News just in. On Friday 17 May, BBC Radio 2 is to spend an entire day devoted to the Dambusters 70th anniversary. Highlights will include:
• Chris Evans broadcasting from the home of the Dambusters – RAF Scampton – and to fly in a Lancaster Bomber
• Interviews with Dambusters veterans Les Munro and George (Johnnie) Johnson, and Barnes Wallis’ daughter, Mary Stopes-Roe
• The largest live music event for the anniversary – Friday Night Is Music Night presents The Dambusters 70 Years On from Biggin Hill Airport
• The Central Band of the RAF to perform a new composition, plus the Military Wives Choir and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Plenty more details here. We will add further information as and when it comes in. We will also check how much of this will be streamed live outside the UK.
Dambusters Blog 
Perhaps with their clout the BBC could get an interview with, or a statement from, Peter Jackson on the remake status? I should think they would certainly be talking to Stephen Fry.
What a waste of time putting Chris Evans in the Lancaster. Much better to have someone who knows what they are talking about. But this is typical of the Beeb – for the Jubilee flypast they had some sports reporter on board. Thankfully the sound failed so we didn’t have to listen to his inane comments. Maybe the same will happen with Mr Evans 🙂 Bring back Raymond Baxter !
Do not worry about Chris Evans he will put 110% in to the show, ask the right Questions,interview the right people.His Radio 2 show has increased listners and The One Show on a Friday has increased viewers.
The Car fest Chris started last year was brilliant and this years 2 shows North and Show in August are already sold out.
If any one can do a show its CHRIS EVANS.
I do hope you’re right Keith ! Sadly audience figures are no measurement of programme/presenter quality. Just look at X-Factor.
Look at the publicity he gave today—measuring for his flying suit.
Chris Evans currently has around 10 million listeners. He is the perfect presenter to use as he will bring the ‘Dam Buster Mission’ and the bravery of the crews to the attention of many people. Especially his younger audience who are less aware of the sacrifices made for them all those years ago.
Then it would be nice if he got his facts right. I didn’t hear his radio programme but I did see his performance on the One Show, when he told us it was the 7th (sic) anniversary of the raid. And whoever edited the footage for the programme should be shot. Nice shots of the Lanc, but I’m sure it didn’t fly over Eyebrook with its undercarriage down !
By contrast, the BBC2 programme the previous evening with Dan Snow hit exactly the right tone and level of information.
I didn’t hear his radio show ,but i still slag him and his film editor off.
Well I spoke to lots of people at Biggin Hill for the BBC Music Night Dambuster Special and they were praising Chris Evans for his effort
and publicity.
I am sure the BBC2 TV broadcast of the Sunset Ceremony at RAF Scampton on 16 May 13 and the BBC2 Radio morning show on 17 May 13 WILL put on a fitting show for the veterans and the families of the Dambusters Crews!
After all, this is what these shows are all about, not about the celebraties who have been asked to tell their story but those personnel who sacrificed their lives for the good of their country.
Please do not repeat past performances of talking over a flypast or showing us the faces of onlookers. We wish to SEE and HEAR the Lancaster!
Victor, this post is about the Radio show, you won’t see many faces on there! You will hear it though.
It looks like I will be passing Scampton on 17th, so I may drop by. Do we know if the :Lanc plans to land there ? I was wondering when was the last time Scampton had a Lancaster on the runway.
Why isn’t the concert being held in Lincolnshire – the home of the Dambusters? I live in this area and would love to attend, but I get fed up always paying expensive travel costs because events such as these are always held in the London area.
Dick Budgen and Keith Harrington, shame on you both. I was always taught that if you have nothing nice to say don’t say it all. You are quick to criticise yet get your facts wrong too, if you play back the one show you will hear he said 70th and not 7th. The indercarriage was down as the footage cut to the landing scene at Biggin Hill.
What you do not appreciate, is that Chris left London at 0200 on the 17 May, arrived at Scampton at 0625, on air 0630-0930. They then filmed for the one show before departing Scampton for Biggin Hill. He continued to film and be on the Jeremy Vine show before going into the studio to film for the One Show in the evening.
Yes you could’ve put a veteran in the Lancaster but thats nothing new to the viewers, what the BBC have done is to attract a younger audience and educate them on the Dambusters. After all, once the veterans are no longer with us, it is the younger generation that will carry on their memories!
Chris Evans and Dan Snow both did a blinding job in telling the story of the Dambusters. Those that criticise are only envious to not having the opportunity to fly in the Lancaster, but then again given the choice, I would not fly someone who moans or is quick to criticise!
Well, that’s my wrist duly slapped ! And probably with some justification. Although I will say that as one who has had the great honour and privilege of flying in a Lancaster, envy is not an issue in my case.
Probably best we draw a line under this discussion and move on.