As the Record Press author was preparing to write this blog article, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I wasn’t alone in thinking that Radio 2’s Steve Wright gone past his sell by date……..

Don’t get me wrong, I have been a big fan of Steve Wright for many years since I first heard him on Radio Luxembourg in 1979. Within months he had moved to Radio 1 and I continued to be throughly entertained by his creative, inventive and entertaining broadcasting.

Steve Wright took the best of Kenny Everett and fused it with the best of American radio broadcasting, culminating in the institution that his Radio 1 Afternoon Show became, ably supported by his cast of characters and idiots. But alas I have found myself becoming more and more irritated by Steve Wright. His style of broadcasting is tired, jaded and trite; constantly recycling the same old cliched banter from the 1980s, completely devoid of new ideas. Surely it is time that Steve Wright was put out to graze on the lawns outside the Radio 2 Retirement Home?!

As I prepared for this blog article, I discovered I wasn’t alone and my sentiments are being echoed on Facebook. Jonathan Ross recently covered for Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 2, and was a breath of fresh air in the stale corridors of Broadcasting House. Infact he seems to have got a much better reception than last time he was on Radio 2.

A single post on Facebook posted on Wednesday 26th August received almost 500 likes and around 250 comments – the majority of which welcomed Jonathan Ross back to Radio 2. What was particularly telling was the volume of listeners preferring him over regular host Steve Wright. Here are some of the Facebook comments –

“Glad to have you back on Radio 2, Jonathan. You did a bad thing but you paid the price & it’s a long time ago. You’re a pro and R2 is better when you’re on.”

“Welcome back Jonathan Ross. The trouble with Steve Wright is that he thinks he’s still ‘down with the kids’ when in actual fact the ‘kids’ have grown up and listen to a different type of music now. The kids he thinks he is playing to are over listening to Radio 1.”

“Please keep Jonathan Ross on permanently. He is so much better than boring Steve Wright.”

“I used to like Steve Wright but his format is the same as he was doing when I was in my teenage years and I am nearly 45. It’s outdated but he still thinks he is bang up to date. Wrong. It’s old hat now and has been for ages.”

The Record Press author urges Bob Shennan, Radio 2 Programme Controller, to bite the bullet and bring some fresh blood into the daytime weekday schedule. I know Steve Wright’s RAJAR listening figures are good, but I would argue that the Radio 2 Afternoon Show listening figures would not drop under the stewardship of a new host.

Everybody said Terry Wogan was irreplaceable as Radio 2 Breakfast Show host……..Chris Evans, his replacement in 2010, quickly increased the number of listeners. Jonathan Ross’ Saturday morning show on Radio 2, before “Sachgate” brought his Radio 2 career to an end, was some of the best radio I have ever heard. Time to give Jonathan Ross a regular slot on Radio 2 and the Afternoon Show would be a good fit.

The radio legend that is Tony Blackburn will be honoured with The Radio Academy’s lifetime achievement award for an unprecedented second time, to mark his 50 years in broadcasting.

Tony Blackburn was originally given the Radio Academy Gold Award in 1989 to mark his 25th radio anniversary in radio, but the Radio Academy feel that the longevity of Tony Blackburn’s career in his 50th Anniversary year should be recognised.

Tony Blackburn’s career has spanned six decades, having begun on pirate radio station Radio Caroline in August 1964, before moving to Radio 1, famously presiding over the station’s launch in September 1967, spinning the first record “Flowers in the Rain” by the Move. After 17 years on Radio 1, Tony Blackburn moved on, presenting BBC London’s weekday mid-morning show before becoming one of the presenters on the newly launched Capital Gold.

Today Tony Blackburn is busier than ever, presenting Radio 2’s Pick of the Pops every Saturday afternoon, and shows on BBC London 94.9, BBC Radio Berkshire, the Magic network, BBC3CR and KMFM.

On receiving news of the Radio Academy’s lifetime achievement award, Tony Blackburn commented: “I have made a living out of my passion. Being a radio presenter, in my opinion, remains the greatest job in the world. I want to thank everyone who has given me a job, the amazing artists whose music I have played and, most importantly, the listeners who have listened to me for the past 50 years. Without you on the other end of the microphone, I’m just a man, in a room talking to myself for hours on end.”

He will be handed the award at the 32nd Radio Academy Awards at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 12 May. The Record Press author’s introduction to Tony Blackburn was in 1974, when he presented the mid-morning show on Radio 1, having been replaced on the Breakfast Show by Noel Edmonds the previous year. I quickly took to him, with his bonhomie, cheesy jokes and canine companion, Arnold. Today I listen to him regularly on Radio 2’s Pick of the Pops. Arnold may have long gone, but the trademark cheesy daft jokes and puns are still there and we love him for it. His humour is always self-deprecating and at his own expense which demonstrates the modesty of the man!!

The key to Tony Blackburn’s longevity and timeless success is that he is a passionate broadcaster and lover of music, especially soul, and this comes across every time he sits in front of a microphone. Tony Blackburn is universally loved because fundamentally he is a decent man of great integrity and sincerity, and that’s why he has survived for 50 years in the fickle world of radio and show business. God Bless you Tony Blackburn.

Framed vinyl records, framed CDs and framed DVDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!