Terry Wogan | |
|---|---|
 Wogan at theCheltenham Literature Festival in 2015 | |
| Born | Michael Terence Wogan (1938-08-03)3 August 1938 Limerick, Ireland |
| Died | 31 January 2016(2016-01-31) (aged 77) Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Citizenship |
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| Years active | 1956–2015 |
| Employer | BBC |
| Known for | Television presenting:
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Sir Michael Terence Wogan (/ˈwoʊɡən/; 3 August 1938 – 31 January 2016) was anIrish radio and television broadcaster who worked for theBBC in Britain for most of his career. Between 1993 and his semi-retirement in 2009, hisBBC Radio 2 weekday breakfast programmeWake Up to Wogan regularly drew an estimated eight million listeners. He was believed to be the most listened-to radio broadcaster in Europe.[1]
Wogan was a leading media personality in Ireland and Britain from the late 1960s and was often referred to as a "national treasure".[1] In addition to his weekday radio show, he was known for his work on television, including theBBC1 chat showWogan, presentingChildren in Need, the game showBlankety Blank andCome Dancing. He was the BBC's commentator for theEurovision Song Contest from 1971 to 2008 (radio: 1971, 1974–1977; television: 1973, 1978, 1980–2008) and the Contest's co-host in1998.[2] He also presented the BBC's blooper show,Auntie's Bloomers, between 1991 and 2001. In recognition of his television career, in 2006, the British public ranked him number 21 inITV's poll ofTV's 50 Greatest Stars.[3]
In 2005, Wogan acquiredBritish citizenship in addition to hisIrish nationality and was awarded aknighthood in the same year and was therefore entitled to use the title "Sir".[4][5] He presentedWeekend Wogan, a two-hour Sunday morning show on Radio 2, from 2010 until his final show on Remembrance Sunday 2015 when his health was beginning to decline.[6][7] He died on 31 January 2016, aged 77.
Wogan was born on 3 August 1938 at Cleary's Nursing Home, Elm Park,Limerick, Ireland, the elder of two children.[8] He was the son of the manager ofLeverett & Frye, a high-class grocery store in Limerick, and was educated atCrescent College, aJesuit school, from the age of eight. He experienced a strongly religious upbringing, later commenting that he had been brainwashed into believing by the threat of going to hell.[9] Despite this, he often expressed his fondness for the city of his birth, commenting on one occasion that "Limerick never left me, whatever it is, my identity is Limerick."[10]
At the age of 15, after his father was promoted to general manager, Wogan moved toDublin with his family. While living there he attended Crescent College's sister school,Belvedere College. He participated in amateur dramatics and discovered a love ofrock and roll. After leaving Belvedere in 1956, Wogan had a brief career in the banking profession, joining theRoyal Bank of Ireland.[11] Still in his twenties, he joined the national broadcaster of Ireland,Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), as a newsreader and announcer, after seeing a newspaper advertisement inviting applicants.[12]
Wogan conducted interviews and presented documentary features during his first two years at Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), before moving to the light entertainment department as a disc jockey and host of TV quiz and variety shows such asJackpot, a top-rated quiz show on RTÉ in the 1960s. When the show was dropped by RTÉ TV in 1967, he approached the BBC for extra work.David Attenborough rebuffed his job application to be a BBC presenter; in 2016, after Wogan's death, Attenborough expressed the view that "to have had two Irishmen presenting on BBC2 would have looked ridiculous". The channel already had an Irish announcer.[13] Wogan began working forBBC Radio, initially 'down the line' from Dublin, first broadcasting on theBBC Light Programme on 27 September 1966. His earliest BBC radio show surviving in the BBC Archives is from 24 December 1966, when he presentedSongs for Christmas on the BBC Light Programme. He presented the Tuesday edition ofLate Night Extra for two years onBBC Radio 1 andBBC Radio 2, commuting weekly from Dublin to London. After being a stand-in presenter onJimmy Young's mid-morning show while Young took a holiday throughout July 1969, Wogan was offered a weekday afternoon slot which began on 29 September that year, initially onBBC Radio 1, but from early 1970, was also simultaneously broadcast onBBC Radio 2.
In April 1972 he took over thebreakfast show on BBC Radio 2, swapping places withJohn Dunn, who moved to the afternoon show. Wogan achieved record estimated audiences of up to 7.9 million.[14] His first chat show,Wogan's World, was broadcast onBBC Radio 4 from 6 June 1974 to 21 September 1975.[15] His seemingly ubiquitous presence across the media meant that he frequently became the butt of jokes by comedians of the time, among themThe Goodies andThe Barron Knights. He released a parody vocal version of the song "The Floral Dance" in 1978, by popular request from listeners who enjoyed hearing him sing over the instrumental hit by theBrighouse and Rastrick Brass Band. His version reached number 21 in theUK Singles Chart.[14]
In December 1984, Wogan left his breakfast show to pursue a full-time career in television and was replaced byKen Bruce.[16]
In January 1993 he returned to Radio 2, replacingBrian Hayes to present the breakfast show, which took the new nameWake Up to Wogan; it began with a preview show in the mid-morning of Boxing Day 1992. Wogan's tendency to go off on rambling, esoteric tangents, often including banter with his then producerPaul Walters, became popular with both younger and older listeners. Much of the entertainment came from letters and emails sent in by listeners, many of whom adopted punning pseudonyms. One occasion involved Wogan reading out an email from someone using the name "Tess Tickles", without realising what the name was referring to, prompting Paul Walters' standard reply in such situations – "I only print 'em!"[17]
Through his show Wogan was also widely credited with launching the career of singerKatie Melua, after he repeatedly played her début single, "The Closest Thing to Crazy", in late 2003. When she performed onChildren in Need in 2005, Wogan joked that Melua owed her career to him. He gave credit for her discovery to Walters.[18] Walters also put music byEva Cassidy, an American singer who had died in relative obscurity, on Wogan's playlist; Cassidy then, posthumously, became a sensation in the United Kingdom.[19]
As his radio show was considered to attract older listeners, Wogan jokingly referred to his fans as "TOGs", standing for "Terry's Old Geezers" or "Terry's Old Gals", while "TYGs" were "Terry's Young Geezers/Gals", who he joked were forced to listen to him because of their parents' choice of radio station. Wogan was referred to as "The Togmeister" on his own programme by himself and members of his production team, and he referred to the podcast of his show as a "Togcast".[20]
There were also running jokes involving Wogan's newsreader colleaguesAlan Dedicoat (nicknamed "Deadly" after the spoonerism "Deadly Alancoat"),Fran Godfrey (nicknamed "Frank"), and John Marsh (nicknamed "Boggy").[21] Marsh once told Wogan on air that his wife was called Janet, and a series of "Janet and John" stories followed, read by Wogan during the breakfast show. These were a pastiche of children's learn-to-read stories, with humorous sexualdouble entendres, which often led to Wogan and Marsh breaking into laughter. Six CDs and two books of the stories have been sold in aid ofChildren in Need, raising over £4 million.[22] A long-running campaign by Wogan criticising the British government for levyingVAT on the CDs eventually led to a government rebate of £200,000.[23] Another feature of the programme was Wogan's exchanges with "the Totty from Splotty" –Lynn Bowles, the Welsh traffic reporter fromSplott,Cardiff – which often involved readinglimericks from listeners cut short after one or two lines, as risqué innuendo in the later lines was telegraphed.
Wake Up to Wogan attracted an estimated audience of eight million in 2005.[24] That figure was surpassed in 2008, as Wogan's show held off a challenge from Radio 1 for listeners during the breakfast slot.[25] According to figures leaked to British newspapers in April 2006, Wogan was the highest-paid BBC radio presenter at that time, with an £800,000-a-year salary.[26] In an interview with Britain'sHello! magazine in its 30 May 2006 issue, Wogan confirmed this, saying that he represented "good value". On 23 May 2005, he crossed BBC strikepicket lines to present his show.[27]
Wogan was forced off the air on 16 February 2007, when steam from a nearby gym set off fire alarms.[28] For 15 minutes, an emergency tape played continuous music. On returning, Wogan read out several light-hearted comments from listeners, saying that they thought he had died with his sudden disappearance and the playing of such sentimental music. On 7 September 2009, Wogan confirmed to his listeners that he would be leaving the breakfast show at the end of the year, withChris Evans taking over.[29]The Times published an ode to Wogan: "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. Terry Wogan is abandoning his microphone", and novelistAllison Pearson commented: "Heard the one about the Irishman who reminded the British of what they could be at their best? His name was Terry Wogan."[1] Wogan presented his final Radio 2 breakfast show on 18 December 2009.[30]
It was announced that Wogan would return to Radio 2, beginning on 14 February 2010, to host a live weekly two-hour Sunday show on the network, featuring live musical performance and guests, between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm.[31] The show, titledWeekend Wogan, was hosted in front of a live audience in the Radio Theatre atBroadcasting House until the fourth series, where he returned to the studio.
Wogan continued to host the show until his final broadcast on Remembrance Sunday 2015, due to his declining health with cancer. It then continued with guest hosts until the end of that month, after which, regular cover showMadeley on Sunday presented byRichard Madeley filled the slot temporarily.Michael Ball then permanently took over the slot in April 2016.[32]
In 1971, and from 1974 until 1977, Wogan provided the BBC's radio commentary for theEurovision Song Contest. He became known for his television commentary, which he handled first in 1973, again in 1978, and then every year from 1980 until 2008. He co-hostedthe 1998 contest withUlrika Jonsson, inBirmingham'sNational Indoor Arena on 9 May. Wogan was the third person in the contest's history to combine the roles of presenter and commentator. When not on stage, he was in his private booth providing commentary to BBC viewers.[33] From 1977 until 1996, Wogan hosted theUK selection show each year, returning to the role in 1998, and again from 2003 until 2008. In 1973, 1975, every year from 1977 until 1984, and again in 1994, Wogan also presented the UKEurovision Song Contest Previews onBBC1.
Wogan's often "deadpan" commentating style, which often involved humour at the expense of others, caused controversy; for example, when he referred to the hosts of the2001 contest in Denmark,Søren Pilmark andNatasja Crone Back, as "Doctor Death and the Tooth Fairy".[34]
During the presentation of the Dutch points in theEurovision Song Contest 2006, Wogan called the Dutch televote presenter,Paul de Leeuw, an "eejit", as de Leeuw started to make ad lib comments, gave his mobile phone number, and generally hogged the limelight for some time before giving the Dutch votes.Chris Tarrant later praised Wogan's acerbity.[35]
During the 2007 BBC showMaking Your Mind Up, in which the British public voted to decide their Eurovision entry, Wogan incorrectly announced that the runner-upCyndi was the winner. The winner was the groupScooch; according to the BBC, Wogan was provided with the correct result during the live show.[36]
In the2008 contest, the UK's entry,Andy Abraham, finished in last place, much to Wogan's disappointment. Wogan argued that Abraham gave a better performance than the entries from Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina.[37] Right beforethe Russian winning entry's reprise, he said "… and possibly goodbye, Europe."
On 11 August 2008, Wogan said in an interview with theRadio Times magazine that he was doubtful about commentating the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK again.[38] On 5 December 2008, Wogan stepped down from the role after 35 years.Graham Norton succeeded Wogan as the UK commentator from the2009 contest onwards.[39]
In November 2014, Wogan reviewed Norton's autobiography forThe Irish Times.[40] Describing his attitude towards the contest, he wrote that he saw it as a "sometimes foolish farce", while implying that the winner of the2014 contest, Austrian drag performerConchita Wurst, was a "freakshow".[40] Following his death, his commentary of the contest was criticised for its mocking tone.[41]
Wogan's first foray into TV interviewing, and indeed to British television, was in 1972 onLunchtime with Wogan onITV. Later,What's On, Wogan? ran for one series in 1980 on BBC1, primarily on early Saturday evenings. In 1981 he had a chance to host a one-off chat show,Saturday Live. Among his guests on this show wereLarry Hagman, promoting the filmS.O.B., andFrank Hall. Hagman was at the height of his fame, which gave the show a high profile.
Soon after Wogan was given his own chat show,Wogan, which after a trial run on a midweek evening, was recommissioned for broadcast on Saturday nights from 1982 to 1984. Between 1985 and 1992, the show aired on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 pm. The series included interviews withGeorge Best,Chevy Chase,Anne Bancroft,Ronnie Barker announcing his retirement on the show, andDavid Icke claiming to be the "Son of God", to whom Wogan stated: "They're not laughing with you, they're laughing at you."[42]
The BBC stopped an interview in 1989 with Simon Hayward, a formercaptain in theLife Guards, hours before he was due to appear on theWogan show. Hayward insisted that he was innocent of drug smuggling offences. The decision was taken by the Controller of BBC1,Jonathan Powell, after protests from several MPs. The BBC was accused of censorship, and a Conservative MP,John Gorst, described the decision to ban Hayward fromWogan as "outrageous".[43]
Wogan was released from his talk show contract in 1992, after pressure from the BBC.[42] He said that the BBC also wanted his scheduling slot for the ill-fated soapEldorado. AfterEldorado took over the 7 pm slot, Wogan briefly hosted a new weekly chat strandTerry Wogan's Friday Night in 1993, but this series was not recommissioned.
Wogan presentedWogan Now and Then (2006), a show in which he interviewed guests from his former chat show, as well as new guests.BBC Two launched a new compilation series,Wogan: the Best Of in 2015, featuring selected interview segments and music performances from Wogan's past chat series, linked by new introductions from Wogan.[44]
In 1980, the BBC's charity appeal for children was first broadcast as atelethon calledChildren in Need, with Wogan presenting alongsideSue Lawley andEsther Rantzen.[45] He campaigned extensively for the charity, and often involved himself via auctions on his radio show, or more directly by taking part in well-publicised sponsored activities.
He was reported to be the only celebrity paid for his participation in Children in Need, having received a fee every year since 1980 (£9,065 in 2005). Wogan stated that he would "quite happily do it for nothing" and that he "never asked for a fee". Wogan donated his BBC fees to the charity.[46] The BBC stated that the fee had "never been negotiated" and was paid from BBC resources rather than the Children in Need fund.
He appeared on the panel comedy showQI in the 2008 episode for Children in Need, 'Families'.
In 2008, Wogan and singerAled Jones released a single "Little Drummer Boy"/"Peace on Earth", which got to number three in the UK music charts. The money raised went to BBCChildren in Need. The two recorded a second Christmas single "Silver Bells" in 2009, which was also in aid of BBC Children in Need.[47]
Wogan was the main regular presenter ofChildren in Need between 1980 and 2014. In November 2015, he was unable to participate in the live televisedChildren in Need appeal for the first time in its 35-year history due to poor health following a surgical procedure on his back. He did, however, make a brief appearance as part of a pre-recorded sketch.[48] He was replaced byDermot O'Leary.[49]
Wogan's television profile was boosted considerably when he became the first-ever host ofBlankety Blank, the British adaptation ofMatch Game, in 1979. His good-humoured interaction with the contestants and lively banter with the celebrity guests went a long way to making the show a success. Among the guests who appeared most frequently during this period wereRoy Hudd,Beryl Reid,Lorraine Chase andKenny Everett.[citation needed] Wogan left the show after the 1983 series, just over a year before his thrice-weekly chat show commenced.
Wogan narrated the BBC television seriesStoppit and Tidyup, which was broadcast in 1987.[50]
Wogan appeared onFriday Night with Jonathan Ross four times, between 2004 and 2009. In an appearance on the BBC programmeTop Gear, Wogan became the second-slowest guest to go around the test track as the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car", aSuzuki Liana. OnlyRichard Whiteley was slower.[51]
In 2010, Wogan made a cameo appearance in the second series ofBeing Human,[52] and also guest-hosted the fourth episode of the 24th series ofNever Mind the Buzzcocks.[53] The following year, Wogan hostedWogan onWodehouse forBBC Two.[54] In 2011 he appeared as a panellist onWould I Lie To You.
On 21 September 2013, Wogan appeared as a panellist on ITV game showThrough the Keyhole.[55] In November 2013, he participated in a celebrity edition of theBBC One game showPointless, with celebrities includingBobby Ball andEsther Rantzen, in aid ofChildren in Need.[56]
On 31 March 2014, Wogan was a guest reporter onBang Goes the Theory, on which he discussed old-age dementia.[57] From 12 to 16 May 2014, Wogan appeared on theChannel 4 game showDraw It!.[58] On 10 November 2014, in the run-up to that year'sChildren in Need telethon, Wogan guest hosted an episode ofThe One Show withAlex Jones.[59] He also presented a series calledTerry and Mason's Great Food Trip with the cab driver Mason McQueen in 2015, in which the duo travelled across Britain eating regional food.
Wogan was appointed an Honorary Officer of theOrder of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997, and later became an Honorary Knight Commander of the same order (KBE) in the2005 Queen's Birthday Honours List. After asserting his right to British citizenship and retaining his Irish citizenship that year, Wogan was officially knighted on 11 October 2005, allowing him to be called "Sir Terry".[60] On 29 May 2007, he was appointed aDeputy Lieutenant ofBuckinghamshire.[61]
On 15 June 2007, Wogan's home city ofLimerick honoured him with theFreedom of the City at a ceremony in Limerick's Civic Hall. Because of his long absence from the city and unflattering remarks about the city in a 1980 interview, the local press carried out avox pop, which resulted in support for the award.[62] He was made an Honorary Freeman of theCity of London in 2009, and invited to raise the bascules ofTower Bridge.[63]
In 2004, he received an HonoraryD.Litt. degree from theUniversity of Limerick,[64] as well as a special lifetime achievement award from his native city. He received an HonoraryLL.D. degree fromLeicester University in 2010.[65][66]
In 1978, Wogan was the subject ofThis Is Your Life, when he was surprised byEamonn Andrews at Broadcasting House.
Wogan was inducted into theRadio Academy Hall of Fame at a gala dinner held in his honour on 10 December 2009.[67] Wogan was announced as the Ultimate Icon of Radio 2, commemorating the station's 40th birthday. The shortlist of sixteen candidates had been published on theBBC Radio 2 website, and the winner was announced live on Radio 2 during a one-off special edition ofFamily Favourites by hostMichael Aspel on 30 September 2007. He praised his fellow nominees,the Beatles,Diana, Princess of Wales, andNelson Mandela during his acceptance speech, which was broadcast live onBBC Radio 2, and he choseNat King Cole's recording of "Stardust" as his iconic song of the last 40 years.[68] Wogan had chosen the song twice before as his favourite record onDesert Island Discs, and said he wanted to be buried with it.[69]
Wogan married Helen Joyce (1936–2024) on 24 April 1965 in her parish church, Our Lady of Refuge,Rathmines,[8] and they remained married until his death in 2016. They lived inTaplow, Buckinghamshire,[70] with another home inGascony, southwest France. They had four children (one of whom, a daughter Vanessa, died when only a few weeks old) and five grandchildren. In 2010, Wogan described the anguish he felt on the loss of his baby daughter.[71][72]
In April 2013, Wogan attended the funeral of former British Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher after being invited by her family.[73]
Wogan was brought up and educated as aRoman Catholic, but became anatheist at the age of 17.[9][74][75][76] In an interview withGay Byrne onRTÉ, he said that he respected those who had "the gift of faith".[75][77]
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Wogan's last broadcast was on 8 November 2015 on his BBC radio showWeekend Wogan. By then he had been diagnosed with the advanced stages ofprostate cancer and he died on 31 January 2016 at his home inTaplow. His funeral was private but a memorial service was held atWestminster Abbey on 27 September 2016.[78]
British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron said that "Britain has lost a huge talent",[79] andMichael D. Higgins, thePresident of Ireland, praised Wogan's career and his frequent visits to his homeland.[80]TaoiseachEnda Kenny andTánaisteJoan Burton remembered Wogan for his role in helpingAnglo-Irish relations duringthe Troubles.[81] The BBC renamed BBC Western House, home of Radio 2, in his memory, to BBCWogan House.[82]
| Year | Title | Role | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–1965 | Jackpot | Presenter | Wogan's first television work. |
| 1972–1973 | Lunchtime with Wogan | Presenter | |
| 1973–1979 | Come Dancing | Presenter | |
| 1973, 1978, 1980–2008 | Eurovision Song Contest | Presenter | UK television commentary (excluding the semi-finals, 2004–2008) |
| 1973, 1975, 1977–1984, 1994 | Eurovision Song Contest Previews | Presenter | |
| 1974 | Castlebar Song Contest | Presenter | |
| 1975 | Disco | Quiz Chairman | BBC1 Sunday afternoon pop music quiz with team captain'sTim Rice andRoger Scott[83] |
| 1977–1995, 2003 | A Song for Europe | Presenter | |
| 1977 | Ask a Silly Answer[84] | Presenter | For Southern Television, 14 April – 19 May 1977; Six episodes. Panel includes Graeme Garden, Alfred Marks, Willie Rushton, and Spike Milligan. |
| 1979–1983 | Blankety Blank | Presenter | 95 episodes |
| 1980–2014, 2015 | Children in Need | Main presenter | Telethon presenter, with various co-presenters until 2014. With a short voiceover and a small appearance in 2015. |
| 1981 | You Must Be Joking! | Presenter[85] | Gameshow, where two contrasting teams of 25 are pitted against each other; 10 episodes |
| 1982–1992 | Wogan | Presenter | British television chat show |
| 1982 | Wogan's Guide to the BBC[86] | Presenter | Behind the scenes at the BBC. |
| 1988 | Stoppit and Tidyup | Narrator | |
| 1991–2001 | Auntie's Bloomers | Presenter | |
| 1994–1995 | Do the Right Thing | Presenter | Gameshow with interactive fiction |
| 1996, 1998 | The Great British Song Contest | Presenter | |
| 1997, 2013 | Room 101 | Guest | |
| 1998 | Eurovision Song Contest 1998 | Presenter | WithUlrika Jonsson |
| 1998 | Wogans Web | Presenter | 11 May to 3 June 1998, with his Radio 2 producerPaul Walters. |
| 1999–2008 | Points of View | Presenter | |
| 2003–2004 | The Terry and Gaby Show | Presenter | WithGaby Roslin |
| 2004–2007 | Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up | Presenter | With various co-presenters |
| 2006 | Wogan Now and Then | Presenter | British television chat show, 11 episodes |
| 2006 | Blankety Blank DVD Game | Presenter | Returned to Blankety Blank for a special DVD edition |
| 2008 | Eurovision: Your Decision | Presenter | WithClaudia Winkleman |
| QI | Panellist | Series F Episode 1 "Families" –Children in Need special | |
| 2008–2010 | Wogan's Perfect Recall | Presenter | |
| 2014 | Secrets of the Body Clock[87] | ||
| 2014 | The One Show | Guest presenter | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Terry and Mason's Great Food Trip | Presenter | Documentary series, Wogan's final Television Work |
| Year | Title | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Midday Spin | Wogan's first radio work for the BBC. Broadcast on TheLight Programme. |
| 1967 | Housewives Choice | Guest host for a week in April 1967. |
| 1967–69 | Late Night Extra | Broadcast onBBC Radio 1. |
| 1969 | The Jimmy Young Show | Stand-in while Young was on holiday in July 1969. Broadcast on Radio 1. |
| 1969–72 | Weekday afternoons | 3-5pm, broadcast on BBC Radios 1 and 2. |
| 1971, 1974–1977 | Eurovision Song Contest | Presenter, radio coverage |
| 1972–84 | The Terry Wogan Show | First stint onThe Radio 2 Breakfast Show. |
| 1974–75 | Wogan's World | Wogan's first chat show, broadcast onBBC Radio 4. |
| 1993–2009 | Wake Up To Wogan | Second stint on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show. |
| 1997–2015 | Proms in the Park | Host |
| 2010–15 | Weekend Wogan | Wogan's final radio work. |
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show Presenter 1972–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song ContestUK commentator 1973 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song ContestUK commentator 1978 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song ContestUK television commentator 1980–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song ContestIreland commentator 1983 | Succeeded by |
| New programme | Host ofBlankety Blank 1979–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show Presenter 1993–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest presenter (withUlrika Jonsson) 1998 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
