BBC Devon News Desk: A Look Back at its Humble Beginnings

On September 30th, 1983, a significant milestone was achieved in the broadcasting history of Devon when the BBC opened its new studios at Walnut Court, formally inaugurated by Alastair Milne, the Director General of the BBC at that time. This marked the beginning of a new era for local programming in the region.

The aim of the venture was to cater to the over-25 demographic, with weekend programs focusing on farming, arts, and religion. Initially, the service operated from 6am to 6pm under the name Devon County Radio, offering current affairs, news, phone-ins, and discussion programs.

Alan Urry manned the Mk1 Desk in Plymouth while David Read presented the first news bulletin. The first program broadcast was 'Countywide', hosted by Chris Loughlin. Interestingly, this marked the BBC's entry into an area that had previously been dominated by commercial stations like DevonAir and Plymouth Sound.

The project faced delays, and on its inaugural day of broadcasting, temporary portacabins served as makeshift studios. The total cost of the venture was £1.5 million, with £750,000 allocated for video and audio editing equipment and broadcast studios.

The Exeter Building and Construction Group (later rebranded as ROK) were chosen to build the studios, which were constructed near Walnut House off St David's Hill. In 1982, a temporary office was set up in an end-terrace house at 65 St David's Hill while construction began.

Fast-forward to 1993, Exeter became a feed for a new Plymouth studio, sparking controversy among local civic leaders. Roy Corlett, the station manager at the time, recalled: 'We took a lot of flack from civic leaders in Plymouth.'

Prior to this development, BBC Radio had been based solely in its Plymouth studios. However, with the opening of the Exeter studios, the service was split between the old Plymouth studio and the new, purpose-built facility.

The launch of Breakfast programming on January 17th, 1983, marked a significant milestone in British broadcasting history, deliberately timed to precede TV-am's debut by two weeks. This momentous occasion saw BBC Radio Devon, along with BBC Radio Cornwall, begin broadcasting across the south-west region.

In conclusion, the BBC Devon News Desk has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1983. From its temporary portacabins to purpose-built studios, the station has continued to serve as a vital source of local programming and news for the people of Devon.

Bbc devon news desk