THANK YOU FOR THE TALK

Just very occasionally, you hear the news of someone famous that has died and not only is it a shock and you can’t quite believe it, but you simply never will.  This is particularly true with people in the media that you've let into your home for many, many years that have almost become members of the family.  Even months or years after their passing, their name is mentioned and you simply don’t associate them with death.   I have that feeling with Bob Monkhouse and Cilla Black.  I know that after today, Sir Terry Wogan will be added to that list.   These people were simply, it appeared, indestructible. They're on the screens or on the airwaves forever.

I first remembered listening to Terry when he started on BBC Radio 2 in 1969 when he presented the 3pm to 5pm show.  I thought it was Eamonn Andrews!  It was around that time that I started to get into radio, listening mainly to Tony Blackburn, Alan Freeman, Jimmy Young and Pete Murray’s Open House during the time when much of the Monday to Friday schedule was shared by Radio 1 & 2.  My dial was automatically tuned to Radio 1, but more and more I found myself retuning to Radio 2, and there it stayed when there was a significant rescheduling in 1972. 

Terry Wogan began his tenure as the host of the coveted Breakfast Show followed by Pete Murray, Tony Brandon and Jimmy Young.  At that time, Brandon was more of a personal favourite than Wogan but all had their unique presentation styles that defined the word “broadcaster” rather than disc-jockey.  When I wasn’t at school, I spent all day listening to the radio.  OK, it was in the days before all-day TV so there was no real alternative, but it was those early listening experiences that gave me the love of radio in those formative years.  School or not, in the evenings I listened to shows like Beat The Record with Don Davis and Late Night Extra from 10pm in bed every night and my first encounter with the Mystery Voice Challenge which fascinated me.

The truly great era of Radio 2 was Wogan following Ray Moore and preceding Jimmy Young.  During the much anticipated handover, Big Alma (Moore’s wife) was often discussed as was the ceremonial arrival of Jimmy Young’s commode in the studio.  It simply became great entertainment.  

The autobiographies of both Ray Moore (Tomorrow Is Too Late) and Terry Wogan (Mustn't Grumble) are simply master classes of radio broadcasting and have been thumbed often.  Many believe that had he lived longer than his 46 years, Ray Moore would've been just as great as Wogan, if not better.  For me, it’s the proverbial cigarette paper...and Moore just wins.   Much that has been said and written about the untimely passing of Sir Terry was said about Ray when he died following a more public battle with throat cancer.  “He was talking to me.”   They both understood what their listeners wanted and they gave it to them.

The formation of the TOGs (Terry’s Old Geezers) took the experience of radio and the interaction between presenter and listener to a completely new level.  Wogan didn't need a team of script writers to fill his show with wit, mirth and merriment.  He used the contributions from his listeners and his loyal and devoted fans and enabled him to create an almost surreal and imaginary world.  The humour displayed by the man on the street often surpasses that of professional writers.  I certainly get more aching belly laughs in the modern world from scrolling through my Twitter feed than watching or listening to any comedians or sit-coms.  Wogan recognised that talent and enhanced and exaggerated that humour.  The listeners themselves created the likes of Chuffer Dandridge, Helen Bach, Mick Sturbs (who created the Janet & John stories), Dora Jarr, and Lou Smorrels to name but a few.  I don’t recall which contributor had the address of 2 Effing Close, Far Corfe!   

Wogan had this ability to make a show with eight million listeners into something of a private club that every person felt was a member, even if they didn't contribute directly themselves.  When he retired (I believe he was pushed) from the Breakfast Show in 2009, the TOGs had nowhere to tune into and still don't.

The much used cliché of “we will never see his like again” is particularly true in the case of Sir Terry.  It’s probably more accurate to say “we will never see his like again because his like will never be allowed to be seen or heard because the new breed of radio bosses and managers don’t understand the value of radio personalities, and the difference between a broadcaster and a DJ.”

I’ll close my own tribute to Sir Terry Wogan with this observation.  Out of all the thousands of words and Tweets and live interviews about his death today, one word has been noticeably missing.  Music.  And this about a man who found fame on one of the most listened to music radio stations in the world.  It proves what I've always believed.  Anyone and I do mean anyone, can sit in front of a microphone and play music with the “that was – this is” style and call themselves a radio presenter and then wonder why they don’t resonate with their listeners or receive any interaction.  I've witnessed it first hand in local radio, but these budding stars and their equally inexperienced managers never see past their own highly inflated egos. People tune in to listen to you and become a fan of yours because of what you say – not what you play.  You nurture your audience of one, you do talk to that one person, and you do become a lifeline to some and a friend to many. 

That was Sir Terry Wogan.

“This is it then this is the day I have been dreading, the morning when you and I come to the parting of the ways, the last Wake Up To Wogan. It wasn’t always thus. For the first 12 years it was the plain old Terry Wogan Show and you were all Twits, the Terry Wogan is Tops Society.  

“When I returned to the bosom of the family you all became Togs, Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals. It’s always been a source of enormous pride to me that you have come together in my name, that you are proud to call yourself my listeners, that you think of me as a friend, someone that you are close enough to laugh with, to poke fun at and just occasionally when the world seemed just a little too cruel, to shed a tear with.  

“The years together with you have not only been a pleasure but a privilege. You have allowed me to share your lives with you. When you tell me how important I have been in your lives it’s very moving, you have been every bit as important in mine.

“We have been though at least a couple of generations together, for many of you your children like mine have children of their own.

“Your support for Children In Need has been consistent and magnificent… If anybody embodies the generous, warm spirit of this country it’s you, my listeners.

“I am not going to pretend that this is not a sad day – you can probably hear it in my voice – I am going to miss the laughter and the fun of our mornings together. I know you are going to welcome Chris Evans with the same generosity of spirit that you have shown me.

“I am going to miss you, until we are together again in February have a happy Christmas. Thank you, thank you for being my friend.”