Jakestown was a weekly BBC Radio Merseyside radio program hosted by Brian Jacques from Sunday June 8, 1980, until October 2006, when he retired from broadcasting. The show aired on 95.8 FM BBC Radio Merseyside in Liverpool from 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Jakestown was a unique concoction of comedy, operatic performances, tenors' arias, international melodies, and engaging interviews with local personalities.
Prior to Jakestown, Brian Jacques' radio career featured a talk entitled First Heard on BBC Radio Merseyside. He also hosted a program called "Saturday with Brian Jacques."
Brian Jacques provided contributions to six BBC Merseyside radio documentaries as well:
- " Gangland Anthology" (May 5, 1984)
- "The Eternal Christmas" (December 24, 1984)
- "We All Went Down the Docks"
- "An Eyeful of Easter"
- "A Lifetime Habit"
- "The Hollywood Musicals" (a six-part series)
Awards[]
- In September 1980, Jakestown was voted the National Local Radio Award for best light entertainment program.
- In 1982, Jakestown received the Rediffusion Award for Best Light Entertainment Program.
- In the mid-1980s, Jakestown sponsored the Young Courage Award for disabled young people.
My Liverpool Lyrics[]
Jakestown started each week with the signature tune "My Liverpool", which was performed by the Liverpool Fishermen. Notably, the song is also the first work to appear in the book Jakestown: My Liverpool.
- The drizzle on the cobbles in the early mornin', that's my Liverpool.
- With a half eaten butty an' yer lace undone, y'gonna be late for school.
- There's a ship with a cargo of containers coming in through the locks
- An' a bus with a cargo of hangovers headin' down to the docks.
- My Liverpool's a town of dogs an' kids all kickin' up in the street
- Won't you give that dog a bone, Ma. Give that kid a sweet.
- An' the people know how to treat a stranger, see that open door
- If you've never had a plate of my Ma's scouse, then you've never lived before
- It's roarin' bustlin' open wide, the northwest gate to Merseyside.
- My Liverpool's a town of two religions, they've both got floodlights
- A hundred smells, a million faces an' a thousand different sights.
- Why, I knew the house where the Beatles lived 'til they called in pest control
- There's a ferry that goes across the Mersey where they learned to rock n' roll
- It's roarin' bustlin' open wide, the northwest gate to Merseyside.
- Hear the sound of a tugboat on the river has a music of its own
- The Goodison choir an' the Anfield army who never walk alone
- Then the sun comes out an' the Liver Bird stands up to stretch his wings
- An' the music starts in a million hearts and that's when Liverpool sings
- It's roarin' bustlin' open wide, the northwest gate to Merseyside.
Media[]
In 1987, a cassette tape was released with programming from Jakestown.
See Also[]
Listen to Brian Jacques BBC recordings
BBC Radio Merseyside Feature[]
View BBC Radio Merseyside marketing and promotional materials featuring Brian Jacques in the Redwall Collectors Community series.