Post by drew on Sept 16, 2009 9:07:32 GMT
Irish Post
LOVE him or loathe him — you can’t ignore Terry Wogan.
The Limerick-born veteran broadcaster put himself back at the top of the new agenda with the announcement that he was to quit his top-rated BBC Radio 2 morning show.
Even his replacement by fellow DJ Chris Evans managed to bring in 200 complaints to the BBC.
But it’s not surprising when you consider 71-year-old Terry Wogan’s radio programme has brought in listening figures of up to 8.1million at its peak.
And his stint as presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC 1 has become legendary for his gentle humour and refusal to take the competition with any seriousness.
There’s no doubt Terry Wogan has become one of Britain’s best loved broadcasters since leaving RTÉ in the 1960s to forge a career at the BBC.
He began presenting7 Midday Spin in the mid-1960s and on the inauguration of Radio 1 hosted Late Night Extra for two years — commuting weekly from Dublin to London.
But his big breakthrough came when he covered Jimmy Young’s mid-morning show throughout July 1969 and was then offered a regular afternoon slot.
But despite his mainstream popularity Terry Wogan has frequently divided opinion among the Irish community in Britain.
Despite his often-spoken love for his hometown of Limerick some believe he sacrificed his Irishness to fit in with the establishment BBC view.
Others, however, credit him with forging a path for other Irish broadcasters.
Behind the scenes he has also been an enthusiastic supporter of many Irish charities in Britain — ready to give freely of his time to help raise money for good causes.
And evidence of his enduring popularity will come this week when fans of his show will join together in huge numbers to record a song in a poignant sendoff.
Huge numbers are expected to come together to perform the one-off song raising money for charity.
They will perform a version of We All Stand Together at Longleat House in Wiltshire for an album to raise money for Children in Need — the BBC telethon hosted every year by Wogan.
Hellen Bach — the Wogan fan behind the attempt — said: “It is a one-off opportunity to say thanks to Terry for all the laughter and music down the years and look after the children in the process.”
The open-air recording session will feature West End sensation Lee Mead, soap star singer Hayley Westenra and Irish singing legend Red Hurley.
Terry Wogan will also be sending a special video message to the assembled throng from his London studio.
So it seems the Irishman will be in the news again this week — and is likely to stay there for some time to come.
LOVE him or loathe him — you can’t ignore Terry Wogan.
The Limerick-born veteran broadcaster put himself back at the top of the new agenda with the announcement that he was to quit his top-rated BBC Radio 2 morning show.
Even his replacement by fellow DJ Chris Evans managed to bring in 200 complaints to the BBC.
But it’s not surprising when you consider 71-year-old Terry Wogan’s radio programme has brought in listening figures of up to 8.1million at its peak.
And his stint as presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC 1 has become legendary for his gentle humour and refusal to take the competition with any seriousness.
There’s no doubt Terry Wogan has become one of Britain’s best loved broadcasters since leaving RTÉ in the 1960s to forge a career at the BBC.
He began presenting7 Midday Spin in the mid-1960s and on the inauguration of Radio 1 hosted Late Night Extra for two years — commuting weekly from Dublin to London.
But his big breakthrough came when he covered Jimmy Young’s mid-morning show throughout July 1969 and was then offered a regular afternoon slot.
But despite his mainstream popularity Terry Wogan has frequently divided opinion among the Irish community in Britain.
Despite his often-spoken love for his hometown of Limerick some believe he sacrificed his Irishness to fit in with the establishment BBC view.
Others, however, credit him with forging a path for other Irish broadcasters.
Behind the scenes he has also been an enthusiastic supporter of many Irish charities in Britain — ready to give freely of his time to help raise money for good causes.
And evidence of his enduring popularity will come this week when fans of his show will join together in huge numbers to record a song in a poignant sendoff.
Huge numbers are expected to come together to perform the one-off song raising money for charity.
They will perform a version of We All Stand Together at Longleat House in Wiltshire for an album to raise money for Children in Need — the BBC telethon hosted every year by Wogan.
Hellen Bach — the Wogan fan behind the attempt — said: “It is a one-off opportunity to say thanks to Terry for all the laughter and music down the years and look after the children in the process.”
The open-air recording session will feature West End sensation Lee Mead, soap star singer Hayley Westenra and Irish singing legend Red Hurley.
Terry Wogan will also be sending a special video message to the assembled throng from his London studio.
So it seems the Irishman will be in the news again this week — and is likely to stay there for some time to come.
