Round Table

Round Table is a long-running weekly singles review programme broadcast on BBC Radio. For most of its history, the show was broadcast on BBC Radio One in the early evening of every Friday. The format of the programme would typically see two guests discussing the week's new releases with the host DJ.

Programme History
The Radio Times Genome indicates that Round Table began on Radio One in October 1970 with the host Emperor Rosko. Rosko presented the programme until 17 September 1976 when he left the station. Note that John Walters produced the show for a year from 6 October 1972 until 28 September 1973.

The programme was revived in April 1978 with Kid Jensen at the helm on Friday evenings. Jensen presented the show until his departure from Radio One in May 1980, whereupon Paul Gambaccini took temporary charge. Adrian Love took over hosting duties from 5 September 1980 until the end of the year. Mike Read began his first stint as presenter of the show on 2 January 1981, remaining in the post until Richard Skinner began a long stretch as host on 9 October 1981. John Walters returned to produce Roundtable again from 1 July 1983 - 27 September 1985. The final episode with Skinner presenting was broadcast on 27 September 1985 before it took a break from the schedules.

In May 1986 the show made a return, rebranded as "Singled Out" with Janice Long installed as host. Mike Read returned as the presenter in October 1987 and held the position until March 1990. The programme continued for a further few months with Richard Skinner back in the chair, although in a new Wednesday evening slot, before the series came to an end on 27 June 1990. The following week, from 6 July 1990, "Round Table" was resurrected with Mike Read once more hosting. Read relinquished the role on 27 September 1991, with Jakki Brambles taking over the following week. Brambles' stint lasted six months before Round Table came to an end after the episode broadcast on 6 March 1992.

In May 1994 the format was revived on Radio One with a more humorous approach in the shape of 'Collins and Maconie's Hit Parade'. This series ran for three years, ending in June 1997.

In April 2003 Round Table returned on BBC 6 Music, presented by Andrew Collins on a Friday evening. Since 2005 the programme has been a fixture of Steve Lamacq's 6 Music programme on Thursday evenings.

Links To Peel
Peel is known to have been a guest reviewer on the following episodes (with presenter stated):

(Please add other appearances, if known)
 * xx-xx-1975: Extracts included on John Peel - 1975 Extracts.
 * 27 October 1978: Kid Jensen with unknown others.
 * 16 February 1979: Broadcast from Londonderry. With Feargal Sharkey.
 * 13 April 1979: Kid Jensen with Debbie Harry.
 * 12 October 1979: Kid Jensen with Graham Parker and Ellen Foley.
 * 14 March 1980: Kid Jensen with Pete Townsend and Nick Lowe.
 * 11 July 1980: Paul Gambaccini with Jeff Beck and Ali Campbell of UB40.
 * 23 January 1981: Mike Read with Sheena Easton.
 * 04 June 1982: Richard Skinner with Paul Jones.
 * 15 October 1982: Richard Skinner with Sheena Easton.
 * 01 April 1983: Richard Skinner with unknown others.
 * 09 March 1984: Richard Skinner with DJ Mike Smith, broadcast from Bury St Edmunds.
 * 03 August 1984: Richard Skinner with Sade and Bill Sharpe (Shakatak).
 * 17 May 1991: Mike Read with Peter Hooton of the Farm and Carol Decker of T'Pau.

Mentioned In Shows

 * 07 July 1978: Peel asks if any listener heard Bob Geldof on Roundtable that evening, saying that he didn't.
 * 10 July 1978: Peel mentions that Kate Bush liked 'Best Of Both Worlds' by Robert Palmer on last Friday's Roundtable.
 * 19 October 1978: Peel mentions that Chris Squire of the Flying Lizards is on Roundtable the following evening.
 * 05 April 1979: Mentions that Elkie Brooks and Tony Blackburn will be appearing on Roundtable with Kid Jensen the following evening.
 * 18 September 1979: JP: "Those of you who were listening to Round Table last weekend with Kid Jerkin will know that Dickie Lee Torpid himself is also getting a little worried about the preponderance of Cockney accents on records these days. Mind you, he was talking at the time about those well-known Londoners The Skids."
 * 12 December 1979: Mentions that Charlie Gillett will be appearing on the programme this week (Friday 14 December), with Lene Lovich as it happened.
 * 08 January 1980: Peel mentions that Joe Strummer will be appearing on the programme on Friday (11th January).
 * 23 October 1980: JP: "Isn't it about time they had Dennis Waterman on Roundtable?"
 * 03 July 2001: Peel mentions once doing Roundtable with the songwriters Leiber and Stoller. "It was rather disappointing really."
 * 23 July 2002: Mentions the Lieber & Stoller programme again.
 * Peeling Back The Years: John mentions that he appeared once on Roundtable with Morrissey.