Douglas Muggeridge (2 December 1928 – 26 February 1985)[1][2] was the controller ofBBC Radio 1 andBBC Radio 2 from February 1969 until 1976.[3]
Born inHarrogate, North Yorkshire,[1] Muggeridge was educated atShrewsbury School. He first worked as a reporter for theLiverpool Daily Post, joining theBBC in 1956 as a radio producer.[4] He was appointed as controller of Radio 1 & 2 in February 1969. Following on fromRobin Scott[5] the first Controller for the two networks, Muggeridge tried to up-date the BBC's thinking on pop music radio. Although not a great pop music fan himself, he was responsible for giving both networks their individual identities and for introducing a twice-daily news magazine programme to Radio 1. EntitledNewsbeat, the programme still features on the network today. In 1971, he appointedRodney Collins - known as a supporter of pirate radio through his weekly music newspaper columns - as Publicity Officer for the two networks in an attempt to gain more coverage for Radio 1 in music papers such as theNME,Melody Maker,Disc andRecord Mirror. In 1972, Muggeridge signed up leading BBC broadcasters such asTony Blackburn,Jimmy Young andPete Murray to long-term contracts in the face of the challenge from the new local commercial radio stations.[6] He was later the Director of Programmes and Deputy Managing Director of Radio, before becoming Managing Director of External Broadcasting in 1981, overseeing theBBC World Service.[5] He wasMalcolm Muggeridge's nephew.[3]
He died on 26 February 1985 inSt Thomas' Hospital, London, aged 56.[4]
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| Preceded by Gerard Mansell 1972–1981 | Director of External Broadcasting,BBC 1981–1985 | Succeeded by Austen Kark 1985–1986 |
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