Tarrant, Peel and MacGregor join Radio Hall of Fame

[Tom Roche]

Tarrant, Peel and MacGregor join Radio Hall of Fame

Julia Day
The Guardian
Thursday December 4, 2003


MacGregor: presented Radio 4's Today for 17 years
  In a list that reads like a radio station controller's dream 
schedule, five of the nation's biggest radio broadcasters are to 
receive a top honour today.

Chris Tarrant, John Peel, Sue MacGregor, Radio 2's John Dunn and 
LBC's Douglas Cameron are to be made members of the Radio Academy 
Hall of Fame in a ceremony at London's Savoy hotel.

"These five names have set the standard others follow," said John 
Bradford, the Radio Academy director.

"Their voices have helped make radio today more popular than it has 
ever been, even as media diversifies beyond all recognition."

The Hall of Fame was launched in April by professional body the Radio 
Academy to honour talent in a similar way to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall 
of Fame, which counts Elvis Presley and the Beatles among its members.

The first five members to be inducted for their "significant 
professional impact" were Tony Blackburn, Alan Freeman, Alistair 
Cooke, Noel Edmonds and John Humphrys.

Tarrant receives his accolade as he prepares to hang up his headphones

  in the spring after 17 years at Capital Radio.

Peel only recently celebrated 40 years in broadcasting. He has been 
with BBC Radio 1 since its launch in 1967 and also hosts Home Truths 
on Radio 4.

MacGregor hosted Radio 4's Woman's Hour for 15 years, was a Today 
presenter for 17 years and continues to be one of the voices most 
closely associated with the station.

John Dunn joined Radio 2 at its launch and became one of its most 
familiar voices in a career spanning three decades. He left in 1998.

Douglas Cameron announced his retirement from regular broadcasting 
last month after 42 years on air, 30 of them at London station LBC.








Last Updated: Thursday, 4 December, 2003, 15:54 GMT 


E-mail this to a friend	Printable version
Veteran DJs in radio hall of fame

John Peel has been at BBC Radio 1 since it started in 1967

DJs John Peel and Chris Tarrant were inducted into a broadcasting 
hall of fame on Thursday.

The hall of fame, set up by the Radio Academy last year, has already 
honoured DJs Kenny Everett, Alistair Cooke and Tony Blackburn.

Peel has had a radio career spanning 40 years and is BBC Radio 1's 
longest-serving DJ.

Tarrant, the breakfast show host on London's Capital FM for 17 years, 
will leave the station next year.

Other broadcasters entered into the hall of fame on Thursday were BBC 
Radio 4's Sue MacGregor, former radio 2 drivetime host John Dunn and 
LBC presenter Douglas Cameron.

The five DJs were honoured at a lunch at London's Savoy hotel.

Collecting his award, Peel reflected on his career and said: "I would 
have to say the happiest time is now.

"The fact that listeners can communicate with you immediately all 
over the world is amazing.

"You play a record and someone contacts you from Sacramento and says 
'Have you heard the B-side'. So you flip it over and hear the B-side 
- it's fantastic."

'More popular'

Radio Academy director John Bradford said: "These five names have set 
the standard to which others follow.

"Their voices have helped make radio today more popular than it has 
ever been, even as media diversifies beyond all recognition."

The academy's hall of fame has been created online, with biographies, 
photos and audio clips as a permanent reminder of their careers.

Tarrant said: "I'm going to take a while off and do a bit of 
television, but I love radio.

"Radio is the best because it has that urgency. I love it all, music 
and speech stations, so I'm sure I'll do some stuff in the future."

E-mail this to a friend	Printable version

LINKS TO MORE TV AND RADIO STORIES