Tony Blackburn - Rebel DJ

[Alberon]

Classic Gold has suspended Tony Blackburn for the crime of playing too much Cliff Richard.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,12636,1245542,00.html

It seems that the station, that defines itself as playing 'classic tracks from the last forty years' doesn't want to play Cliff Richard and has been increasingly pissed off by Blackburn who does.

"As I said on Monday, we might carry out research on him, but for now we have a policy decision that he doesn't match our brand values, he's not on the playlist, and you must stop playing him."

"Requests is [sic] not an excuse," he added.

An unrepentant Blackburn read out the email at around 8.20am this morning then tore it up live on air, threw it in the bin and played two Cliff Richard tracks back to back, thought to be We Don't Talk Any More and Living Doll.

Mr Baish responded quickly, writing in an email: "Tony, Please call me straight after the show. This is really serious now."

[Partridge's Love Child]

I saw Tony Blackburn in Shopping City in Wood Green on Saturday.  He was there with BBC Radio London, though doing what I have no idea.  I just wanted to see how good his wig was and how white his teeth.  Both were superb specimens of genuine-looking bodily facsimiles that money can't buy.

[Morrisfan82]

An unrepentant Blackburn read out the email at around 8.20am this morning then tore it up live on air, threw it in the bin and played two Cliff Richard tracks back to back, thought to be We Don't Talk Any More and Living Doll.

I like the way they say "thought to be", as if to imply no-one was actually listening to verify it.

[Partridge's Love Child]

Ananova's headline may actually provide the answer.

DJ Blackburn suspended over Cliff

He'd soon stop if you did that, I'd wager.

[Lady Beany]

Wager?  I would bloody well pay to see that.

[Lt Plonker]

I wish I'd seen this thread before I posted this:

http://chilled.cream.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=77435#77435

Classic Gold is my shower radio station, and I'm sorry to say I missed this, in amongst the adverts for United Fucking Taxis and Dial-A-Fucking-Skip.

"As I said on Monday, we might carry out research on him, but for now we have a policy decision that he doesn't match our brand values, he's not on the playlist, and you must stop playing him."

What the fuck does that mean? Is Cliff some sort of lab rat? I like Sir Cliffy. He's got some great songs.

[another Mr. Lizard]

Blackburn's done this sort of thing before. Back in the late 1970s, he had an afternoon slot on Radio One and was forced to play records from the official R1 playlist, which meant pretty much everything in the top 30. He loathed punk, and in one particular week was appalled to find that he was being asked to air a single by Sham 69 (I think it was 'If The Kids Are United'). After some heated discussion and argument with his producer, Tony eventually relented and played the song - but left his microphone open while doing so, and sang along with it in a purposely moronic voice, broadcast to an astonished nation.

I've always liked the bloke, and being one of these 'quiet rebel' types myself, I revel in stories of little victories like this.

[Hornet]

The be-wigged one has a history of self-indulgence on radio.  When he and his first wife Tessa split up (she fucked off with Richard O'Sullivan from "Man About The House" fame), he played sad, sombre music on his radio show and wept for her.

King of the jungle indeed.

[Frank `The Mountain` Hill]

A mate of mine is related to Tony Blackburn, but he keeps it very quiet. He doesn`t even know that I know.

[A Passing Turk Slipper]

A mate of mine is related to Tony Blackburn, but he keeps it very quiet. He doesn`t even know that I know.

Heh, that's hilarious. The way you said that made it seem like he's ashamed of it. I'm not related to anyone famous. Although a mate of mine is a quite close relative to Sting and one of my brother's friend's uncles is Peter Posselthwaite or however the hell you spell it, that old actor guy who was in 'Brassed Off'.

[Morrisfan82]

When he and his first wife Tessa split up (she fucked off with Richard O'Sullivan from "Man About The House" fame), he played sad, sombre music on his radio show and wept for her.

Didn't he play Honey by Bobby Goldsborough on loop? ;)

I've just remembered that I had a dream with Cliff in it last night, probably entirely fuelled by this thread. Cheers guys.

No I didn't call him a cunt. Missed opportunity.

[Hornet]

I too am related to a so-called celebrity (of the cooking kind) but I am too ashamed to admit to it either

[Alberon]

I too am related to a so-called celebrity (of the cooking kind) but I am too ashamed to admit to it either

Are you Fanny Craddock's love child or what? We've got to know.

[Partridge's Love Child]

Were you the Hornet that stung Jamie Oliver's tongue?

[Hornet]

I too am related to a so-called celebrity (of the cooking kind) but I am too ashamed to admit to it either

Are you Fanny Craddock's love child or what? We've got to know.

That's too frightening, you'll have to keep guessing I am afraid.  I am in a teasing kind of mood.

[sick as a pike]

That's too frightening, you'll have to keep guessing I am afraid.  I am in a teasing kind of mood.

Are you the bastard love child of Ainslie Harriot and one dead Fat Lady?

[5 Knuckle Shuffle]

Delia Smith's love toy?
One of Anthony Worrell Thompson's ginger pubes?
One of Gordon Ramsey's fuck up?

[Lady Beany]

It better not be Gary fucking Rhodes.

[Hornet]

No and I am not Rick Stein's dog Chalky either...

[Lady Beany]

Floyd's drunken fumble?  Ross camp Burden?  I am running out now... errr Jane Asher?

[Hornet]

It better not be Gary fucking Rhodes.

That was particularly vehement - any reason why?  Though don't go making assumptions.

[Lady Beany]

He is a spikey haired shit.  Maybe its because when I have got home in the evening lately and been flicking through the channels,  I have been faced with this dick telling me how to make my salmon moist.

He has this look on his face when he has finished cooking, that says 'Yes, look, its perfect. You can TRY, but it will never... NEVER be as perfect as mine. Muhaaa!'

[Hornet]

Maybe I shouldn't have started this speculation...........

[Lady Beany]

Its him isn't it?  Do I win anything?

[Alberon]

While we wait for Hornet to reveal his sordid celebrity secret some breaking on-thread-topic news.

Tony Blackburn has won his Cliff fight with Classic Gold and he can now play as much Cliff Richard as he wants on his show which he is back presenting tomorrow.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,12636,1246470,00.html

[sick as a pike]

Are you the bastard love child of Ainslie Harriot and one dead Fat Lady?

A bit shit to say the least, but as I've just spent 20 minutes doing this instead of working...
This is you isn't it?  Isn't it?!

[Ambient Sheep]

I don't understand why people hate Gary Rhodes.  Worrall-Thompson and Ramsey I can understand, though.

[Lady Beany]

*covers ears*  La la laaaaa, I can't hear youuuuuuuuu!

[Hairy Chin]

You win a moistened salmon.

[Gazeuse]

Hudson and Halls???