How are radio and TV stations adapting during lockdown?

It may not always be seamless, but listeners will be eternally grateful for that link to the outside world since lockdown began in March.

Radio listening figures have soared across both commercial and BBC networks proving how invaluable it has been to be able to switch on and hear a familiar voice, like an old friend.

Uplifting music, phone-ins, even prayers are still being broadcast.

Angel Radio founder Tony Smith is only too aware of the power of radio. Many of his thousands of listeners are elderly and were isolated anyway. The nostalgia station, in Havant, has provided a lifeline for them since 1999.

But it has been hit hard by coronavirus. More than 30 volunteers are shielding and they lost much-loved presenter Ron Missellbrook to the virus.

Tony says: ‘It has been very difficult. Ron was one of our longest serving contributors with his songs, poetry and comedy sketches. None of us were even allowed to attend his funeral. It is very sad.’

But Tony and his team were determined to do Ron proud and spent a small fortune on supplying shielding DJs with the equipment to broadcast from home.

‘At the very beginning of the pandemic we were lucky enough to be have a large feature about us in SAGA Magazine’, says Tony. ‘So when people got locked away they started twiddling with the knobs on their wireless and found us.’

Tony wanted to ensure the huge number of new listeners were not disappointed with the quality now so many presenters had to broadcast from home.

Keeping Angel Radio on air without resorting to a computerised jukebox has been a struggle, so here is how he did it.

‘I have bought several Barix Instreamers that enable presenters who have home studios to plug their studio into the box and I can receive their show live from the lounge and broadcast it on air.

‘When we ran out of money for Barix Instreamers I set up other isolated presenters with a method of turning their PCs into streaming devices.

‘Some presenters couldn't manage to stream live shows from their homes so they are recording shows and emailing them to me. I have provided our team of Sunday morning religious presenters with a very high quality microphone-recorder.

‘They record the vocal parts of their service, prayers, and Bible readings, and email those to me so that I can play the hymns in between their vocals.’

The huge rise in audience numbers has meant more people are telephoning for record requests or just for a chat, and Angel’s monthly freephone bills have quadrupled since February.

But as far as Tony is concerned that’s a small price to pay to help those in isolation get through lockdown.

Over at BBC Radio Solent the presenters are just as passionate about entertaining.

Alun Newman and Lou Hannan took over the prestigious breakfast show slot earlier this year and had just got used to things when lockdown began – which meant they had to completely change how they work

The duo, who write a weekly column in the Family Life pages of The News, are a close-knit team with their producer Warren Hayden. But all that had to change, as Warren reveals: ‘Alun, Lou and I are a very close team, used to being in each other’s pockets. We love being together and bouncing ideas off each other for the radio show.

‘Of course, the pandemic put a complete stop to that way of working and socialising and we had to create a new way of being a team and making informative and entertaining radio whilst being apart.

‘Alun and Lou now take turns presenting the show from the studio with the other chipping in from home, which is great for me as I still get to see both of them, albeit at a distance, but harder for them as they are no longer in the building at the same time.

‘The positive feedback we’ve had from listeners, old and new, is something I’ve never seen before and proves we’ve been providing a valued and needed public service. We’re a great team and we can’t wait to all be in the room together again.’

Everyone who enters BBC Radio Solent headquarters has their temperature read by a machine Alun has nicknamed Tina, and once it confirms that it’s safe to do so, the presenters use hand sanitiser before following arrows to the studio.

Alun says cheekily: ‘To say things have changed in the office would be an understatement. It’s got to the point where people are actually washing up their used coffee mugs. I ne ver thought I would see that in my lifetime. However, on-air, the need has never been greater. The desire to pull together, to get the latest news but not allow those stories to define us. To take one day at a time, to remember that we’ll get through this.’

The Alun and Lou show has become the Alun OR Lou show and Lou concedes that she misses her co-presenter but realises they are providing a valuable service.

‘It’s nothing nearly as dramatic as millions of others are facing, but a dramatic change to the way we work nonetheless.

‘BBC Radio Solent has provided such a valuable service over decades, but in the past few months it’s been overwhelming to hear the impact it’s had on people’s lives; providing news, information, company and routine.

‘We provide some entertainment and a laugh, in an otherwise very serious world.’

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