Just listening to his final show of Sounds Of The 60's, a veteran of the BBC for most of my life. Brian is a gentleman legend, big during the Beatles heyday, and he's read out my letters and request and sent me a hat (thanks Brian!) - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood's Sand was my request.

 

After a bout of illness at the age of 88 and against his wishes, the BBC decided to bring in another recently unfairly dumped former 60's (but younger) legend, Tony Blackburn, and move the show to a time when no-one interested in 60's music is likely to be up and about (6am). Having recently lost Desmond Carrington (post-war veteran) and regained Paul Gambaccini (American DJ encyclopedia of music and thoroughly nice guy, who also sent me a nice letter back in the day) it's a veritable winner-loser scenario with the BBC when it comes to DJ's of a certain age. Obviously no-one is guaranteed a job forever, but older listeners have now been marginalised with nowhere else to go to for pre-70's music other than the odd token-show off-peak.

 

Thanks Brian, stay well, and hope to see you on regular specials.

 

 

Sad to hear of his leaving, albeit not by his own choice....seems to happen here, too, in the US, in some regions/demographics, to sack a DJ who 'underperforms' or does something that seemingly annoys management...although I've not heard him on-air, as I live in the US, I shall miss his presence on-air...

I heard his final show on Saturday and don't mind Tony Blackburn as new host but it's stupid to move it to 6am. It'll lose a lot of listeners. I know there's listen again but I may not even bother with that.