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Media
Radio 1 announces Annie Nightingale 40th anniversary celebrations
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 2 August 2010
This year marks Annie Nightingale’s 40th year as a Radio 1 presenter, and to celebrate the station has announced an evening of special programmes looking back at her impressive career.
Appointed Radio 1’s first female DJ in 1970, Nightingale has an uncanny ability to stay on top of all the latest sounds and genres that have emerged in the UK over the last four decades. Now the station’s longest serving presenter, she continues to travel the world as a club DJ, has written two autobiographies, picked up an MBE in 2002, and has seen her show named Best Radio Show at the International Breakspoll Awards for five consecutive years.
The special night of programmes will take place on 9 Sep, kicking off with ‘The Story Of Annie Nightingale’ at 7pm, a two hour documentary presented by Zane Lowe with contributions from Irvine Welsh, Cassius, Primal Scream, Underworld, Shaun Ryder, Andrew Weatherall and Beth Orton. Following that, there will be a three hour tribute concert from the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios, with performances from artists personally selected by Nightingale. Confirmed so far are Fatboy Slim, Tinchy Stryder, Professor Green, Sub Focus, I Blame Coco, Bookashade, DC Breaks, Freestylers and Primal Scream.
From midnight there will be a two hour selection of some of the best music Nightingale has played in the last four decades, followed by two hours of the best guest mixes put together for her shows by a range of artists.
BBC Four is also planning to broadcast an hour-long documentary on the DJ, details of which are to be announced soon.
Nightingale told CMU: “The last four decades have flown by and it’s been the best job in the world. Being able to bring exciting new music to listeners every week is a joy and BBC Radio 1’s role in discovering and championing new music continues to be crucial to bringing enjoyment and appreciation to our listeners and in maintaining the UK’s reputation of nurturing some of the most innovative exciting and original new music in the world. I’m always looking forward, planning the next show, the next guest mix, the next festival broadcast. So this night will be a chance to celebrate some awesome milestones and the truly amazing musical soundtrack of my life at BBC Radio 1”.
Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt added: “I have been a long-term fan of Annie’s since I worked with her as a Radio 4 producer many years ago. She has prodigious energy and enthusiasm for music making that grows stronger over the decades – truly open minded and never puts herself as DJ above the music or the artists – she is an inspiration to many of our DJs and a much loved member of our BBC family”.
More information is available at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1
