Pete Murray | |
|---|---|
 Murray in 1972 | |
| Born | Peter Murray James (1925-09-19)19 September 1925 (age 100) Hackney, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Radio and television presenter, stage and screen actor |
| Years active | 1943–2003, 2008, 2021–present |
Peter Murray JamesOBE (born 19 September 1925), known professionally asPete Murray, is a British radio and television presenter and actor.[1] He is known for his career with theBBC, including stints on theLight Programme,Radio 1,Radio 2 andRadio 4. In the 1950s, Murray became one of Britain's first pop music television presenters, hosting therock and roll programmeSix-Five Special (1957–1958) and appearing as a regular panellist onJuke Box Jury (1959–1967) and a regular host onTop of the Pops (1964–1969).
Murray was a recurring presence in the BBC's coverage of theEurovision Song Contest. Murray retired in 2003,[2] before he returned to broadcasting for aBoom Radio special on Boxing Day 2021, over 70 years after his career began. He returned to the station on Boxing Day 2022, presenting a two-hour show alongside his friendDavid Hamilton.[3] Murray has influenced many other radio personalities. Presenter David Hamilton has credited him as an influence and disc jockeyKenny Everett was also influenced by Murray's "ad-libbing style and warmth".[4]
Murray was born inHackney, London on 19 September 1925.[5][6] He grew up inChiswick.[7] Murray's mother once sang in the chorus line forJack Buchanan, and left the music scene to have a family; Murray's father was aWorld War I veteran who was badly injured in a gas attack in theBattle of the Somme.[7] Murray attendedSt Paul's School, an experience he did not like.[7] He described himself as a youth as a "thug".[7]
Murray was an extremely shy child, and decided that the best way to overcome his shyness was through acting, and so when he was fifteen, he auditioned for theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art, and despite having no acting experience, was accepted.[8][7]
"I was a shy teenager who enjoyed cinema, theatre and anything to do with show business. I set my heart on becoming an actor and it was Colin Chandler at RADA who changed my life when he said that although I was 'dreadful in couple of plays', he believed I had 'something'". (Murray, 2016)[2]
The school's director,Kenneth Barnes, tried kicking him out; however, Murray argued his way back into the school.[7] While at RADA, Murray toured with local repertory theatres, and won a bronze medal for his work.[9] After graduating with a diploma in 1944, he entered the Air force for the last year of the Second World War.[10][11][9]
In late 1949, Murray's agent approached him with an offer, spending three months in the rebooted English service ofRadio Luxembourg, who needed an English speaking disc jockey, for £15 a week.[7][12] He went to an office in London connected to the station, and was hired on the spot and immediately given a box of half a dozen records.[12] Murray said in a 2015 interview withDavid Hamilton that the only reason he got the job was because no one else wanted it.[12]
Murray officially joined Radio Luxembourg in September 1950; he was one of its resident announcers in the Grand Duchy, and instead of the expected three months, Murray remained there until 1955.[8][7] During his time for Radio Luxembourg, he stayed in a hotel in theGrand-Duchy of Luxembourg.[7] One day, Murray was given a box of records from America by a native, who told Murray he had "the hottest thing since show business started"; it was a box ofrock and roll records.[7] Murray played one of the records, "Rock Around the Clock" byBill Haley & His Comets, four times within fifteen minutes, and credits himself as the "first person that ever played Bill Haley" for a European audience.[7][11]
Murray claims that his "natural charisma" meant that advertisements were always being played on air when he was on (disc jockeys were paid per ad) and states that at one point he was earning more than the chairman of Radio Luxembourg.[7] Murray once swore live on the air, muttering the word "fuck" to himself, as revealed by him onRadio 4's QuizWireless Wise.[9] Murray left the radio station and returned to London in 1955, feeling that his stay at the station had long passed its due time, and he wanted to return to the UK again.[7]
Back in London, and now calling himself "Pete" rather than "Peter", he continued to be heard frequently on Radio Luxembourg for many years, introducing recorded sponsored programmes. He also presented popular music on theBBC Light Programme, particularly on the programmePete Murray's Party from 1958 to 1961. Murray joinedpirate radio in 1965 and hosted a show,Call in at Curry's, which was broadcast onRadio Caroline.[13] In September 1968, he stood in forAlan Freeman onPick of the Pops, while Freeman was in New York. Murray linked up with him for a look at the American pop scene during the two shows that he did.
Murray was one of the originalBBC Radio 1 disc-jockeys when the station started in 1967. By 1969, he was one of the mainstays ofBBC Radio 2, where for over ten years he anchored the two-hour magazine showOpen House five days a week, heard by 5.5 million listeners.[14][8] OneApril Fools' Day he pretended that the show was being televised. In 1973 and 1976, he was voted BBC Radio Personality of the Year.[15] In 1980, Radio 2 moved Murray from weekday to weekend programming. In 1981, he began a move into more serious, speech-only radio with a stint as presenter ofMidweek onBBC Radio 4. At the end of 1983, the BBC cancelled his radio shows, describing his style of broadcasting as too old-fashioned, which led to Murray leaving the BBC altogether, a decision he later admitted to regretting, calling it a "very big mistake".[7][16]
In 1984, he started afresh as a presenter forLBC, a local talk radio station in London. He later won theVariety Club of Great Britain award for his show. Murray introduced his last programme there on 22 December 2002. In August 2008, he returned as a presenter on an Internet-only station, UK Light Radio.[17] Murray returned to radio to host a special show forBoom Radio on Boxing Day 2021.[18] In 2022, he appeared in theChannel 5 documentaryTOTP: Secrets & Scandals.[19] He returned to Boom Radio on Boxing Day 2022 for another show, this time alongside Hamilton. On 2 June 2025, Murray helped Boom Light turn on its DAB+ transmitters at 10:00 a.m. that morning. Murray announced that he would host a slot on Boom Radio on his 100th birthday from 11:00 a.m., playing the biggest songs from his birthday week from the year 1963.[4]
Murray started his career on television in the late 1950s; he co-hosted one ofBBC Television's earliest pop music programmes, theskiffle-basedSix-Five Special (1957–1958); other regular presenters wereJo Douglas andFreddie Mills. He was a regular panellist on the same channel'sJuke Box Jury (1959–1967), and was a panellist on the show's first and last episodes.[20][21][22][7] Murray hosted the UK heat of theEurovision Song Contest in1959, and provided the British commentary for the contest itself on both radio and television from1959 until1961;1968;1972 to1973 for radio; and television commentary for the1975 and1977 contest. He was an occasional compère of variety shows at theLondon Palladium.
During the early 1960s, Murray co-hosted theNew Musical Express Poll Winners' Concert, annually held atEmpire Pool, Wembley, with acts such asthe Beatles,Cliff Richard andthe Shadows,Joe Brown and the Bruvvers,the Who and many others. These were shown on television. Murray was the "guest DJ" on several editions of ABC-TV'sThank Your Lucky Stars (1961–1966) and he later hostedCome Dancing.
After being offered a spot byJohnnie Stewart, Murray was among the first regular presenters ofTop of the Pops when it began in January 1964. Murray originally turned down the role due to him wanting to focus more on his acting career; however, Stewart convinced him to join the show.[12] He was one of the original four presenters on the show (himself,Jimmy Savile,David Jacobs andAlan Freeman) who for the first few years hosted episodes in a rotating line-up. Murray hosted the 16 June 1966 broadcast ofTop of the Pops, which was the only time in which The Beatles actually appeared in theTop of the Pops studio to perform.[23][24] The footage was thought to be lost when the tapes werewiped; however, in 2019 almost the entire performance was discovered when a fan, David Chandler, who had filmed the episode on his silent film camera, revealed his copy.[24][25][26]
During the taping of oneTop of the Pops episode on 24 August 1967, when the show still required artists to either mime or sing live to a pre-recorded backing track, Murray introducedJimi Hendrix on, who was supposed to mime to his record "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" but instead the song "The House That Jack Built" byAlan Price began to play.[27][28][29][30] Murray has been the sole surviving of the original fourTop of the Pops hosts since the death of David Jacobs in 2013.
Murray also appeared in pantomime, and guested on many radio and TV panel games. In 1984 and 1985, he was a team captain on theITV panel gameVintage Quiz. In 2015, he appeared as a guest on a chat show onBig Centre TV hosted by his friend and former radio colleague David Hamilton.
After graduating from RADA, Murray found work as a background extra in a few films, includingTheLife and Death of Colonel Blimp andThe Young Mr Pitt,[7] as well asCaravan (1946),Hungry Hill (1947),My Brother Jonathan (1948),Portrait from Life (1948) andNo Highway in the Sky (1951). On the London stage, he co-starred withDavid Hughes andEdward Woodward in the musicalScapa! (1962).[31] During the 1960s, he starred in theBritish sitcomsHappily Ever After (1961–64), oppositeDora Bryan, andMum's Boys (1968), withBernard Bresslaw andIrene Handl.[32]
Murray also appeared onEscort for Hire (1960),A Taste of Money (1960),Design for Loving (1962),The Cool Mikado (1962), and laterSimon, Simon (1970) andCool It Carol! (1970). On television, Murray played Philippe in "My Friend the Inspector", a 1961 episode of BBC TV'sMaigret. He appeared as himself in several productions, including the 1962 British musical comedyIt's Trad, Dad! alongside fellow BBC disc jockeys Alan Freeman and David Jacobs, and in "The Writer", an episode ofATV'sHancock (1963).[33][34]
Murray duetted withVera Lynn on a 1958Decca EP of songs fromMy Fair Lady, performing "The Rain in Spain".[35] In 1960, he released a comedy single "What's It All About?" with disc jockeyBrian Matthew.[36] In 1974, Murray was featured on theEmerson, Lake and Palmer live albumWelcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends – Ladies and Gentlemen as the master of ceremonies, at the beginning of the album. His introduction to the live show ("Ladies and gentlemen"), mixed with the opening line of the bands' song "Karn Evil 9: First Impression, Part 2" ("Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends"), made up the title for the album.
Murray was in a relationship with presenterValerie Singleton from 1967 to 1971 and was engaged to her.[37] He then married Patricia Crabbe, a former barrister. Crabbe died of breast cancer in 2010.[2] He lives inWimbledon.[2]
Murray had one son, Michael Murray James. Michael, who was born to a woman from a previous relationship, was a student atWycliffe College and like Pete, trained at RADA and worked as an actor. Michael committed suicide at the age of 27 in 1981.[2] When talking about his son's death on live television, Murray became overwhelmed with emotion and afterwards gave talks on coping with family tragedy.[38] In 2016, Murray stated that the loss of Michael is "something I've never got over and it was a terrible experience".[2]Carry On starKenneth Williams once wrote to Pete to tell him that Michael was "a natural comedian".[2]
Murrayturned 100 on 19 September 2025. Ahead of Murray's 100th birthday, a show hosted by theGrand Order of Water Rats honouring his life took place in London on 17 September, during which the Water Rats awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him byMike Read.[39][4] The event was covered byBBC News, who mistakenly reported his 100th birthday as happening on the day of the event rather than on the following Friday.[40]
In 1983, Murray appeared as a guest newspaper reviewer on theBBC TV's early-morning magazine showBreakfast Time. He advised viewers how to vote at the upcoming election, saying that "a vote forLabour is a vote for communism. May God have mercy on your soul if you don't voteConservative".[41]
Murray has been a member of theGrand Order of Water Rats since 1969.[2][42] In 1975, he released his autobiography,One Day I'll Forget My Trousers.[43][9]
He is a supporter ofArsenal F.C.[9] Murray enjoys playing many sports, including golf.[2] In February 2016, Murray fractured his hip after falling over a telephone wire.[2]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | TheLife and Death of Colonel Blimp[44] | Background extra | Uncredited[45] |
| 1944 | The Hundred Pound Pillow | Office assistant | |
| Time Flies | Chick | ||
| 1946 | Caravan[44] | Juan[45] | |
| Jane Eyre | The Reverend Wood | Television movie[45] | |
| 1947 | Hungry Hill[44] | Lieutenant Fox[45] | |
| Laburnum Grove | Harold Russ | Television movie[45] | |
| Captain Boycott[44] | Young officer | Uncredited[45] | |
| 1948 | My Brother Jonathan | Tony Dakers[45] | |
| Mas' Bit o' Brass | Photographer | Television movie[45] | |
| 1949 | Portrait from Life[44] | Lieutenant Keith[45] | |
| A Pair of Spectacles | Dick Goldfinch | Television movie[45] | |
| 1950 | The Poltergeist | Bobby Ashley | |
| 1951 | No Highway in the Sky[44] | Radio operator | Uncredited[45] |
| 1956 | A Touch of the Sun[46] | Honeymooner | |
| 1958 | Six-Five Special[45] | Himself | |
| Record Roundabout | |||
| 1960 | Alice Through the Looking Box | Red King | Television movie[45] |
| Escort for Hire | Buzz[45] | ||
| Transatlantic | Robert Stanton[45] | ||
| 1961 | A Taste of Money | Dave[45] | |
| 1962 | Design for Loving | Lloyd Stanford[45] | |
| Behave Yourself[45] | unknown | ||
| It's Trad, Dad! | Himself[45] | ||
| 1963 | The Cool Mikado[46] | Man in Boudoir[45] | |
| 1969 | Otley[44] | Radio presenter | Voice only[45] |
| 1970 | Simon, Simon[46] | Fireman[45] | |
| Cool It Carol! | Man at party[45][46] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | ITV Play of the Week | Richard Hilary | One episode[45] |
| Hit the Limit | Himself / host | Six episodes[45] | |
| 1956—1962 | Spot the Tune | ||
| 1957 | These Are The Shows | Himself | Television special[45] |
| Pantomania: Babes in the Wood | Television special[45] | ||
| 1957—1958 | Six-Five Special | Himself / host | Fifty-seven episodes[45] |
| 1959 | Eurovision Song Contest 1959 | Commentator[45] | |
| 1959—1979 | Juke Box Jury | Himself | Seventy-eight episodes[45] |
| 1960 | Man from Interpol | Haynes | One episode[45] |
| Maigret | Philippe | ||
| Dial for Music | Himself / host | Four episodes[45] | |
| This isBobby Darin | Television special[45] | ||
| Saturday Spectacular | Himself | One episode[45] | |
| The Tin Pan Alley Show | Himself / host | ||
| Laugh Line | Nine episodes[45] | ||
| 1960—1961 | Summerhouse | Himself | Two episodes[45] |
| 1961 | Boyd Q.C. | David Spencer | One episode[45] |
| The Men from Room 13 | Curly Elphick | Two episodes[45] | |
| Call me Captain | Himself / narrator | ||
| 1961—1966 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Himself / host | Thirty-three episodes[45] |
| 1961–1964 | Happily Ever After[46] | Peter Morgan | Twelve episodes[45] |
| 1962 | Winning Widows | Flint Clarke | Two episodes[45] |
| 1963 | Hancock[46] | Compere | One episode[45] |
| Jezebel ex UK | Larry | ||
| Don't Say a Word | Himself | ||
| The Larkins | |||
| Music Match | Himself / host[45] | ||
| 1964 | One Night Stand | ||
| Open House | |||
| Drama 61-67 | Himself | One episode | |
| Highlight: The Singing Cinema | |||
| 1964—1988 | Top of the Pops | Himself / host[45] | One hundred and two episodes |
| 1965 | Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium | Himself | One episode |
| Cribbins | |||
| Is Your IQ Ok? | |||
| 1965–1967 | No Hiding Place | Frank Dorman (1965) Bobby Vowles (1967) | Two episodes[45] |
| 1965—1966 | Glamour... | Himself / host | Eleven episodes[45] |
| 1966 | SOS: The Record Star Show | ||
| Action | Three episodes[45] | ||
| New Musical Express Poll Winner's Concert | Television special[45] | ||
| Countdown | Himself | One episode[45] | |
| A Royal Gala | Television special[45] | ||
| 1966—1972 | Quiz Ball | ||
| 1967 | The Record Star Show | Himself / host[45] | |
| How to Live with a Neurotic Dog | Himself / narrator[45] | ||
| Carnival Time | Himself / host | Thirteen episodes[45] | |
| 1968 | Mum's Boys[46] | Robin Fosdyke | Seven episodes[45] |
| The Dickie Henderson Show | Himself | One episode | |
| 1969 | Come Dancing | ||
| Miss World 1969 | Himself / host | ||
| 1970 | A Present for Dickie | One episode[45] | |
| Mike and Bernie's Scene | Himself | ||
| Under the Table You Must Go | |||
| Time Out for Sardinia | Himself / narrator | ||
| 1970—1971 | The Golden Shot | Himself / host | Seven episodes[45] |
| 1971 | The Melodies Linger On | ||
| 1972 | The Two Ronnies | Host | Television special[45] |
| 1972—1973 | The Morecambe & Wise Show | Major Ivor Request (1972) Himself (1973) | Two episodes[45] |
| 1973—1995 | This Is Your Life | Himself | Eight episodes[45] |
| 1973—1978 | The Generation Game | Two episodes[45] | |
| 1973—1977 | Whose Baby? | Three episodes[45] | |
| 1973—1976 | Password | ||
| 1973—1974 | Jokers Wild | Six episodes[45] | |
| 1974 | Whodunnit? | Panelist | One episode[45] |
| Just a Nimmo | Himself | ||
| Danny La Rue: The Ladies I Love | Television film[45] | ||
| Fifty Bighearted Years: The Variety Club of Great Britain's Tribute to Arthur Askey | Himself / host[45] | ||
| Radio Wonderful | Himself | Short[45] | |
| 1974—1976 | Looks Familiar | Three episodes[45] | |
| 1974–1975 | Second Time Around | Disc Jockey | Two episodes[45] |
| 1975 | Eurovision Song Contest 1975 | Himself | Commentator[45] |
| Parkinson | One episode[45] | ||
| The Book Programme | |||
| Look Who's Talking | Two episodes[45] | ||
| 1975—1978 | Celebrity Squares | Six episodes[45] | |
| 1975—1976 | Husband of the Year | ||
| 1976 | Saturday Night at the Mill | Himself | One episode[45] |
| Going a Bundle | |||
| Nobody Does It Like Marti | |||
| The Val Doonican Show | |||
| 1977 | The Mike Reid Show | Himself | One episode[45] |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1977 | Commentator[45] | ||
| Pop at the Mill | Himself / host | Six episodes[45] | |
| 1979 | Pebble Mill at One | One episode[45] | |
| 1979—1985 | Blankety Blank | Himself | Six episodes[45] |
| 1980 | Night of One Hundred Stars | Himself | Television movie[45] |
| 1980—1982 | Give Us a Clue | Three episodes[45] | |
| 1981 | It's a Knockout | One episode[45] | |
| Family Fortunes | |||
| 1981—1983 | Punchlines | Five episodes[45] | |
| 1982 | Pete Murray Takes You to Nottingham | Himself / narrator[45] | |
| Tuesday's Documentary | Himself | One episode[45] | |
| The Royal Variety Performance 1982 | Television special[45] | ||
| 1983 | The Time of Your Life | One episode[45] | |
| Pete Murray Takes You to Coventry | Himself / narrator[45] | ||
| Pete Murray Takes You to Hastings | |||
| 1984—1992 | Fotry Minutes | Himself | Two episodes[45] |
| 1985 | Vintage Quiz | Himself | Three episodes[45] |
| 1986 | Chasing Rainbows - A Nation and Its Music | One episode[45] | |
| 1987 | Wogan | ||
| 1988 | A Question of Entertainment | ||
| 1989 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff | Himself | One episode[45] |
| Scene | One episode, uncredited[45] | ||
| 1989—1999 | Arena | Three episodes[45] | |
| 1990 | Dors: The Other Diana | Television movie[45] | |
| 1991 | The Happening | ||
| The Cook Report | One episode[45] | ||
| 1995 | Countdown | Himself / dictionary corner | Four episodes[45] |
| 2002 | Jukebox Heroes | Himself[45] | |
| 2004 | Rove Live | ||
| 2005 | Favouritism | One episode[45] | |
| 2006 | The Story of Light Entertainment | Two episodes[45] | |
| 2007 | Children's Trial on TV | One episode[45] | |
| 2009 | Weakest Link | ||
| 2015 | The David Hamilton Show | One episode[45] | |
| 2020 | The One Show | ||
| 2025 | BBC News at Ten |
| Year | Label | A-side | B-side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Decca Records | "What's It All About Eh?"[47] | "Gee Ma I Wanna Go Home" |
| 1978 | Columbia Records | "Forever Young"[47][48] | "I'll Be Alright" |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song ContestUK Commentator 1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song ContestUK Commentator 1977 | Succeeded by |
