Tony Blackburn on his 58-Year Broadcast Career 

Listen to the full 54-minute episode free and exclusively on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3OcTTmr7iulkTCddZv2k4x

What a warm, lovely man. Not a hint of ego, what a refreshing change. Really love this podcast and think this is one of the guests I’ve enjoyed the most. Looking great at almost 80 too!

Tony is a National Treasure! 😀

The man, the legend......Tony Blackburn

Tony said I'm about to turn 80 in January, I thought never then realized I'll be 77 Saturday. Where have all the years gone ? Many thanks, good health , From WALES.

I'm from the US. I went to an English boarding school for a year in 1968-1969. My 6th form study mate was tall ginger haired fellow who had what our house master felt was a questionable attitude. Wayne had what was for me a bazaar electronic contraption that passed for a radio. But every morning it seemed Wayne would bellow in his baritone voice "Tony bloody Blackburn" as his show came on the radio. Like the call to prayer, radios would be turned down the corridor so you could not miss hearing Mr. Blackburn's show. Great to see he is doing well.

Tony has sunshine in his voice.

These interviews just get better. Always liked Tony Blackburn. Thank you Rob xx

I remember in the time of punk I thought of him as the devil.I'm so glad that I've matured as he seems a genuinely nice man.I wish him all the best for his 80th

I was ten when Tony Blackburn opened Radio One's first broadcast. I'd got a transistor radio for my birthday and had it on the windowsill by my bed. Although it was a Saturday, I got up early to listen. He was really the person who introduced me to Motown and soul music. It's still my favourite music today so I'll be forever grateful. Thanks for this interview, Rob; I'm happy to see he's doing so well!

Tony Blackburn is a legend. He looks and sounds amazing for his advanced years.

Never seemed to be the coolest when I was growing up in the 70s, but you have to admire his integrity and his love of music.

What an incredible discussion, such a wonderful deep love of music from a legendary radio presenter and King of the Jungle Tony Blackburn.

Well that was a wake up call! A very pleasurable one. I remember listening to Radio Caroline in my teens. Tony Blackburn was always the best go to guy for the best music to listen to; being a huge soul music fan. Great interview. Cannot believe he is soon to be 80. That is amazing. His inspirational enthusiasm is still going strong.

Tony is the best antidepressant there's ever been! Been following him since I was a teenager. Love him ❤️ and I hope he never stops!

Men like Tony show the high skill level u need to talk between records. U only realise it when it's done badly.

What a lovely guy and legend. Tony too of course :)

What an interesting man Tony is,what a life - he has met so many people!

Absolutely superb, what a gentleman.

A gentleman and a legend, can easily recall him in my early music loving years!

Love Tony Blackburn, I wanted to have a career in radio as a DJ and wrote to Tony asking for advice. He was kind enough to write back providing me with some guidance and advice which I followed. Great bloke, absolute legend

What a life and a top bloke

Tony Blackburn is one of a handful of radio presenters who has lasted the test of the time! A very down to earth. Chap without egos! Take care T.B.❤

What a lovely geezer Tony is

Tony was my favourite DJ back in the day when there was all that crazy hype, he always came across as such a nice guy who would be fun to be around. I used to have a notebook in which I wrote down all his corny jokes so that I could inflict them on others! 🤣🤣🤣

three cheers for Tony Blackburn! (rob puts a smile on my face just like tony does) 🙂 thankyou for sharing this..

Brilliant. A lovey warm chat, with a real living legend.

Legend. The best dj/radio presenter ever. If only radio 1 could be like it was, it might be worth listening to.

Delightful interview Rob, I've always liked Tony and remember him well in his pre-BBC piratical days and think his self-effacing personality adds immensely to his appeal , I'm sure he'd be great company and being a life-long Motown and Soul fan he can't be bad !.Look forward to more engaging interviews .

What a beautiful interview - no egos - just a love of music from the both of you, thank you

Part of my musical awakening in the early 70's . Tony Blackburn, I salute you 💯😎

Yes, he always brings a smile, Rob! Even his voice is smiley!! Loved this!! :D

I can still hear Arnold the dog barking and that "Its The Tony Blackburn Show" jingle in my head, there wasn't a nicer guy on Radio 1, his entertainment was clean and fun, parents loved him too, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about those days, Radio 1 was the UK's heartbeat for teenagers and families alike, we were all in the same boat, Those really were the days.

“I’m Still Waiting” went to number 1 in the UK and in Ireland, but only got to 63 in the US.

When I was a kid always thought that Tony Blackburn was a lightweight, but it's good to see him lasting so well, in good condition and being mature and well-balanced.

Love the Blackburn, great chat Robert as always ❤

What a legend ! I can't believe it's 20 years since I watched him in the jungle. To put it in perspective, if Rob went into the jungle in 2 years time, he would be the same age as Tony was when he went in.

Wonderful! Just found, and listened to So Much Love. Didn’t know Tony had such a beautiful singing voice. Love it!

Could listen to Tony blackburn all day, good guy

Wow, he’s a lot more normal and interesting than I expected! Great video.

Those were the days!! Thanks!!

I like his radio show. God bless him.

Tony Blackburn……What a loverly grounded man…..

Just lovely, thanks for this Rob.

Ive loved this DJ and Presenter since 64....and still do. Sincere and nice ( and Smashey)

Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday Tony he is 80 years old on Sunday 29 Jan

Thank you, wonderful interview as always

Nice to see a nice person who reached the top and stayed there

I can remember Tony in the jungle, he was the one who was always collecting the firewood, in his quiet unassuming way he kept the fire going, and in turn won the show.

Used to love the way he qued up records on the radio when it was records! Used to stop talking when the artist started to sing great timing.

I remember Tony's single "Chop chop chop," Glad you carried on as a DJ Tony!

Wow.... about to turn 80. Proof that love of music keep you young. TB a British True Legend. Appreciate the interview Rob.

Enjoyed listening to Blackburn back in the 80's playing mostly soul music on Radio London. Unless of course, the pirate radio stations, Horizon, Solar, JFM etc, hadn't been raided again and were on air.

Legend!

Aww, I love Tony Blackburn, he’s the guy I listen to on radio 2 now. I listen to his show on Saturday morning on my way to work.

Tony Blackburn is a national treasure.

Tony what a lovely fella you are

The honour of 'legend' is bandied about so casually now. But Tony Blackburn is the real deal.

Thanks for this.

What a career Tony has had. I remember that first "I'm a celebrity", they were much kinder to the celebs, funny to see what they do to them now, Tony picked the right time to do it.

I have always loved Tony. He has been a steadfast in my life. Radio one and radio two... Thank you Tony, for being such a lovely guy: genuine, funny and intelligent. Are we allowed to know what is in that large plastic tub in the far left corner of the room, please? My curiosity has got the better of me :-) .

Thanks Rob, great interview and it brough back many great memories. Well done. Best regards from Johannesburg ZA.

I was 9 or 10 with younger brothers & so my Mum never really kept up with her love of music (her record buying days ended in the mid 60s). The one thing I DO remember my Mum talking about, from ‘then popular culture’, was the fact that ‘poor Tony doesn’t seem to be coping too well with his split from Tessa’. He must’ve put his heart on his sleeve, for all to see, for my Mum to make a remark like that. The other thing she used to say was ‘funny how that Ted Heath fella never married’!😂

Wow, what a star!

Brilliant soul DJ😊

Time has been kind to, Tony :-)

Big up Tony 🔴🟡🟢❤️

As usual another of Rob Brydon's sensitive and informative interviews. Tony Blackburn comes across like a Quaker in that he never speaks ill of anyone and you get the sense that he has not a shred of pretentiousness. He's another legend like the late lamented John Peel.

I met tony Blackburn and some of the other ‘pirates’ in Zurich when they were there for the premiere of the boat that rocks, he is truely n ice

I’ve loved Tony since I was a young teenager, I’m 68 now and nothing has changed. My only disappointment is that I never caught him between wives. Sob!!

Lovely, diolch! ❤️

Super interview, Rob. I feel I have to confess that I almost killed Tony Blackburn back in 1983! He was involved in an agricultural show at Rutland Water (it was Leicestershire back then - I think it is back in the county of Rutland now) and I was exhibiting my dog and cat portraits. At the close of day I was driving my transit van at about 30 mph across the grass to collect my table and exhibition furniture and I noticed a very attractive young lady in the shortest of skirts off to my right. I took my eyes off the grass field ahead and allowed myself to leer at the young lady. After about ten seconds I finally looked forward and suddenly realised I was about to drive into Tony Blackburn who had his back to me and was walking nonchalantly across the meadow, lost in his own thoughts. I slammed the brakes on and skidded to a halt about three feet short of Tony. He didn't even look around or notice I'd nearly run him over!

Tony also comes from Bournemouth, can not be bad, great boy

The only one from that era legally available for interview.

I remember him from my childhood.

He is looking great and has lost none of his mojo.

I was number 165 of Tony Blackburn’s “knee-knocking club.” It was a big deal to have your name mentioned on Radio 1 in the early 70s.

Brilliant Rob, love it

What I love about these little hows is hat the guests all come on for a chat without anything to plug. As a result they all just want to be there and it shows.

Fantastic interview ⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍

Myself and about 100 million others wonder WHY Tony has been passed over for a Knighthood?🤬🤬🤬 This man LAUNCHED Radio and has tirelessly devoted his life to others and promoting music! WHY WHY WHY is he not yet SIR TONY?? Come on.........HE IS OWED A KNIGHTHOOD

I remember when Tony did Eastbourne Radio one roadshow awesome 😎 👍🇦🇺

I find it very hard to believe that all of those old Radio 1 dj's never had a clue about Saville !They were all pals and worked in a tight network at the BBC! To say that they all never sussed anything wrong from that old wrong 'un is shameful .

not taking anything away from tony and the likes (who mainly just were in the right place at the right time in a broadcasting world where anything goes) but what about the real heroes from radio caroline and radio luxembourg etc? tony prince (who i rarely give much credit to for many reasons) and all of them...? what about the sea fort pirate stations? in fact what about the pirate stations en masse? the pirates did more to shape radio than the mainstream stations and still do to this day.

I watched the You Tube video of the Radio Caroline station, and the lads going out to the ship after listening to this. They looked so young. Just kids, and they had such a huge influence on the music industry. I always listened to Tony Blackburn as a teen, growing up in the UK. Then we moved to NZ when I was 14, and I lost touch with his station. Such a lovely lot of memories came flooding back when I listened to this podcast.

Wow! That was a surprise. TB must have been very, very good at cricket. Ian Botham just one example of Millfield sports scholars.

Ah the Move one hell of an underrated band 🤘👍❤️

I'm sure he's remembering the timing of the I'm Still Waiting story wrongly, although I have heard him tell it exactly the same way on Radio 4's Saturday Live programme. It was on an album in 1970 and released as a single in 1971 due to his enthusiasm and contact with Motown. But this was about ten years before he started doing a soul programme on BBC Radio London in 1981. And also several years before his first marriage ended. So I think he's recalling the gist of it correctly but projecting in ten years forward in time.

brilliant tony blackburn always followed him wish there were more good people who are fun

Hey Rob Great series. Only one criticism if i may. Please make them longer👍🏻

He has the likeability factor

Friends with Sir Jimmy Saville MBE!

Quide liderally ON BOARD

Rob brydon, probably too busy to read comments , saw you play at Margate...years back . but I joined spottyfiy , just cos I like you styk. Why am I validating you? because I like the links, it provides

I thought Tony would reminisce about his old mate Jimmy Savile.

Rob, do you wear a lace front system?

i use to put m y radiio on every morning why getting ready for work from when radio one stated

Kept his mouth shut about Savile like the rest of them.

My wife told me that around 1977, when Blackburn was presenting a disco in Manchester, near Oxford Rd, in front of everyone on the stage, he fondled the breast of a girl standing next to him.

Where is his MBE!?