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Radio moments that have made you cry.

145 replies

MumBod · 17/05/2017 19:44

Following on from the movie thread, has anyone else heard moments on the radio that have made them cry?

I had to pull over and sob when Terry Wogan retired Blush

I had a wobble listening to Jeremy Vine on Friday, when a guy was talking about keeping his wife's body at home before her funeral, and then a woman came on to talk about her husband's passing, and revealed they should have been in Venice celebrating their wedding anniversary that weekend :(

When Brian Johnston the cricket commentator died they played the clip of him losing the plot and giggling over the 'leg over' gaffe.

And Radio 4 broadcast a play about Laurel and Hardy, where Stan Laurel is visiting Oliver Hardy after his stroke, and reminiscing about the old times. My dear old dad and I sat in floods.

Any other radio memories? Something about the medium gets me right in the heartstrings...

OP posts:
LikeARedBalloon · 18/05/2017 10:32

Another one for Terry Wogan's retirement speech.

Also, on our local radio station, the announcement one morning that a local little girl had lost her battle with her terminal illness. The whole community had got behind her with fundraising etc and the announcement that morning just broke me. I had to pull my car over and then cried on and off all day. Her parents are amazing and still fundraise for her charity years later.

RiseandGrind · 18/05/2017 10:15

I came on to say Steve Hewlett's death announcement and Terry Wogan's retirement speech. Extremely moving for different reasons.

The little girl who was interviewed on Radio 4 after she dialed emergency services when her mother suffered anaphylactic shock.

The last surviving World War I veteran talking in a very matter of fact manner about his experiences in the war and the horrors he witnessed. Makes me well up just thinking about it.

nauticant · 18/05/2017 09:06

For me there are many moments in the play Spoonface Steinberg. Radio 4 and very highly acclaimed:

EsmesBees · 18/05/2017 08:59

Tony Adams on Desert Island Discs. I knew very little about him before the show, it was so honest about his childhood, and his struggles, and the pressure fame can put on young people. I was listening at work on iPlayer trying not to cry.

Yesterday's Soul Music about Waterloo Sunset also bought a tear to my eye. They discussed the loneliness of city life, really resonated.

MuchBenham · 18/05/2017 08:49

Um sorry wherethewildthingis he did. And last year too.

Nononononono33 · 18/05/2017 08:48

Andy Murray most definitely won his first Wimbledon in 2013...

smashyourglasses · 18/05/2017 08:43

When Tommy Boyd got sacked from Talksport.

MoonriseKingdom · 18/05/2017 08:37

Another one that made me cry was a little drama in that 15 minute slot after Woman's Hour. It was about a couple with learning difficulties who were finding their way in the world - wanting to do things like getting married. There were so many parallels with someone in my family right down to the personalities and the way they interacted with each other. When they finally got married despite lots of obstacles I shed a few tears.

wherethewildthingis · 18/05/2017 08:31

Errrr Andy murray didn't win Wimbledon in 2013

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 18/05/2017 08:27

When Desmond Carrington retired from doing his radio 2 show. We always listened to it in at home and when I went to university I'd either listen to it in at the time or on the Saturday morning so I could talk about it with my family (I used to get very homesick).

The wedding phone ins on Saturday mornings often get me too.

Theyrejustfuckingwords · 18/05/2017 08:25

The five o clock news had just reported the awful news of Victoria Climbie and Johnny Walker was so upset and said that there shouldn't have been such harrowing details given out when young children could be listening.It has always stayed with me as I was at the kitchen table crying thinking exactly the same thing.

histinyhandsarefrozen · 18/05/2017 08:23

Oh yes, I had to turn that one off - new adult orphan here.

TheSecretMrsFairbrother · 18/05/2017 08:20

Jeremy Vine was doing a segment on adult orphans last week.

He was talking to a man who'd phoned in to talk about losing his parents and it was heartbreaking. You could feel his pain through the radio.

MuchBenham · 18/05/2017 08:15

And also most of the Soul Music episodes, it's such a great series. I made the mistake of listening to it one the train once - never again. The episode that stands out for me is the one on Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins - very moving, about the symbolism of the song, and how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Bookaboo · 18/05/2017 08:13

Quite a few!

A few weeks ago on radio 2, a man was talking about how he'd struggled to deal with his wife's cancer diagnosis. She'd asked him not to cry as she needed him to be strong for her, so he used to sob his heart out in his van on the way to work.Sad

MuchBenham · 18/05/2017 08:07

When Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon in 2013, I listened to that on Radio 5 and it was definitely tear-inducing! I've loved tennis for so long, it was unbelievable that he'd actually done it. I still remember the commentary: "Murray's the Wimbledon champion! It seems ludicrous to say it! A British man has just won Wimbledon!"

TheSecretMrsFairbrother · 18/05/2017 07:54

'Black roses' on radio 4.

It's about the murder of Sophie Lancaster and includes her mother talking about Sophie's life and death.

I was doing some ironing whilst it was on and ended up just sitting on the bed crying.

Michelle Knight being interviewed on Woman's Hour.

SuperBeagle · 18/05/2017 04:27

Not radio. TV for me.

When Michael Jackson died. I know he's a controversial figure, but I adored his music and felt so desperately sorry that his life had gone so fundamentally to shit that he ended up dead at 50.

Was equally upset when I found out Amy Winehouse died.

MoonriseKingdom · 18/05/2017 04:08

I used to listen to Radio 4 all the time pre kids but not so much now. However, I do still quite often put PM on in the kitchen when I'm cooking tea. As many others have said Eddie Mair is a wonderful interviewer.

The Steve Hewlett interviews have been particularly close to the bone for me because they have coincided with my lovely FIL finding out his cancer had returned and facing difficult times as it is advancing despite treatment.

A happier one that stands out is that poor man who was a prisoner to agoraphobia but with the support of the programme took a bus ride. It was so wonderful to hear the elation in his voice at his achievement.

Tangfastics · 18/05/2017 03:55

I know it's silly but I got totally knocked sideways by an Ellie Goulding track one day.

It was about 2 months after my Mum died. I was driving to a conference up north for a company I didn't really want to be working for. My husband was abroad and I just suddenly felt so alone and so lost.

Over bloody Ellie Goulding!

nicenewdusters · 17/05/2017 23:20

Sandi Toksvig on LBC in 2004. She was talking in a very light hearted way, laughing and joking, when she suddenly faltered. She had been told that Ken Biggley, the British hostage who had been in the news for days, had been beheaded. Her response was immediate and unfiltered, she was quite distraught. It was so natural and human, I just sat and sobbed.

ShirazSavedMySanity · 17/05/2017 22:59

The day David Bowie died, Simon Mayo had Rick wakeman in the studio and he played the piano live up to the news at 7pm.

Rick played Starman. It was the most emotional, moving piece of music I'd heard in a long time. No singing, just piano playing. It was so raw, Bowie had died that day and Rick was a close friend of his.
I'm not even a big Bowie fan but it moved me. I had to stay in the car to listen and sob and the music, the situation, the loss of a music icon, and consequently I was late picking DD up from Beavers.

Patsy99 · 17/05/2017 21:59

Thanks for the links Freezer, just listened to the David Nott DI Discs, really moving.

histinyhandsarefrozen · 17/05/2017 21:49

Oh gosh yes, the reports from aberfan- and a programme about the choir there- were absolutely heart-breaking.

FiaMarrow · 17/05/2017 21:44

Last year on the anniversary of Aberfan. So many heartbreaking stories on the radio that day but one that stood out was an eyewitness speaking of two little girls who were found dead but still holding hands. Thought of my own little girl and her best friend and then I cried the whole way home.