Aircheck Tracker

Profile: Tony Blackburn: Born in Guildford, Surrey in 1943, Tony was educated at Millfield Public School in Somerset and Bournemouth College.  The son of a doctor in Lilliput near Poole, Dorset, he made his first public appearance with a school group at the age of 16.  He sang and played guitar with the Ian Ralfini Dance Orchestra at the Bournemouth Pavilion while at college and later appeared in various bands at hotels.

Having finished his education, Tony read in the music press that disc-jockeys were wanted by offshore radio.  He applied, got the job and made his first appearance on Radio Caroline on July 28th 1964, later joining Radio London in 1966.

Tony joined the BBC in August 1967 and made his first broadcast on 'Midday Spin' for the Light Programme.  When BBC Radio 1 commenced broadcasting on 30th September 1967, Tony presented the daily "Breakfast Show", and was the first disc jockey on the new network, playing The Move's 'Flowers In The Rain' and later introducing us to his trusty studio sidekick, Arnold the dog. (Woof Woof!)  Radio 1 used resung Radio London PAMS jingles, and was trailed especially by Tony as 'Wonderful Radio 1' in a mimic of 'Wonderful Radio London/Big L'.   Noel Edmonds took over the Radio 1 breakfast show in June 1973.  Tony stayed with Radio 1 until 1984 when he joined London's Capital Radio.

During his Radio 1 days, Tony was married to actress Tessa Wyatt.  Together they conceived a young son, Simon.

Tony has even made records singing both as himself, and under a different name.  As himself, he reached the charts first on 24th January 1968 with 'So Much Love' which stayed in the charts for 4 weeks peaking at number 31, and secondly, and finally, with 'It's Only Love' which entered the charts on 26th March 1969, staying in the run-down for 3 weeks and peaking at number 42.

The comedian Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show) teamed up with Harry Enfield in a send up of Radio 1 DJs.  Paul played Mike Smash (Smashie) who worked with Dave Nice (Nicey).  Smashie's personality included a large amount of Tony's mannerisms along with many others.  Some critics feel it was Smashie & Nicey on Radio FAB-FM that encapsulated how the public saw Radio 1 which in-turn led Matthew Bannister to wield the hatchet at the station.

Tony has made numerous and at times regular television appearances including hosting his own show "Time For Blackburn" in 1969.  He is well remembered for presenting BBC Television's world famous "Top Of The Pops" and was a regular on Noel Edmonds'  House Party.  He also presented a three-hour morning show from Monday to Friday on BBC1 for a number of years.  

He continues to make regular guest appearances on a wide range of television shows, including QVC, the satellite shopping channel and most noticeably in 2002 when he won ITV's 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here' which involved a group of celebrities being 'stranded' in the Australian jungle with Uri Geller, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Christine Hamilton, Nigel Benn, and Rhona Cameron.  With votes being cast by the public for whom they wanted to leave the jungle, Tony was voted for the least and went into the final with Tara.  Money generated from voters' phone calls went to charity.  Some say this success re-launched Tony's career, whilst others say it was just another part of an ongoing career.  His win was featured on primetime TV & Radio News, countless TV chat shows & front pages of most national newspapers.  In October 2002, Tony joined with Tara once more to announce the winner of an award at the NTA (National Television Awards) in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Capital Gold has been Tony's main home from the station's inception in 1988, where he spent fifteen years, and a lot of that time in his old faithful Radio 1 slot, Breakfast, and he's also made a fantastic job of the Drivetime Show 'til 7pm weekdays.  He is a great lover of Soul Music, and this is where he has also is spent time on Capital Gold, on a Soul show too.  However, during the same period - he was also working on UBC's Classic Gold, Saturday mornings, with his show available in 18 areas of the UK and via digital networks.

Tony is an expert in Soul and Motown, but claims that the secret of his success lies in not taking the music he plays too seriously.  He's a vegetarian, he rarely drinks and lists his gold-sequinned jacket, Diana Ross and his jet-ski amongst his favourite things. 

Wednesday 23rd June saw another networked Classic Gold Breakfast show from the King of the Jungle and co-host Laura Pittson - and the e-mail was on hand, but not inn one piece for long.  Live on-air at 8:20am, Tony is reported to have read the e-mail, torn it up, thrown it in the bin, and going on to play two back to back records from the British music legend, his 1979 No.1 'We Don't Talk Anymore' and the 1960s hit 'Living Doll'.    Following Tony's defiant gestures, management of the station - UBC Media Group - suspended him, with John Baish, UBC's Managing Director initially stating 'Tony, please call me straight after the show.  This is really serious now' and latterly in a press statement: 'He just got carried away. He played two records by the artist we had specifically just asked him NOT to play.  The station has a playlist covering 40 years of pop music and DJs are told to stick to it.  If we are going to play Cliff Richard, it ought to be because the listeners want it, not because Tony does.'  Blackburn was addressed after his suspension, with yet another e-mail, with such use suggesting remote distance management, with Baish on the sending end.  In the e-mail, ho was informed that he should not turn up for work on Thursday 24th: 'You're consistently breaking the station's music policy.  We've made our position as clear as we could.  I've got no option except to suspend you until the situation can be resolved.  Tony maintained he'd been asked to play Cliff Richard records by listeners, so it was clear they DID want it, contrary to station management's decision.    Baish said: 'We have had a difference of opinion over music policy which Tony has been trying to put to a listener vote.  Classic Gold plays songs that people know and love from the last 40 years.  The question is, should we be playing one particular artist and how we go about our behind the scenes discussions.  

Tony's publicist said that he hoped the DJ would return to work soon after a ticking off.  'He is slightly amazed that they suspended him, but he realises he defied them.' said the spokesperson.  'He doesn't set the playlist for his show, the station does.  But he defied the management because so many listeners have requested Cliff tracks.  Cliff has fans young and old who love to hear his records.  Tony hopes the situation can be resolved so that he can get back on his show.'  

Baish meanwhile defended the station's 'policy', stating it was based on thorough research and that '...we play songs that we know and love.  Cliff's had a few of those over the years, but he's had some turkeys too.'  Hoping that Blackburn would return to the airwaves on Friday 25th, Baish then contradicted previous moves by promising to review policy, saying: 'I can't imagine the circumstances in which we couldn't sort it out.'  

A media frenzy offered mixed news.  The Mirror said Tony was axed after ignoring repeated warnings, The Guardian suggested, rather humorously, that Blackburn had gone on a 'Summer Holiday', whilst the BBC's news and sport service, BBC Radio Five Live only exacerbated the confusion between the prominent Gold services, reporting that Tony Blackburn had been sacked by London station Capital Gold.  And the confusion about names and 'brands' runs deep with one member of Joe Public commenting: 'What on earth is Capital Classic Gold for if it does not play records from the UK's most successful recording artist ever?'

Speaking to Richard & Judy on their TV show about a completely separate venture, Noel Edmonds was questioned by Richard about the breaking news.  It's understood that Noel had a hand in the launch of the brand - and when asked, he showed some slight surprise at the suspension and promised he would make a call to get Tony back on air as soon as possible.  

As the song says, 'What a difference a day makes'.  And very quickly, Classic Gold announced Tony would indeed return on Friday 24th June 2004, and with Cliff Richard BACK on the playlist.  A backtracking John Baish said: 'We've been overwhelmed by the support for Cliff.  We SHOULD be playing him as much as The Beatles, and we play The Beatles quite often.  He commented that Blackburn was suspended due to differences of opinion over the playlist, but these issues had now been settled.  'This row was never actually about Cliff.  It was just a situation with Tony that got out of control.  I'm glad we've resolved it.  Tony said: 'I'm delighted this business has been settled.  I enjoy working with Classic Gold and doing my Breakfast Show immensely.  I'm also please that we're going to be playing Cliff Richard records.  It's the listeners who have come out on top.'  Tony earlier appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and said: 'I'd rather not lose my job over Cliff Richard, but the suspension had a serious point.  We're not playing records for management, we're playing them for our listeners.  And the listeners like Cliff.'  Paul Baker, also backtracking, said: "We have to listen to our listeners, or they won't listen to us. It's quite obvious now that they want to hear Cliff Richard on the station."

In a 2004 Channel 4 television poll, Cliff Richard was named as the UK's biggest selling artist.  Enjoying the atmosphere at Wimbledon around the time of Tony's suspension, Sir Cliff said of his radio triumph: 'I'm really thrilled.  I had given up being worried about it three or four years ago.  I tried to talk my way onto playlist but it didn't work.  I had done nothing wrong to be banned in this way.  Now Tony had taken up the cudgel, I thought - 'GREAT!'.  Peter Hain MP commented on the story: 'The Leader of the Commons is right behind Tony Blackburn for his choice of music.'  

Facing a deluge of e-mails from those bothered enough to write in to Tony's e-mail address, Classic Gold delivered a stock reply in return: 'Firstly, apologies for the fact that this is a standard email.  We’ve got a lot to get through.  Thanks for getting in touch with us regarding the Classic Gold Breakfast Show with Tony & Laura.  We want to assure you that your comments are really important to us and will most definitely be taken into consideration.  We have been left in no doubt that Tony, Laura and Cliff have a substantial following and to that end, a review of station policy is taking place this morning.  Once again, many thanks for taking the time out of your day to express your feelings to us.  Yours sincerely, Classic Gold.'

So, was all of this a clever promotional gimmick?  Some web forums suggest it was, with the aim to boost severely flagging audience figures.  But it's thought that the widely respected Tony wouldn't sink to such levels.  Meanwhile over on Radio 2, the Togmeister was busy fielding shed loads of e-mails regarding the move.  Wogan, always one to make light of even the most serious of situations and perhaps send up other stations and their squabbles & problems, proceeded to play two Cliff Richard records!  Respect to the Togmeister!

Capital Gold meanwhile used the chaos in the ranks of it's arguable competitor to twist the knife further by publishing the following on it's website.  'Capital Gold loves Cliff.  Following reports that a second-rate rival radio station has suspended a DJ for playing Cliff Richard records, Capital Gold is proud to be the home of Sir Cliff Richard.   Capital Gold plays Cliff Richard songs.  Please do not confuse us with the radio station Classic Gold who have reportedly suspended Tony Blackburn for playing Cliff songs against company order.  Displaying an incredible lack of judgement, Classic Gold have taken Sir Cliff Richard off their playlist.  Capital Gold loves Cliff Richard and is more than happy to play his records along with the many other great songs and great artists from the 60s, 70s and 80s.  By listening to Capital Gold, you can be sure that you have the best presenters and the best mix of music. Beware of impostors!'

Whereabouts: Tony Blackburn quit Capital Radio after 15 years in 2003.  Making his announcement, he stated he would be continuing with other current radio projects, but would prominently move to rival ''oldies' station, UBC owned Classic Gold.  Floating on a high level of publicity after his TV celebrity survival win and other TV documentaries ('The Real Tony Blackburn' & 'The Entertainers') Tony quitting Capital after 15 years to take over the Breakfast Show six days a week on the national network of Classic Gold station.  His Saturday morning show was already available in 18 areas of the country and via digital radio.  

Tony said "I am excited at the prospect of returning to my breakfast roots. The Classic Gold network already feels like home to me following my Saturday morning shows with them and I am looking forward to working six days a week with such a great team.  I'm sorry to be leaving the Capital Group after 15 years but I felt, entering my 39th year on air, this was such exciting opportunity I just couldn't turn it down."

Whilst this is the official word, it is thought that Tony has become increasingly enraged with Capital rescheduling, reducing the size of, or cancelling his Soul Show whilst football commentary takes the centre stage. Through all this, soul, funk and jazz fusion have remained Tony's private passions, and he also brings all of those styles to Smooth FM 100.4 (formerly Jazz FM) in the North West, in one of the station's top-performing programmes every Saturday night.

Tony Blackburn also returned to television Christmas 2002 as host of ITV1's Saturday night show 'Animals do the Funniest Things', plus he performed on 'Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes' in January 2003 as (ironically) Cliff Richard.  

In January 2003, Tony's Real Party Night show, which had been airing on 100.4 Jazz FM for several years was syndicated on GMG's Real Radio network; GMG having just acquired the Jazz FM stations.  The Real Party Night show began on Real Radio on Saturday 11th January 2003, playing four hours of favourite disco and soul classics from 6-10pm.  This was followed by Tony's "Real Soul" show exclusive to Jazz FM, which began in early March 2003 as part of a large schedule reshuffle in both London and the North West, playing smooth soul every weeknight from 10pm.  However, with Tony's breakfast show commitments on Classic Gold, which began in late March, Real Soul went from a live show to being voice-tracked, i.e. pre-recorded talky-bits only, slotted into the output by a producer -- and was dropped by Jazz FM at the beginning of March 2004, as part of a drive by GMG to introduce more live programming into its stations' schedules.  The Real Party Night remains on the entire GMG network - including the new 100.4 Smooth FM - every Saturday night from 6pm.

The 8th March 2004 saw a return for Tony to his old home, BBC London - where he fronts a live two hour "Soul Session" every Monday night between 8pm and 10pm, and began a Saturday lunchtime phone-in on the station in mid-April.

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