The secret history behind the iconic Roberts Radio brand

‘Never compromise on quality and keep pushing the boundaries.’ That was the philosophy of Harry Roberts and Leslie Bidmead, the two friends who founded Roberts Radio back in 1932, and it remains a cornerstone of the company to this day. So it’s perhaps no surprise that Roberts has been the market leader for portable radios, while also expanding into new product categories, in the 87 years that have followed.

Evolution rather than revolution is what’s required with such a heritage brand. At the heart of all Roberts Radio’s products is attention to detail, which ensures not just the right design and necessary features, but also a class-leading performance. This was a factor in Roberts Radio being asked to help during the Second World War, which saw the company switch the majority of its manufacturing from domestic radios to morse-code tappers.

After the war, the company returned to building radios. The result was quality good enough for the Queen: Roberts Radio has been granted three Royal warrants to provide products to the royal household, including to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Prince of Wales.

The Revival radio became something of a celebrity in its own right after appearing in a 1989 Martini advert, which created considerable interest in the brand. Watters explains: ‘The impact was enormous. As they say, “the phone rang off the hook” after the Revival was featured, and we’ve never looked back.’

As technology has taken over the world, Roberts Radio has steadily evolved, staying true to its roots as it launches each new product. The company now offers wireless, multi-room speakers alongside its ever-popular radios, which themselves now offer FM, DAB, internet radio and wireless streaming – more features than Harry and Leslie could ever have imagined possible.

The Revival is an excellent example of how Roberts Radio has moved with the times. First launched in the 1950s, it remains the UK’s bestselling portable radio, having grown from a simple transistor to one packed full of the latest features. Owen Watters, Roberts Radio’s CEO, explains the Revival’s enduring appeal: ‘Roberts has stayed true to its original design while bringing it up to date with regular technological improvements and introducing new colours to keep it current – the same iconic look, packed with modern features.’

And as the pace of technology shows no signs of slowing down, there’s plenty more innovation to come from the brand. So what’s next? ‘As a brand with a respected reputation and heritage, we are striving to continue to stay true to our company ethos while continuing to build our brand to even greater heights,’ says Watters. Staying true to the heritage of the brand while continuing to evolve – no doubt Harry and Leslie would approve.