Every BBC local radio station is to dedicated three hours to Tony Blackburn in a special show planned to mark his 50th radio anniversary.
The programme will air on Friday 25th July at 7pm, in place of the usual Mark Forrest show, and be part live, part pre-recorded from BBC London.
The non-live segments will be recorded in front of a live studio audience on Monday 21 July, with an array of guests joining Tony on stage. Tickets were available to BBC London 94.9 listeners who shared their favourite memories from Tony’s career. They will join Tony’s friends, family and colleagues in the audience.
It will feature guests who have shared Tony Blackburn’s life on air, and will include interviews and performances from the likes of Smokey Robinson, Beverley Knight, Jaki Graham and fellow Radio 1 presenters Noel Edmonds and Pat Sharp, among others.
The show marks 50 years to the day since Tony’s first broadcast on the pirate radio ship Radio Caroline. He says:”I can’t believe it’s been 50 years! Being a radio presenter is the greatest job in the world and I’ve loved every minute. I can’t wait to share some of my favourite tracks, people and memories on air with listeners around the country. I’m really looking forward to doing the show, it will be good fun.”
Tony has been broadcasting on the BBC for 47 years, since he began presenting the Radio 1 Breakfast Show when the station launched in 1967. This one-off special will be in addition to Tony’s regular shows on BBC Berkshire, BBC 3CR, BBC London, KMFM, Magic and BBC Radio 2.