“Timings had to be exact; the introductory words had to be delivered accurately and with gravitas, and I had to press the button on my desk to set the tape rolling.”
The speech was usually saved on a backup file in case the original failed, but in an effort to be sure nothing would go wrong during his show, a third copy was recorded by the studio next door for precautionary measures.
He continued: “This, you might think, would be belt and braces enough. But no. As a final precaution, the generators in the basement of Broadcasting House were fired up, just in case of a power cut.”
Ken started his career with the Beeb when BBC Radio Scotland launched in November 1978, before going on to front his own show in years to come.
source: express.co.uk