Tony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, singer and television presenter, who first achieved fame broadcasting on the pirate stations, Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960’s.

He was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 at its launch on 30th September 1967. He has also worked for Capital London, Classic Gold Digital, Radio 2 and the British Forces Broadcasting Service. He was a regular host of Top of The Pops for more than a decade.

In 2002 he was the winner of the first series of the British reality show, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

He has won two lifetime achievement awards from the Radio Academy, the second of which was to mark his 50 years in broadcasting. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Years Honours List for services to broadcasting and charity.

Whilst busy touring his Sound of the 60’s show, he took some time out to have a chat with Kevin Cooper and this is what he has to say.

Good afternoon Tony how are you?

I’m very well thanks Kevin, but more to the point just how are you keeping?

All is good at this moment in time but thanks for asking, and before we go on let me just thank you for taking the time to speak to me today.

That’s alright, it’s my pleasure.

And I have to ask, just how is life treating you at this moment in time?

To be totally honest with you I would have to say that life at this moment is very good. Currently my Sounds Of The 60’s show is the most listened to music show on BBC Sounds now, plus all of the other shows are going really well. The theatre shows are selling out all of the venues which I have to say is terrific. So, I have to say that I really can’t complain about anything.

A friend of mine has told me that there is good news coming regarding the theatre show, is that correct?

Just who have you been speaking to (laughter). Yes, I have to come clean and say that your information is correct. We are going to continue with the theatre shows next year. We haven’t announced the dates as yet but we are planning on doing another 29 shows next year, all over the country. So, it’s all looking pretty good (laughter). Now we just need to track down your informant (laughter).

I have to ask, whose idea was it to put the show together?

The blame for that would have to be put squarely on the shoulders of a certain Leo Green (laughter). Leo went to the BBC and said, “why don’t we take the show out onto the road” and that was six years ago now. Initially we intended to do four or five shows but it went so well that we have continued with them ever since. Next year (2027) will be our seventh year. They kindly asked me if I would like to do another year to which I replied, “yes, absolutely, I love doing the show”.

You are bringing the show to the Royal Concert Hall here in Nottingham on Tuesday 22nd September, what can we expect?

Well, the show lasts around two hours twenty minutes or maybe a little longer. It really does depend upon how long I prattle on for really (laughter). We have got seven musicians who really are a terrific band, two great singers, and me (laughter). Basically, we are trying to invoke memories of the 60’s. Many moons ago I started off at the Bournemouth Pavilion as a singer and a guitarist when I was 18 years old so I talk about that. I talk about the time when I joined the pirate ships; Radio Caroline and Radio London being out on the North Sea for three years. And then I joined Radio 1 of course together with Top Of The Pops and all the rest of it (laughter).

So as you can see it’s a trip down memory lane but during the course of the evening musically, the audience hear 100 hits in medleys. When I talk about the early 60’s I introduce some early 60’s music, songs that I was playing on Pirate Radio and then Radio 1. So it’s like that and the audience will all know all of the words, because the songs have lasted for so long. I talk about Cliff Richard, Frank Sinatra and all the people that I have met. I talk about Motown, so that’s what it is all about. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not three hours of me lecturing the audience about the 60’s (laughter). We all enjoy doing the show and I think it shows. We have fun with the audience, and I think that is why it has gone on for such a long time now. Luckily, we are selling out wherever we go, so I guess that is the reason that they want to keep it going next year.

How are the audiences reacting to the show?

The audiences have been absolutely terrific. The show has been designed for an older audience, who were bought up in the 60’s and who love 60’s music. Lots of people are putting on shows which are geared up for younger audiences, who sometimes forget that there are older people who also like going out. We currently perform the show on Mondays through Thursdays because I have to be back in London on Fridays to take care of my Radio 2 shows. I honestly don’t think that my audiences want to go out on a Friday or Saturday night. They are happy to go out on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

You have been quoted as saying that “the 60’s is the greatest decade for music”. Why does it appeal to you so much?

Well, I was bought up during the 50’s and 60’s and the 60’s were a very special time; The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Motown, Pirate Radio, the launch of Radio 1, everything seemed to be happening in the 60’s and that was my era. I lived that era; I started broadcasting in 1964 aboard Radio Caroline, and so for me it was a very special era. The music from the 60’ has lasted for such a long time; The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, everybody knows the words, everyone sings along with the music, and we all just have a very good time. I personally will guarantee that you will have a fun evening. Back in the 60’s I met Frank Sinatra and I also toured with Diana Ross, so, as you can imagine I have got a lot to talk about. I lived that era (laughter). It works really, really well and I love doing the shows.

You have briefly mentioned Radio Caroline, how was life at sea?

I loved it (laughter). I was bought up in Poole in Dorset by the sea and I have always loved being near to the sea. We would work from the ships two weeks at a time, and then have a week off, and as I say I absolutely loved it. I have to say that a lot of people didn’t last because they got sea sick and didn’t like it but I loved it, I have always loved the sea (laughter). I personally found it fascinating out there.

But you weren’t just there to enjoy yourselves were you; there was one particular reason for you being out in the North Sea.

Yes, that’s right. What our main objective was happened to be very special. The fact of the matter is that we were there to actually break the BBC monopoly because in the early 60’s all that we had were the old light programmes, the Home Service as it was called, and they played 45 minutes of pop music a day. Then we had to listen to Radio Luxemburg fading in and out every evening. So at that time there was nothing really for teenagers or younger people to listen to. So, when the Pirate Ships came along they altered everything and I am really proud of that. For me to be broadcasting with someone like Kenny Everett really was special.

How were you approached to get involved with the Pirate Ships?

As I said earlier I was a singer and a guitarist with a dance band in the Bournemouth Pavilion, a position I held for some three years. While I was there I saw an advertisement in the New Musical Express looking for DJ’s to work on Radio Caroline which was about to go on air. I actually wanted to become a singer, that was the idea, so I thought that if I became a DJ then I might to be able to get into the record business that way, which I actually did eventually (laughter). So, I replied to the advert in the New Musical Express. They invited me along for an audition at Caroline House, 6 Chesterfield Gardens, in Mayfair on the Friday and I was out broadcasting on the Tuesday.

What you have to remember is that I had never broadcast in my life before; in fact most of us hadn’t (laughter). We had quite a few Australians out there who had come over; they were used to commercial radio. So, that’s the way that I got into it. From there, when the Pirate Ships came to an end, I met a wonderful guy called Harold Davison who looked after people like Frank Sinatra, and who at that time was the biggest agent in the country. Harold told me that the BBC had heard me and that they wanted to offer me the breakfast show on a new station called Radio 1 and that is how it happened.

On the subject of the Pirate Ships, let me take you back to 2009 and the Richard Curtis movie The Boat That Rocked. In your opinion would you say that the movie was an accurate and realistic portrayal of life at sea?

No, no, not at all (laughter). Life at sea was absolutely nothing like the movie, nothing at all. I personally didn’t like the film. It portrayed a load of people getting drunk and having parties; there were never any parties on board. We were allowed to have two bottles of beer a day, and that was it. You have to remember that the North Sea is extremely dangerous apart from anything else. What I would say is that all of that business about parties and girls coming on board was completely untrue, the whole thing. For me, it was a dreadful film; I didn’t like it at all. We were all out there for a reason. Of course we had fun whilst we were out there, but at the same time we were there to bring about the downfall of the monopoly which at that time the BBC held which eventually we did.

You mention joining the BBC; did you finally feel like part of the establishment?

That’s a great question because to be totally honest with you I have never really thought about it like that funnily enough. The Pirate Ships had more or less come to an end, so there was no future staying out there in the North Sea. After three years I had had enough of the North Sea anyway (laughter). I just thought that being part of the BBC, the biggest broadcasting organisation in the world, was very special and I have to say that when I joined the BBC they couldn’t have been any nicer. I remember them saying to me, “we have never done this before, what do you need, we will listen to you,” and I said, “we need a self operating studio” which the BBC had never done before.

They had always had someone putting the music on for the DJ’s, we never did that. For instance we never had producers. Okay, we had producers when Radio 1 started, as they still do, but all in all they just listened to us. Kenny (Everett) and I basically told them what sort of studio we needed and they built it. They were brilliant, and they welcomed us with open arms. I personally feel that the Government had told the BBC that they needed to get a radio station on air. Obviously they quite liked having the monopoly, who wouldn’t, but they realised then that their monopoly had come to an end just like we realised that the Pirate Ships were coming to an end. So we all came together and produced Radio One.

Whenever anyone mentions Tony Blackburn, people automatically think of you listening to music 24/7 but that is not the case is it?

No, no it’s not as I don’t just listen to music at home (laughter). There is another side to Tony Blackburn (laughter). I like watching TV; I love Coronation Street, I really am a big Coronation Street fan but perhaps we shouldn’t mention that (laughter). I like being at home with my wife Debbie, and don’t forget I also do a hell of a lot of travelling with the show, places like York, Liverpool, and Bournemouth. Debbie comes with me and I have to say that we have a good time travelling around the country together. So, it’s not just me going out and then coming home.

We stay overnight in the city that we have played in and I am so very lucky to be doing what I am doing. I love what I am doing and I love the shows that we are doing now, and I am really happy to go onto Radio 2 which is the number one station (laughter). After all of these years it really is terrific. Radio 2 for me is a lovely place to be at; all the DJ’s are people who have made it, no one is trying to get a hold of your show, we all get along very well together. I am very lucky and I really do realise that.

You have now been in the business for 62 years, have you enjoyed the ride so far?

Oh yes, absolutely. I have enjoyed it very, very much. Don’t get me wrong, it is a tough business to be in, but I personally feel that my happiest time is probably now, funnily enough. Doing the shows that I do at the weekends, they have just given me another show called Sounds Of Soul, plus The Golden Hour which I do as well, three shows on Radio 2 which is great, and then touring the country with the theatre show; I really couldn’t be happier. Touch wood, all of the shows are doing really well, and that’s the main thing. Sounds Of The 60’s is the most listened to music show for the BBC on BBC Sounds, which goes to prove that there is still a massive audience out there for 60’s music still.

The music has lasted for such a long time; they really are such great songs. People who I have met over the years, people like Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra, and I have toured with Diana Ross; I really have had a wonderful time. Whenever I hear people saying, “oh the pressure, it’s dreadful” I have to smile and say, “well I don’t think that at all, I have loved every moment of it” (laughter). Don’t get me wrong, there are ups and downs like there are in any other job but I think that my biggest up time was back in 1967 when we launched Radio 1.

I remember on my first show at Radio 1 a journalist said to me, “well what are you going to be doing next year” and I said, “well hopefully the same as I am doing now” (laughter). I know that I have been extremely lucky but at the same time I have worked hard at it. I have also tried to do my best, and the audiences have been terrific as well. I love it when people come up to me and say, “you have been with me all my life” and that is truly tremendous. I have grown up with this audience and they are coming along to say hello.

Putting you firmly on the spot, what would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?

Well there have been so many to be totally honest with you. Winning I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! That was unexpected for me. I was 60 years old then and I can remember my Manager Nick Cannon ringing me and saying, “how would you like to be dropped into the middle of the Australian jungle and survive for two weeks” (laughter). I thought he was joking so I said, “yes I would love to” (laughter). I truly thought that it was a joke. Shortly after Nick rang me up saying that ITV wanted to see me so I said, “what about” and he said “about that show I was telling you about” to which I replied, “I thought that you were joking” (laughter). So, I went along to see them. They said, “do you like outdoor life” to which I replied, “not particularly, no more than anyone else.” They then asked me, “when you go away do you go camping” to which I replied, “no, I would much rather stay in a hotel” (laughter).

They then asked me, “what would you eat in the jungle” and I said, “I am a vegetarian so I haven’t really thought about it” but at that point I thought that they wouldn’t want me after that interview. Then a week later they contacted me telling me that they wanted me to do it (laughter). My wife and my mother at the time tried to talk me out of doing it, both saying, “we don’t think that you would do that very well”. I’m not particularly a party animal and I really do like my own company and a quiet life.

I told them that I had got to do it because these opportunities come up once in a lifetime and I couldn’t bear watching it and thinking that I could have been a part of that. So you have got to take these opportunities when they come along and I have to say that I absolutely loved it (laughter). So, I suppose that’s one thing. Being on the Pirate Ships and subsequently the launch of Radio 1 are highlights too. I’ve been very lucky to have had quite a few highlights during my career; some of the things that I have really enjoyed doing.

In 2024 you were appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Years Honours list for services to broadcasting together with your charity work. How did that make you feel?

That really was great, knowing that all of the hard work over the years had been recognised. We had a great day and it is always a good feeling whenever you are recognised for your work. So yes, that certainly was a highlight to remember.

Now I am a massive fan and collector of all things Motown and Northern Soul so I was wondering if it would be possible for me to speak to Lenny Gamble?

(Laughter) Lenny Gamble indeed you cheeky sod (laughter). Yes, that really was unusual. I was recording an album so I remember recording 29 singles and 2 albums, neither of which sold very well. We needed one more track to finish the session and I have always loved the track I’ll Do Anything (He Wants Me To Do) by Doris Troy so I recorded that. It is a soul song and in my opinion I recorded it without any soul really. The Northern Soul people released the track on a white label ‘promo’ under the name of Lenny Gamble. I was doing a radio show on Radio 1 and somebody rang me up and said, “you do know that you have got a Northern Soul hit” to which I replied, “what’s that” (laughter).

The caller said, “it is I’ll Do Anything and they have called you Lenny Gamble” (laughter). I thought, ‘fabulous’ and I listened to the record once again and still thought that it wasn’t that soulful but they seemed to like it. So, I set off to Wigan Casino as they wanted me to appear there. When they introduced me as Lenny Gamble and I walked out onto the stage I could see a look of disappointment on everyone’s face (laughter). The look of shame as they realised that they had bought a Tony Blackburn record (laughter). It actually did very well. I still to this day love the Doris Troy version of the record.

What was the first record that you bought?

Let me see, that was Cool Water by Frankie Laine, years ago now. I absolutely loved it (laughter).

The first live gig you went to?

That was at the Odeon cinema in Bournemouth where I saw Billy Fury, he was really great. I can remember thinking I would love to be doing that, up on the stage doing what Billy was doing.

What was the last song or piece of music that made you cry?

Wow, just where did that come from (laughter). There are two songs that really get me emotional. One is a song called Love Is The Answer by England Dan & John Ford Coley. The second is Save The Children by Marvin Gaye from his What’s Going On album.

On that note Tony let me once again thank you again for taking the time to speak to me today, it’s been great. You take care and I will see you when you get to Nottingham.

Thank you very much Kevin. Thanks a lot and I will see you up there in Nottingham.