Radio 1began broadcasting in 1967. Devoted almost entirely to pop music, its birth was a signal that popular youth culture could no longer be ignored by the country's established institutions. In spite of recent competition from independent radio stations, it still has over ten million listeners.
Radio 2broadcasts mainly light music and chat shows.
Radio 3is devoted to classical music.
Radio 4broadcasts a variety of programmes, from plays and comedy shows to consumer advice programmes and in-depth news coverage. It has a small but dedicated following.
Radio 5is largely given over to sports coverage and news.
Two particular radio programmes should be mentioned. Soap operas are normally associated with television, but The Archers is actually the longest-running soap in the world. It describes itself as 'an everyday story of country folk'. Its audience, which is mainly middle-class with a large proportion of elderly people, cannot compare in size with the television soaps, but it has become so famous that everybody in Britain knows about it and tourist attractions have been designed to capitalize on its fame.
Another radio 'institution' is the live commentary of cricket Test Matches in the summer.