This is a list of events in British radio during 1999.
Events
BBC Radio Wales begins to appear on FM in the major conurbations for the first time. Previously, apart from in Gwent, the station had only been available on MW with the allocated block of FM frequencies for local broadcasting in Wales, which was only available in parts of the country, used by BBC Radio Cymru as BBC management had concluded that BBC Radio Cymru would not have enough listeners to merit nationwide coverage on a medium wave frequency.
January
3 January – On BBC Radio 2, David Jacobs introduces Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, a one-hour television concert recorded in the 1960s. 22 January – Church leaders condemn Birmingham-based station BRMB's "Two Strangers and a Wedding" competition in which contestants enter a competition to marry a complete stranger. The winners, Greg Cordell and Carla Germaine are married at a Registry Office in the city, but the couple separates three months later. Germaine later meets and marries BRMB disc jockey Jeremy Kyle. January – Choice FM is taken over by the Chrysalis Group, which later renames it Choice FM Birmingham Galaxy 102.2. London's dance/urban station Kiss 100 is rebranded by EMAP Radio with a new logo. The station introduces a more mainstream pop-orientated playlist which leads to criticism from some DJs and listeners.
February
No events.
March
No events.
April
9 April – Roger Bolton presents his first edition of Feedback on BBC Radio 4. He would continue to host it until 2022. 26 April – Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker is suspended from his drivetime show after allegations concerning a drug problem appeared in the Sunday tabloid, the News of the World. Walker has been the victim of a tabloid exposé over his cocaine problem. Richard Allinson presents the drivetime show during Walker's absence, while Tom Robinson stands in on his Saturday afternoon show. April – Radio Regen is launched in Manchester to provide training in community radio. It broadcasts a two-month-long temporary radio station called City Centre Life 87.7.
May
24 May – Radio 2 says that presenter Sarah Kennedy is taking a week's holiday because of stress following a bizarre performance while standing in for Terry Wogan the previous Friday. This had included calling Ken Bruce an "old fool" and referring to the presenter of the day's Pause For Thought slot as "an old prune". The episode attracted a number of concerned calls to the BBC, while Kennedy blames the incident on a lack of sleep the previous night and apologises to listeners. She had been due to stand in for Wogan the following week, but takes time off instead.
June
June – Launch of Sky News Radio, a service providing bespoke bulletins for Talk Radio. 18 June – Des Lynam presents his last Friday evening show on Radio 2.
July
2 July – Ed Stewart presents his final weekday afternoon show on BBC Radio 2 as he moves to weekends. 3 July – Jonathan Ross joins BBC Radio 2 to present a Saturday morning show. 5 July – Steve Wright in the Afternoon returns to radio after a break of six years as Steve Wright replaces Ed Stewart as Radio 2's weekday afternoon presenter.
August
2 August – It is announced that ITV has signed BBC sports presenter Des Lynam on a four-year contract to become the company's main football presenter. Consequently, he will no longer present his Friday drivetime show on Radio 2. 19 August – BBC Radio 1 broadcasts its first split programming when it introduces weekly national new music shows for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. New presenters include Huw Stephens and Bethan Elfyn.
September
11 September – BBC Radio 3's breakfast programme On Air is renamed Morning on 3. 13 September – Late Junction is broadcast on BBC Radio 3 for the first time. 19 September – The first edition of a new Sunday evening advice programme called The Surgery is broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and Sara Cox joins. Thirteen years after Radio Victory had stopped broadcasting, Victory FM starts broadcasting to the Portsmouth area on a permanent basis, after six 28-day RSL FM broadcasts which took place between 1994 and 1998. Within weeks, the station is acquired by TLRC.
October
14 October – Managers at BBC Radio 2 reinstate Johnnie Walker after he is fined £2,000 by magistrates for admitting possession of cocaine; he will return to the airwaves on 6 December.