Events

14 February – The world's first regular wireless broadcasts for entertainment, made by Peter Eckersley, begin transmission on radio station 2MT from a hut at the Marconi Company laboratories at Writtle near Chelmsford in England. Initially they are for half an hour on Tuesday evenings.

11 May – Station 2LO becomes the second radio station to broadcast regularly in the United Kingdom, operating from Marconi House in London, initially for one hour a day. The first radio sports commentary in Britain is made on the station when Arthur Burrows describes a boxing match between Ted "Kid" Lewis and Georges Carpentier at Olympia. No further sports broadcasts are made in the country until 1927 due to pressure from newspapers.^[1]

7 October – Speaking on radio station 2LO, the Prince of Wales becomes the first member of the British royal family to make a public broadcast.^[2]
18 October – The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is formed as a commercial company.^[2]

14 November – London radio station 2LO transfers to the British Broadcasting Company which makes its first ever broadcast,^[3]^[4] transmitting from 18:00 GMT its first two news bulletins, each read by the director of programmes, Arthur Burrows, twice ("once quickly and once slowly") – to determine listener reaction.^[5]
15 November – The British Broadcasting Company opens its stations in Birmingham (5IT) and Manchester (2ZY), the latter at the Metropolitan-Vickers works in Trafford Park. Manchester broadcasts the BBC's first children's programme, Miss A. Bennie, "The Lady of the Magic Carpet", reading "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde.^[6] The 2ZY Orchestra, predecessor of the BBC Philharmonic, is formed.
24 November – 2ZY Manchester broadcasts the BBC's first variety act.^[6]

24 December
- First BBC broadcast from Newcastle upon Tyne (station 5NO).
- The BBC (from London) first broadcasts a drama, for children, The Truth about Father Christmas, with Arthur Burrows in the title role.

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force becomes the first military band to make a radio broadcast with the BBC.

Births

6 February – Denis Norden, comedy scriptwriter and broadcast personality (died 2018)
23 April – Jack May, actor (died 1997)
10 June – Bill Kerr, South African-born Australian actor working in Britain (died 2014)
25 June – Robert Moreton, actor, scriptwriter and comedian (suicide 1957)
5 July – Tom Crowe, Irish-born BBC Radio 3 announcer (died 2010)
16 August – James Casey, variety artist and radio comedy scriptwriter and producer (died 2011)
25 August – Derek Roy, comedian (died 1981)
24 September – John Moffatt, actor (died 2012)
16 October – Max Bygraves, singer and entertainer (died 2012)
1 November – John Westbrook, actor (died 1989)