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Elsewhere on the Web • The BBC

On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash in Paris. Of course, British radio played a major role in telling the people of Great Britain and the world of the facts and events that followed. Your Radio Guide has done some research to present some links you will no doubt find interesting. You will need RealAudio installed to hear.

Englishman Mike Dickin was presenting Talk Radio's overnight phone-in show when the news of Diana's death broke. Listen

Here is some audio that is especially fascinating. This is from the IRN Newsdesk, the news and sport wire service for commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. It is seven and a half minutes long and features the non-broadcast instructions sent to radio station staff along with the news broadcast itself. Listen

The website MHP - Pick of the Continuity Announcements, describes how British radio reacted:
"BBC Radio had joined forces with Radios 2, 3, 4 and 5 Live, and all BBC local radio stations taking the same programme from the BBC Today studio. BBC Radio 1 had switched to a light music mix, with frequent news announcements. The National Anthem was played at least once an hour on all stations. Radios 2 and 3 dropped out mid-morning, with Radio 4 and 5 Live staying together until after lunch. BBC Local radio varied. Meanwhile, all independent radio stations were taking the IRN special programme, which consisted of light instrumental music and ten minute announcements, with extended news bulletins on the hour and half-hour." Listen

BBC World Service suspended normal programming. Here is a 28 minute special broadcast hosted by Robin Lustig.

- Corey Deitz

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