Mike Smash Hang The DJ part 1

Mike Smash (Paul Whitehouse) looked at the lives, times and embarrassing fashions of four radio disc jockeys who became household names via BBC Radio 1 in the year 1992, when the station was celebrating 25 years on-air.
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[@johnnydiamondsmusic1673]

Fair do’s, Tony Blackburn is a nice guy in a Snap, Crackle & POP Type Style.

[@TheMrgaztop]

I worked at Radio one back in the 70s as a runner. In them days, the shows were preset and DJ's did not choose thier records and worked from a prompt script. My job was to take a large box with the records and script from the secretary to the studio. Dave Lee Travis was a tosser, as was Diddy David Hamilton. A real chip on his shoulder about his height. Tony was a real nice bloke, down to earth and really happy to see you. As was Kenny Everet.

[@lewisner]

What did you think of Simon Bates ? I met him in 1986 when he was supposed to be to doing an interview at my workplace. He was wandering about completely lost and I said "You're Simon Bates aren't you ?" and he replied "I'm afraid so" 8-)

[@robicenco1]

Did you ever meet Smashie or Nicey though? Did they actually hate each other?

[@TheMrgaztop]

@@robicenco1 yes mate, in a kinda monday mungus type wey. Great blokes, an mates. I did meet Fluff, and he is as near to mike smash as any DJ in the world.

[@TheMrgaztop]

@@lewisner Most of them, like Peter Powell ect, were decent people. But some, complete arses.

[@glamdolly30]

@@lewisner I met Simon Bates professionally once - an insufferable creep, ditto Bruno Brooks who was equally full of himself for no reason. Not surprised Dave Lee Travis was a tosser - that confirms the nasty witness statements about him when he was convicted of sexual harassment. YUK!

[@FatNorthernBigot]

Tony Blackburn knows who he is, and knows people's opinion of him. He plays up to it, and he's a fun DJ who's easy to listen to.

[@metafis2490]

Lol..I remember Blackburns show where he'd would say suggestive things to lady callers. I shared a student flat at the time and we found it hilarious.

[@sheilamitchell2215]

Tony Blackburn is just an absolute legend and such a nice bloke too. The last of a dying breed sadly......

[@glamdolly30]

Agreed, I met Tony Blackburn a few times as a TV producer, a lovely man. I'm glad he found love with wife Debbie after his infamous, acrimonious split with actress Tessa Wyatt (she left him for actor Richard O' Sullivan, her co-star in sitcom 'Robin's Nest'). Another DJ I met many times in the '90s was Alan Freeman (Fluff). An absolute sweetheart, always warm and friendly and astonishingly always remembered my name when we ran into each other at various TV studios. Lovely chap. He lived alone in Maida Vale when I knew him, but eventually moved into the showbusiness retirement home 'Brinsworth House' where he eventually passed away. God bless ya Alan! Not all Radio One DJs were so nice, unfortunately. I met a few who were very full of themselves! We all know about the perverted Jimmy Savile - just as creepy as you'd expect. Simon Bates and Bruno Brookes stand out as a pair of conceited creeps.

[@sheilamitchell2215]

@@glamdolly30 I've heard this so many times about Simon Bates and DLT Bruno Brookes was a typical small mam syndrome with a chip on both shoulders. I loved Peter Powell he was the man of my dreams but when he got with Anthea Turner...my heart broke. Never understood the attraction of Steve Wright either another one with an ego the size of Texas!!! Fluff I loved too.....very natural dj and I liked David kid Jensen and Noel Edmonds too. Real legends.....the only decent djs now are Ken Bruce Gary Davies and Tony Blackburn sadly aside from Johnnie Walker....as for Radio 1 and most commercial djs......I avoid like the plague!!!!

[@RobinCarmody]

Many thanks for this. I still miss Without Walls.

[@norristerse]

fuckin' hell, gary davies is doing the "you can't bead a nice nide in/grade nide out " sketch!!!

[@johnnydiamondsmusic1673]

The last bit, You Can’t beat a great night in, watch a video etc etc lol.

[@Hellwyck]

maybe a nice curry!

[@robicenco1]

There was also a supermarkid that I opened in Norwich..." I sometimes wonder whether Partridge was a fan of Smashie and Nicey as a young DJ - or even met them perhaps....

[@johnsurrey7426]

They are all similar, without any sense of self-awareness, convinced that they are important in some way. Smashie and Nicey are still as brilliant as ever!

[@outpost31737]

Paul Whitehouse is a genius and so is my megatastic best mate Tony Blackburn. Not half!

[@norristerse]

@dermotoblong life-imitades-art-mungously true!

[@puddypuss]

I remember on late 60s when tony blackburn was the " enemy " with the pop style as opposed to the in psychedelic style, but give me him anytime over the subsequent disco heavy metal and punk lot. hes vegetarian too,

[@robicenco1]

I think the fullness of time has shown Blackburn to be a pretty decent person. The rest of them, however....

[@Hellwyck]

Anyone who hates metal doesn't understand it. Xenophobia's a bitch.

[@sheilamitchell2215]

@@robicenco1 I completely agree. He's just stuff that legends are made of and so many djs are unbelievably conceited and think they're God's gift to the opposite sex while some are just downright embarrassing.....

[@norristerse]

@dermotoblong he cerdnly is, grade made!

[@dermotoblong]

@norristerse 'in a quide lidrally uncanny way'!!

[@MrJasonMcintyre]

"Markeded"

[@dermotoblong]

@norristerse he is!!!!

[@RetroCool73]

Although it is difficult not to, you have to bear in mind the remit of the producers of Without Walls was to encourage the dj's to talk about themselves which is why they come across as self-absorbed imbeciles. I think Tony & Gary come off ok here, but Read & BLT are on a different planet. Post-R1, which is why he comes over so well here, Tony Blackburn learnt to perfect the art of self-depreciation

[@dermotoblong]

'markeded' you just cant make it up

[@davidlegh-hayton9818]

Whooos Gary Davies, Whooos Gary Davies whooos Gary Davies not on the radio,.....catchy

[@sheilamitchell2215]

Love Gary Davies! He's a great dj who's lasted the course and is a thoroughly nice guy!