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Profile: Ed Stewart: Ed was born in Devon and raised in Wimbledon.  After schooling at St. Edwards, Oxford, in 1961, he went to Hong Kong to take a job as a film critic and record reviewer on a local Hong Kong radio station.  Ed spent four years with the station as a reporter, linkman and disc jockey.  He also worked for Rediffusion.  

In July of 1965 with the off-shore stations at their peak, he secured a job, eventually becoming chief DJ on his station.  Two years after this, Ed was one of the first disc-jockeys to sign for Radio 1, presenting 'Happening Sunday' and 'What's New'.  In 1968 he took over what would turn out to be a 12 year stint on 'Junior Choice', and in the same year, 1968, he also did his first summer season - a successful run at Great Yarmouth.  Over his early radio run, he would carve out a national fondness for his two catchphrases, the cartridge machine based 'Ello Darlin' to start and rounding off with his cheery 'Byee'.  

In the years of 1971 and 1972 Stewpot's success snowballed. "Junior Choice's" listening figures reached 17million.  In February 1971 he became one of the regular comperes of 'Top Of The Pops' and in Spring 1972 started as the regular presenter of Radio 1's "Sunday Sport".  He also appeared in Christmas pantomime, also appearing on stage in 'Annie' and 'The Wizard Of Oz' and he once regularly wrote for popular youth magazine 'Look-In', as well as TV listings and women's magazines.  

Ed married his Italian wife Chiara in July 1974, received the Children's Radio Personality Of The Year award from The Sun newspaper and The Variety Club and became the father of a daughter Francesca, in May of 1976.  That same year, speaking about his career, Ed said: "I couldn't have wished for better.  All my ambitions have been realised.  I'm involved in broadcasting in my two favourite fields: sport and children. I'm a happy man."

1980 saw Ed move from Radio 1 to Radio 2 presenting 'Family Favourites' and the 'Ed Stewart Show'  - however, in 1984, the launch of Radio Mercury in Surrey, tempted him into the commercial radio sector, and he spent a happy six years there before returning to Radio 2 in 1992 to present the 'Ed Stewart Show' once more.  His afternoon quizzes and features were popular, notably, his 'Accumulator' quiz and 'Where Are They Now'.  

Following his stint on Radio 1, Ed also appeared for four series of BBC Television's children's show 'Crackerjack' prior to Stu 'Ooh I could crush a grape' Francis.

During his afternoon slot on Radio 2, he broadcast a show that made radio history - he was sitting at the top Mount Snowdon and Ben Nevis - climbing up to the summits in aid of Cystic Fibrosis.  

Ed spent seven years as the popular afternoon show presenter on BBC Radio 2 handing over the reins to Steve Wright, who'd had already re-joined the station as Saturday show presenter and host of 'Sunday Love Songs', moving into Ed's slot with the old Radio 1 posse style format in 1999.  Steve kept the general format of the Accumulator, but renaming it as 'The Big Quiz' , whereas the 'Where Are They Now' has been carried on to Ed's current Radio 2 slot.  

'Stewpot' is a very keen sportsman.  He has captained and kept goal for the Top Ten XI Soccer team - playing weekly matches for charity and regular cricket in the summer.  He has also appeared in such TV shows as 'Quizball', ' Ed and Zed', A Question Of Sport', 'The Way Out Show' and Exit, all aired on the BBC, plus 'Wish You Were Here' and three series of 'Stewpot' for ITV.  

He's also a keen charity fundraiser - and is associated with the 'Water Rats', PHAB, The Variety Club, Children In Need and the Taverners.  

Whereabouts: Upon vacating his weekday slot in 1999, Ed then moved to his only show on Radio 2, playing easy listening tunes on a Sunday afternoon from 5:00pm to 7:00pm where he  remains today in a very popular slot, and continuing to feature 'Where Are They Now'. 

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