Tony Blackburn

[DeeLicious]

I've always enjoyed listening to Tony Blackburn, and still love his Sounds Of The 60s, but I notice he makes a lot of mistakes like playing the same record twice, repeating the same stories, even sometimes talking over intros. It probably doesn't help that the BBC moved this programme to 6am-8am and inexplicably put the dull and frequently absent Dermot O'Dreary on between Tony and Graham Norton. Tony is 75 years old, working on various different radio stations each week, and in his spare time makes videos of himself for his fans. The guy is a workaholic, and clearly loves what he does, but I can't help thinking he takes on too much and should slow done. Any thoughts from any of you?

[jno]

Does he broadcast live?

[Old_Geezer]

If he's enjoying what he does and the public don't mind repeated stories etc. then it's his (and his employer's) choice.

[douglas9401]

I've been listening to Tony Blackburn on and off since 1967, mistakes and slips are nothing new, just Tony Blackburn. :-)

[Hopkirk]

He's always been pretty incompetent.
I say this as someone who used to listen to his breakfast show on Radio 1 in the Jurassic era.
I simply can't listen to him now.

[maggiebee]

Aaawww, love Tony Blackburn repeats and all. If it's a record I like, he can play it as often as he likes!

[jno]

I remember he used to forget to switch his mic on and then say “Er, that silence was brought to you by the Noise Abatement Society.”

But on the odd occasion I’ve listened it’s for the music, not for him. Occasional goofs don’t bother me. As long as he hasn’t started making prank calls, I loathe that.

[Guilbert53]

I have always been amazed that Tony Blackburn's career has lasted so long.

Too me he has always been a pretty poor DJ and seems to have no personality whatsoever.

[Cloverjo]

I remember him from when he was on Radio 1. It's great that he's still working, but I can't bear to listen to him now.

[Hymie]

I don’t think he is the only DJ guilty of making on air mistakes.
During the late 70s/early 80s I used to listen to Nicky Horne on Capital Radio (Your mother wouldn’t like it), mostly he was playing album tracks.

Very often he would play the wrong track (obviously he had queued up the wrong track on the LP); but he never acknowledged the error – it made me wonder if he was actually listening to the music he was playing.

[gingejbee]

"talking over intros"...isn't that what most DJs do?

[davegosling]

There are lots of stories about Tony's gaffes, some of them apocryphal no doubt. However, I did definitely hear him pronounce "Duran Duran" as "Durran Durran" on the Sunday night Top 40 show back in the early 80s.

[4candles]

I think it may have been Mr Blackburn who once played a request for someone in Bury Street, Edmunds.

[bainbrig]

I knew him in the mid-60s. Air head with a ready smile and bad breath.

[-Talbot-]

And what about Tony. bainbrig?

[Arksided]

I like Tony Blackburn, I'm not educated enough to mention his playing habits on radio but thought he was mad as a bat... when in the jungle (I'm a celerity) talking to logs etc... but do hope the man is ok and maybe should slow down a little.

[piggynose]

does he still have that stupid dog barking?

[Hopkirk]

Arnold? No I think that's stopped.

Probably someone senior and sensible told him to stop it.

[andy-hughes]

I think TB is fabulous, a remaining link to the wunnerful days of Radio One.

He has managed to make an entire career out of not taking himself remotely seriously, and he has enjoyed a parallel career as a soul music presenter, a genre of which he has deep and extensive knowledge.

I think they should give Pick Of The Pops back to him, and move Gambo, who is clearly not comfortable in the role, to a show more suited to his considerable talents.

[tonyav]

He appeared at Wigan Casino, andy.
Not as Tony Blackburn though, but as Kenny Gamble.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/19/Tony-Blackburn