BBC comedy station launches Sunday

The BBC will launch its final digital radio station, BBC7, on Sunday promising more than seven hours of comedy a day.

The first day's broadcast opens at 8pm with a two-hour special hosted by Paul Merton, Merton's Magnificent 7, showcasing the station's output and simultaneously broadcast on Radio Four.

Classic comedies from The Goon Show to The League Of Gentlemen will feature in the station's line-up

Round the Horne, Hancock's Half Hour, Steptoe & Son, Dad's Army,Goodness Gracious Me, Knowing Me, Knowing You and Dead Ringers are also in the schedules.

Stand-up is also featured, and the station boasts a number of theme nights. However, no new comedy programmes will be commissioned, just reruns of classic BBC shows.

BBC7 editor Mary Kalemkerian said: "Ultimately we are hoping that BBC7 will help to attract new listeners to speech-based radio. It's pure entertainment at its very best."

Comedy is stripped across the weekday schedules with hour-long bursts at 8am, noon, 2pm and 7pm, plus three hours from 9pm and a half-hour programme at 9.30am.

The rest of the day comprises drama and children's programmes.

BBC7 will be available on digital radios, digital satellite and online.

Published: 13 Dec 2002