thu 28/03/2024

theartsdesk Q&A: DJ Annie Nightingale | reviews, news & interviews

theartsdesk Q&A: DJ Annie Nightingale

theartsdesk Q&A: DJ Annie Nightingale

The legendary DJ explains why she'll never be part of the mainstream

Annie Nightingale: 'There’s nobody I know in my age group who remotely likes this kind of thing. I don’t understand why. I really don’t. I’m driven by it. It grabs me by the throat'

In 1970, Annie Nightingale became Radio 1’s first female DJ. The appointment was made somewhat grudgingly - DJs, believe it or not (and we’re talking about the likes of Ed “Stewpot” Stewart and Tony Blackburn here), were perceived to be “husband substitutes” and it was generally accepted that a female voice would alienate the listeners. And yet 40 years later, Nightingale is the only DJ left from the original line-up.

In 1970, Annie Nightingale became Radio 1’s first female DJ. The appointment was made somewhat grudgingly - DJs, believe it or not (and we’re talking about the likes of Ed “Stewpot” Stewart and Tony Blackburn here), were perceived to be “husband substitutes” and it was generally accepted that a female voice would alienate the listeners. And yet 40 years later, Nightingale is the only DJ left from the original line-up.

In those days music was – and it still is to some extent – incredibly blokey

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Comments

I'm a fan; however I think Annie should have stepped back from the Radio 2 project on Shipbuilding, or at least asked producers why it was so biased on the 30th anniversary of the war.

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