Hospital Radio: Which stars began as radio hosts?

It’s amazing to think how many household names have started out as a radio presenter or disc jockey.

I am currently reading about Johnnie Walker, who launched his broadcasting career in the mid-1960s on the pirate airwaves, first with Swinging Radio England and later with Radio Caroline. By the end of that decade, he had joined BBC Radio 1, eventually making the move to Radio 2 several decades later.

Over the years, he became a familiar voice to generations of listeners, hosting Sounds of the 70s on Sunday afternoons and The Radio 2 Rock Show on Friday nights. His tenure on both programmes spanned well over a decade, cementing his reputation as a champion of classic rock and nostalgic sounds.

After nearly six decades behind the microphone, he announced his retirement due to ill health, with his final broadcast airing later that same month. His passing, at the age of 79, was announced by the BBC at the end of last year, marking the close of a remarkable chapter in British radio history.

It got me to thinking of others that who are no longer with us, but who we remember fondly. Just the other weekend there was a special programme to celebrate the life Steve Wright. Wrighty or Silly-Boy was widely recognised for bringing the lively "morning zoo" format to British radio, he assembled a cast of colourful personalities such as Mister Angry or Ask Elvis that redefined daytime broadcasting. His long-running show Steve Wright in the Afternoon became a fixture on BBC Radio for more than thirty years.

A beloved presence on the airwaves, he remained the voice behind Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2 right up until his passing. In the autumn of 2023, he stepped into the role of host for the iconic Pick of the Pops, adding another chapter to a career that spanned generations and shaped the sound of British radio.

I couldn’t do this piece without mentioning Terry Wogan, his BBC Radio 2 weekday breakfast programme Wake Up to Wogan regularly drew an estimated eight million listeners. Many of whom referred to themselves as TOGs, or Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals. This devoted band of listeners became a cherished part of Wake Up To Wogan, often vying—sometimes with theatrical desperation—for a mention on air. Their presence added a warm, eccentric heartbeat to the show’s daily tempo.

“Togginess” came to represent more than just fandom—it was a philosophy, a proudly worn badge of being prematurely old. TOGs were renowned for their mock-outrage at youth and modernity, often punctuating conversations with time-honoured grumbles like “They don’t know they’re born!” Terry  left us in January 2016 and after a private funeral a memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey. The British Prime Minister at the time David Cameron said that "Britain has lost a huge talent". How very true that is.

Over the years Torbay Hospital Radio has had its fair share of talented presenters who have put their heart and soul into bringing something special to the hospital airwaves. Some as with those above are no longer with us. In 2020, after our refit we named our studios “The Reynolds Studios” in memory of two long serving members; Ron and Katie Reynolds,  this husband and wife duo dedicated many years of their life towards the station, Ron was our longest ever serving member with 37 years under his belt.

More recently we lost Andrew Millar, who was a dedicated volunteer and presenter at the station. Andrew hosted the weekend breakfast show. He was full of love and humour, a brilliant entertainer. An often larger than life character he was a massive part of the local community supporting many charitable and worthwhile causes. Whilst still holding down a full time job running Brixham Marina.

I hope you agree it is right to remember these people who have given so much enjoyment to us.