[2] As of December 2023, the network broadcasts to a combined audience of 6.9 million, with a listening share of 4.9%, according to RAJAR.

Radio Leicester was the first to launch on 8 November 1967, followed by Leeds, Stoke, Durham, Sheffield, Merseyside, Brighton, and Nottingham.

[5] Independent Local Radio (ILR) launched nationally in 1973, with nineteen stations; more followed in subsequent years.

This was seen as unacceptable by the BBC so the decision was taken to begin the roll-out of regional evening programming which saw the same programme networked on all the stations in that area.

The remit for each Local Radio station is the same: to offer a primarily speech-based service; comprising news and information complemented by music.

MW transmitter closures began again in 2012, initially as a five-week trial to find out if listeners would miss or complain about the lack of AM services.

In addition to these stations, BBC Radio Solent operates an opt-out service covering Dorset.

Between October 2009 and April 2012, a three note jingle package produced by Mcasso Music Production was gradually rolled out across the network, and was in use by all BBC Local Radio stations.

In January 2020, BBC Radio Leicester launched a brand new custom-made jingle package by Reelworld, based in MediaCity UK, Salford.

The new station branding also incorporates a new tag line, "The Sound of *area of coverage*, and all the music you love".

Descriptions of the characters, created by the BBC, were given to all their local radio presenters as representative target listeners during the 2000s.

Its stated aim was "To develop great radio programming ... we need to know where the centre of our audience target is and be able to focus on it in all we do.

[4] BBC Local Radio staff were given facts and timelines about Dave and Sue, described as "composite listeners".

[20] Mia Costello of BBC Radio Solent wrote a controversial internal memo in October 2006, re-stating the importance of these characters.

She wrote: "Whatever job you do on station, make sure this week, you broadcast to Dave and Sue – people in their fifties.

This was reprinted the following month in the Southern Daily Echo, following which a BBC spokesperson commented "Out of context these notes sound harsh and we apologise if they offend anyone.