Funded Projects
Across the duration of its three year pilot project, The Audio Content Fund supported 165 projects, from 91 different suppliers, broadcast on more than 350 different radio stations. Our government funding in that period was £3.7million. This page lists all our funded projects, and provides links to hear the output where available.
Completed Projects
Badger and The Blitz
A ten-part kids drama set during WW2, with themes of loss, compassion and courage.
The Butterfly Effect
A series of sound-rich features bringing inspirational people into the incredible natural world on their doorsteps.
Green Wings
Documentary series introducing listeners to the pioneering projects fighting the climate crisis from inside prisons
What's Wrong With You?
Comedy conversation series that explores the ever-changing world of disability with a panel made up exclusively of panellists with disabilities
Dance Britannia
Six-part music documentary celebrating British dance music
Belfast: A City Reborn
Five-part series tracing the transformation of Belfast from a city under siege to a popular tourist destination
On The Water
Series of Radio Ballads describing the lives and experiences of working people in their own words.
Toy Boy
Audio drama written by Anthony KD, set in an urban environment
Giant Steps
Intergenerational conversations, across Jazz generations.
My Life
Weekly programme with child presenters talking their homes, schools, families and hobbies.
Stormy Weather : Britain's Coastal Sailing History
An entertaining and informative 5-part series celebrating Britain’s maritime history.
The Dating Game... and HIV+
Real life dating stories from HIV+ people
Black and Gay, Back in the Day
An undiscovered archive from HIV activist and host Marc Thompson brought to life through subversive storytelling.
Iron to Iron
A journey through engineering history, taken by bicycle
Live from The Witch Trials
Trilingual historical supernatural drama for Halloween
Fear Of Missing Out
A series all about what the history we wish we’d learnt at school.
Like a Fine Wine
Wine tasting series, hosted by elders exploring themes of life and ageing.
In Plain Sight?
Investigative documentary series
BFBS eSports Live
Weekly live eSports show hosted by OJ Borg, bringing together players from the UK and overseas
Killing Coal
The story of six moments that signalled the end of an iconic industry - as one revolution makes way for another.
Young People Changing The World
Educational and inspirational series of short episodes hosted by Daisy Maskell
Catch of the Day
A series of features about the state of the fishing industry in the UK today.
In The Beginning
Storytelling series, with primal creation myths adapted for children
Sixty Years of Magical Reggae
Four-part series, hosted by Carroll Thompson the Queen of Lovers Rock, celebrating the impact of reggae on audiences in the UK
London 2012 - One Golden Summer, Ten Years On
Series marking the tenth anniversary of the London 2012 Games, with eight GB medal winners looking back
Hidden In Plain Sight – the story of lost Inverlael
A series of vibrant and engaging short drama-docs, telling the story of a lost Highland community.
Tomorrow's Superstars
Marking South Asian Heritage Month by celebrating up and coming British Asian Sport talent.
Absolute Radio Pirates
Pop-up radio station to mark the 55th anniversary of the Marine Offences Act, and the end of 60s pirate radio.
Truthdiggers
A true-crime podcast for kids, in which the listeners crack the case!
Songs From The Terraces
A History Of The Football Chant
Would Like To Meet
Authored documentary series about dating and disability
Sporting Asylum
Documentary about sports people who have fled their countries and gone on to sporting achievement.
Heartlands
Profile series focused on former industrial heartlands of the UK
Faith, Sex and Me
Stories from 20 LGBT+ people about their relationship with faith
Pride Not Prejudice
Holly Johnson examines and celebrates the influence of LGBT culture of the 1970s and 1980s on British pop music.
Coming Out Out
Young people from across the UK tell their coming out stories, with the help of James Barr and Dan Hudson.
The Easts
Drama series examining the changes experienced by one family, in the seven decades of The Queen's reign.
Scat's The Way It Is
The legendary hip-hop artist, and founding member of the Sugar Hill Gang, Master Gee, hosts a two part series tracing the influences of jazz on hip-hop today.
The Women Of Country: Through The Decades
Doc series about the female influence in country music
Cool Skool Sketch Show
A short-form comedy sketch show series written, performed, and produced by Kent schoolchildren
Dead British
An improvised comedy interview show, with characters from British history.
Pass The Mic
A six-part documentary series diving into the lineage of modern MC culture.
Magic’s Menopause Month
Combine real life stories with practical health advice
Bhangra Bhat
Ravi Sagoo presents a series of conversation and music programmes that chart the history of Bhangra and Asian music across Britain
Tigeropolis
A comedy adventure series for 8-10s, plus related educational features.
Cooler Runnings
Short profiles of Winter Olympic and Paralympic athletes
The Waves
A set of five dramas by up-and-coming writers of mixed heritage, exploring how our contemporary life is shaped by our colonial past.
Jazz meets Classical
A six-part music documentary series, exploring the surprising similarities between Classical and Jazz music.
We Can Make
A six-part follow-doc series, about a man, building a house, with the help of his community.
Audiomoves
A 12-part radio series encouraging physical movement amongst primary school age children
Tape Letters
Uncovering the incredible oral history of the British Pakistani community, stored on cassette tapes used to communicate with family overseas.
The Cabinet of Jazz
Inspired by Dizzy Gillespie's 1964 run for President, comedian and self-confessed jazz anorak, Marcus Brigstocke invites the nations’ greatest jazz-loving comedians, musicians and presenters to assemble their very own Cabinet of Jazz.
XS Manchester Foodstock
A collection of short, factual packages profiling the work of groups that support Mancunians in food poverty.
Night of the Living Flatpacks
A bold new drama series written by five emerging Deaf and disabled writers, about one chaotic night in a furniture store.
XS Manchester's Voice
A series of Sunday night current affairs talk shows focussing on local Manchester stories from the past seven days.
Musical Journeys with Bekah MacLeod
A six-part conversation series in Gaelic celebrating traditional Scottish music.
It Was All A Dream... The Football Academy Journey
A three-part documentary series narrated by Troy Townsend, examining the industrialised football Academy system.
Still Alive
A series of documentaries immersing the listener into the worlds of five ‘makers’, each practising a craft which many would think had long-since disappeared.
The Scottish Hip Hop Show
A weekly music series, showcasing artists who are contributing to the vibrant hip hop scene in Scotland.
Leicester Build Back Better Stories
A series of programmes highlighting urgent post-Covid-19 community projects that are being developed across Leicester.
In Our Element
Exploring the Climate Crisis and how art can help us find ways of understanding and responding to it.
Rockanory
A short-form, scripted comedy format, with Shaun Keaveny narrating apocryphal tales of rock’n’roll – all enhanced, re-enacted and brought to comedy life by diverse new talent.
Hometown Stories
Six documentaries that take Virgin Radio artists back to their hometowns, fronted by the artists themselves, followed by an intimate acoustic gig with invited guests.
Stay-home Safari
A series of joyous and exhilarating soundscape challenges that throw listeners into an unfolding drama in the wild.
Fighting With Pride
Documentary series, telling the stories of the personnel who epitomise the ban on LGBT+ people serving in the British Armed Forces.
The History of Drag
A collection of shows and shorts about the history of drag, including a major documentary, a musical history show and audio shorts by drag artists from across the UK.
Unstoppable
Showcasing inspiring stories from Team GB’s Paralympic squad.
Props
A series of six compelling dramas about characters living isolated lives to support loved ones, long before Covid-19.
Songs From Amy's Jukebox
A two-hour doc, marking the 10th anniversary of Amy Winehouse’s passing, by exploring the music in her own personal jukebox.
Blind Notes, with Ravi Sagoo
A series of one-to-one interviews with visually impaired musicians.
The Old Man in the Boat
A fictional comedy series introducing kids to philosophical thinking.
Source to Sea
A follow-doc series, joining adventurers Lee Craigie and Jenny Graham as they explore four major Scottish rivers, by bike and canoe.
One Voice
A series from the Manchester Chinese community, exploring Chinese identity and culture and what it means to be British Chinese in a post Covid-19 environment.
The Rainbow Road to Tokyo
Short-form series profiling the record number of out-LGBT athletes due to take part in the (rescheduled) 2020 Olympics. Celebrating achievements, and inspiring LGBT listeners.
The Roaring 20s
A New History Series Marking The Centenary of Northern Ireland
Everything You Didn’t Know About…
A series of two-minute comedy features, with each episode focused on a different country taking part in Euro 2020.
21 for 21
21 Olympic and Paralympic athletes ahead of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in five different areas.
KISS Life
A talk show with a difference - the only talk show on commercial radio aimed at a youth audience tackling the issues of the day head on in a style that suits the audience. Fully inclusive, unafraid and daring.
Are You Aware We Care?
6-part series, profiling the work of young carers, hearing their stories, giving them a voice and learning about the daily challenges at different stages of life.
The Definitive History of Jazz in Britain
A landmark series celebrating 100 years of jazz in Britain, by charting the history of the genre from the eve of the 1920s to the present day.
King Frank and the Knights of the EcoQuest
The world’s first eco-quest-epic-poem-comedy-radio-drama written by ‘green-poet’ Martin Kiszko.
Greenborne
A brand-new radio soap opera set in the near future – making it a beacon of hope in a post Covid-19 return to normality.
Bars
Music therapy for prisoners, presented by Lady Unchained (a former prisoner) offering up instrumentals for inmates to rap, sing or talk over whilst in their cells.
Ruck It! Let's talk
Former England Rugby Union internationals Kyran Bracken & Nick Easter are joined by a host of sporting stars to discuss mental health issues, and share their experiences of issues ranging from Anxiety, Depression and OCD.
Greatest Brits – Women in Music
Doc series that examines and celebrates the revolution of female empowerment in the British music industry in the 80s and 90s.
If Walls Could Talk
Documentary series celebrating Scotland’s incredible live music venues and the contribution they've made to some of the biggest bands in the world.
Your Forest
Be transported into the heart of ten urban forest areas of England, through audio recorded by the communities who live in and around them.
Afrikan Queens
Documentary series honouring our African ancestors through sharing their fascinating stories mixed with passion, intrigue, violence, hardship and leadership.
KISSFest Stories
Short-form speech content, with listeners celebrating the power of friendship of togetherness, in the run up to KISSFest over the Easter Weekend.
The Running Punks Radio Show
A twice-weekly radio show, bringing people together to get exercise and have a laugh, without all the pretences of exercise that often put people off.
Don’t Worry Be Healthy
Short-form series providing advice from local athletes, sports stars, gym instructors and performance directors on how to keep both body and mind fit and healthy on your own, with easy to follow hints to stay active.
Story Detectives
Listeners of Fun Kids will take part in the loneliness-busting activity of gathering and sharing stories that help illustrate the multi-cultural landscape of the UK.
Soundlife
A six-part series of short radio features, made for and by young people about youth loneliness.
House Rules
Highlighting the issues and negative thoughts that might be going through the minds of listeners, and respond to them with ideas for ways to cope.
Call Me Mother
A series of conversations with LGBTQ+ luminaries designed to foster a sense of community across generational lines.
I Have A Dream
A series of honest and heartfelt conversations with young people sharing their goals, dreams, aspirations, influences and hopes for the future.
Companions
A 7-day audio campaign to reach local people suffering from loneliness during the pandemic, including short-form advice capsules and longer features about community groups.
Lessons From Lockdown
Rich audio montages broadcast across one week, as Times Radio focuses on what we’ve learn from the lockdowns of the pandemic.
You're Not On Your Own
A week-long short-form series to support Capital listeners in the Nations understand and tackle the loneliness they’re experiencing due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Hit The Streets
A daily Running show, broadcast every weekday in March, across the Hits Network, hosted by Gemma Atkinson.
One Year Like This
A special programme marking one year since the start of the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown, telling the stories of the people who’ve helped to improve our lives, and showcasing new and exclusive live performances.
Year of Kindness
Reflecting on the past year as Magic marks the one-year anniversary since the first of the national lockdowns.
The Wellness Workout
The Wellness Workout will be a two-week series of twice-daily features with mindfulness experts at breakfast and in an evening or weekend spot.
How'd Ya Get On Last Night?
Short-form comedy sketch and advice strand, supporting tradespeople struggling with loneliness as they remain working through the pandemic.
Voices of Hope
Innovative short-form series of perspectives on health, resilience and well-being, offering comfort, support and encouragement to listeners who may otherwise feel isolated and/or lonely in these challenging times.
Homeschool Helpers
Home-schooling tips to parents that might benefit from a bit of extra advice, from helping their kids get the best out of learning at home, to looking after their own mental health.
Lightning Birds: A Game of Sonic Tag
A unique, fast-paced radio production challenge, responding to the 2021 International Women's Day theme of 'Choose to Challenge'.
We've Got This, with Giovanna Fletcher
A half-term week of supportive programmes for Magic, aimed at parents who might be struggling through a difficult winter.
Our Love
An exploration of interracial and intercultural relationships in the UK, with celebrities and listeners, talking about race, religion, and culture.
Can Independent Music Survive Coronavirus?
The story of how indie changed music forever, but may be devastated by the current health crisis. This 4-part series asks what the live music world could look like in the future.
Story Explorers
A daily radio series produced in partnership with The National Literacy Trust, that will feature children interviewing the authors they love.
Tough Talks
A series of 20 intimate talks between two people, reflecting on a past, more difficult conversation, with a focus on LGBTQ+ issues.
On The Land / Ar Y Tir
Short-form series in English and Welsh highlighting people, groups and enterprises at the centre of rural communities in West Wales.
Space Is The Place
Five dramas, written by Jeff Young and Fraser Ayres, telling the stories of Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong and Sun Ra.
Our Journey
A six-part documentary series capturing the voices of the Windrush Generation in Bristol, celebrating activism, determination and civil rights, through the story of the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott.
Scotland's Greatest Song
A series of 10 mini-docs profiling great Scottish songs, concluding in a special show on St Andrews Day to finally determine Scotland’s greatest song of all time.
The Adventures of Captain Bobo
Fun, nautical, team-building stories for children aged 4-8, told in English and Gaelic. A celebration of Britain’s coastal communities, featuring vessels of all shapes and sizes.
Coming In From The Cold
The History of Black Footballers in the English Game. A 7-part documentary series spanning two centuries of injustice and accomplishment.
Equal Britain?
As 2020 marks ten years since the UK passed the Equality Act - legislation meant to make us more equal - this season asks “How equal is Britain”?
Magic With The Musicals
Exploring the real effects of Covid on UK theatre, with a special 3hr show and a full day of activity. Including profiles of people and live music from shows across the West End.
Cities Of Sound
Harnessing the talent of a struggling student community, and the passion of local listeners, to create a series of original music-based programmes targeting a 50+ audience.
Kick Off: Added Time
Football discussion show, with guests and presenters from underserved and under-represented audiences.
Carnival On KISS
Two days of virtual Carnival output, replacing the annual carnival gatherings in London, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester, with live music and DJ sets.
The F Word
A 6-day campaign, challenging the taboos and debunking the myths around fertility problems, with a 2hr music show to round off the week.
Monty Panesar In Lockdown With…
Cricketer Monty Panesar celebrates and profiles inspirational British Asians in a series of one-hour specials.
Step Up
Support for Year 6 pupils transitioning to secondary school, provided by older kids who have been there and done it before.
Undiscussable
Stories from survivors of domestic abuse, from often unheard and under-represented voices, with a live follow-up discussion and expert interview.
Team Talk
Weekly magazine programme for Forces families, about the triumphs and trials of forces family life.
UK Radio Pride
18 hours of live music, mixes, debate, comedy, and remembrance, to replace LGBT Pride events across the country that were cancelled due to the pandemic
Prison Bag
Audio adaptation of the blog written by Josie Bevan, whose husband was jailed in 2016, describing the impact of his incarceration on her and their children.
The Show Must Go On
Bringing together stars of sport and comedy to explore how some of the country’s biggest sporting names are managing their time during isolation.
The Space Programme
Gripping new soap opera for children, as a tiny island in the Irish Sea is surprised to find itself the base for a new space programme.
Unheard Voices
A series of features giving a voice to disabled and visually-impaired people in South Wales.
Sporting Memories
Conversations recorded in partnership with the Sporting Memories Foundation which tackles dementia, depression and loneliness through the power of sports reminiscence.
Essential Voices
A series of powerful, emotional, revealing short stories, shining a light on key-workers around the country.
Loneliness Awareness
A week-long campaign exploring loneliness through age, ethnicity, and locality, focussing on the stories of 12 people from a range of backgrounds.
Sports Squad
An entertaining, inspiring and educational sports show, hosted by former Blue Peter presenter Ayo Akinwolere and teenage YouTuber Chanel Kakareko.
Buddyline
Over-60s meet under-28s, that wouldn’t normally meet, get to know each other remotely, in phone calls recorded for broadcast
Connections
An engaging new series of radio dramas by new writers with disabilities, performed by a mainly disabled cast.
Young and Cool: A Brief History of Country
Documentary examining the current great renaissance in country music, told through the passion of first-time presenter Kerri Mcilroy.
Virtual Strawberry Fair
12-hour “virtual festival” to replace East Anglia's annual, free arts and music event which normally attracts up to 50,000 people.
Lockdown Love Letters
Key-workers and their families send letters of appreciation to each other, voiced by actors and crafted into beautiful soundscapes.
All Together Now
Two-hour live evening show for older listeners, Monday-Thursday for 8 weeks, with guests, experts, and a regular community of callers.
Caring For Carers
A series of short-form interviews with carers and those they care for, hosted by Gyles Brandreth.
Heart's Hometown Heroes
Daily short audio blogs from local keyworkers in Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, and North Wales.
Prime Timers
15-min programmes for the over-70s, produced by the over-70s, and broadcast weekly on small stations across England during lockdown.
The Manchester Adventures of Brian Hovis
Daily comedy-drama transforming the empty streets of the ten boroughs of Manchester into a thrilling virtual adventure for a hapless treasure hunter.
60 Second Support
Daily mental health advice packages, to help millions of listeners deal with a range of mental health challenges being amplified by the coronavirus crisis.
Absolute Radio 40s
24hr pop-up radio station of 1940s music and historical content, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
The Hidden History of Place Names
A 12-part history series, presented in the Irish and Ulster Scots languages, revealing the hidden and shared past of the streets and towns of Northern Ireland.
Self-Isolating with Lee and Dean
12-part, short-form comedy series about two builders keeping in touch while keeping their distance during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Central FM Comedy Hour
Late-night comedy show, with sketches, sitcoms, and stand-up, written and performed by new talent from the central belt of Scotland
Absolute Radio's Front Room Festival
A multi-generational live music festival, with tracks throughout Easter Monday culminating in 3-hours of live music in one show.
Jazz FM's Virtual Jazz Festival
A virtual extravaganza of exclusive live performances from some of the UK and world’s biggest jazz stars.
Kerrang! Radio's Lockdown Sessions
Live performances recorded remotely around the world, and compiled for broadcast on Easter Saturday
Planet Rock's Lockdown Sessions
Live music from some of the world's freshest new rock artists, compiled for broadcast on Easter Saturday
KISSFest
The world's biggest radio rave, with 99 hours of DJ Sets across 36 hours of continuous radio, on three radio stations
Scala Radio Sessions
Live classical music performances, recorded in the homes of some of Scala's favourite artists at the start of the Coronavirus lockdown.
Open Forum
Free-flowing discussion programmes covering a range of social issues, crafted from workshop recordings of young people aged 16-25
Patches of Land
Exquisitely small radio features, each one a different perspective on our relationship with the land throughout Devon and Cornwall.
Time To Listen
Short-form series, where guests open up in frank conversations about mental health and wellbeing, selecting tracks that helped them through tough times.
The XS Manchester Music Tour
A series of ten outside broadcasts, one from each Greater Manchester borough, celebrating the past, present and future of the music and social history of the area.
