On this show he recounts his days offshore, sounding just as fresh as he did in 1966, and has an exclusive interview with Noel Edmunds, never a pirate but who was someone Tony promoted to work on Radio Luxembourg, before Noel got involved with the BBC. Then we have a documentary about the pirates, produced by BBC Radio London.
During the inaugural period of our return to streaming, all output will be on automatic rotation, so you will join the presentations anywhere along their output. The link to the stream is above left (Listen Now and press the play icon). Over the next few weeks, we have a feast of goodies to air, eg
- KENNY EVERETT BBC SUNDAY AFTERNOON SHOWS RECORDED IN HIS OWN 'HUT ON A HILL' STUDIO IN WALES (SEVERAL SHOWS)
- KENNY EVERETT, LAST SATURDAY CAPITAL FM SHOW
- BUSTER PEARSON TRIBUTE; THE ULTIMATE RADIO CAROLINE FAN
- CAROLINE ON RNI SATELLITE WITH JOHNNY AND DAVE REECE
- RNI HISTORY AND PRESENTATIONS
- PIRATE BBC ESSEX, RECORDINGS OF THOSE FAMOUS JOCKS WHO APPEARED ON THIS GREAT TRIBUTE STATION IN THE 2000s
- LASER 558, A SELECTION OF OUTPUT
- FROM THE STATES, US ROCK AND POP STATIONS AND MASTERS OF PAMS PRODUCTIONS JINGLE SETS
This website is in development, so content is limited and may change frequently. It's main purpose right now is to let you know we're coming back and to support the audio stream! You are welcome to email us below, in fact please do to let us know how the stream is received, where you are and what you think of these unique shows from Kenny. Go to the Submit a Request or Ask a Question section near the foot of this page (ignoring all the yet to be formatted sections of this temporary website!). ALL emails will be answered!
The UKRA Team
13 August 2026
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UK Radio Archive
Kent Innovation Centre, Millennium Way, Broadstairs, CT10 2QQ
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