Veteran DJ Jimmy, the housewives’ choice, dies at 95

Fifty years in showbiz — with 29 of them at Radio 2 — and only one blemish: A brutal axeing by the BBC

RADIO legend Sir Jimmy Young, whose 50-year showbusiness career began as a singer, died yesterday at the age of 95.

Sir Jimmy, for decades one of the most-recognised and bestloved voices on the BBC, died peacefully at home with his wife Alicia by his side.

During his 29 years on Radio 2 he interviewed every prime minister, his gentle but incisive questioning earning him the respect of politicians from every party. He was a firm favourite of Margaret Thatcher and of the Queen.

However, his career ended on a sour note when he was axed by the BBC in 2002 to make way for a younger generation of presenters.

When the BBC axed Sir Jimmy in 2002, legions of fans rallied behind him and the Daily Mail began a campaign to keep him at the microphone. The BBC later told him they wanted him to stay and offered him the opportunity to present a weekend current affairs programme, but he turned it down.

He later wrote a newspaper column attacking his former employer for instances of ‘brutality’, and making clear that it had not been his idea to leave.

Born Leslie Ronald Young in 1921, he was a miner’s son from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

His love of music came from his mother, who taught him to play the piano. He won a grammar school scholarship and matriculated at 15. But his parents could not afford for him to continue his education so he left to do a string of jobs, his sights already set on becoming a singer.

Before the age of 30, he had also been an electrician, a trainee pilot in the RAF, a government clerk, the manager of a hair salon and a baker’s boy.

Sir Jimmy first found fame in the early 1950s as a crooner. His hits included Unchained Melody and The Man From Laramie, which both reached No1 in 1955.

As musical tastes changed, he forged a new career in broadcasting and was one of the original line-up of DJs when the BBC launched Radio 1 in 1967. He moved to Radio 2 in 1973 and made the early afternoon slot his own.

In 1996, Sir Jimmy, a twicedivorced father of one, secretly married Alicia Padstow – his then girlfriend of 26 years .

He made the decision to marry Miss Padstow before he had to undergo a hip replacement operation. He said at the time: ‘I took Alicia aside and said, “There’s always a risk when you have a general anaesthetic. If anything should happen, do you want to be left as Miss Padstow or Mrs Young?” She said, “Mrs Young, thank you very much”.’

Last night many of Sir Jimmy’s admirers, friends and former colleagues paid tribute to the star known affectionately as ‘the housewife’s choice’.

Veteran pop star Sir Cliff Richard, 76, said: ‘He was a great ambassador for our music profession. We will all miss him. As a teenager I bought his records Unchained Melody and The Man From Laramie.

‘The fact that he could switch from pop star of his time to a top radio presenter speaks highly of his ability to succeed regardless of what he chose to do.’

Former Radio 1 colleague Tony Blackburn said: ‘Jimmy was a legendary broadcaster, there at the very start of Radio 1 and then, for so long, the voice of Radio 2.

‘I was proud to know Jimmy and call him a friend.

‘I interviewed him just a couple of years ago and, although he was in his early 90s then, his mind was as sharp as ever.

‘2016 has been a terrible year for losing iconic figures from our youth. Today we lost another.’

Ken Bruce, who hosts Radio 2’s mid-morning show, said: ‘So very sad to hear about the death of my old friend Sir Jimmy Young. One of the most able broadcasters I ever worked with.’

Veteran broadcaster David Hamilton paid tribute to his friend and former BBC colleague saying: ‘It was iconic broadcasting for so many years… the key to it was he was a terrific communicator with warmth and fun.

‘This year we’ve lost Terry Wogan, Ed Stewart, Dave Cash and now Jimmy Young – so it’s been a very sad year for me as I’ve seen four former colleagues go. I look at my Christmas card list and so many friends have disappeared from it.’

Jeremy Vine, who took over Sir Jimmy’s Radio 2 show in 2002, said on Twitter last night: ‘Sad to see this news. #RIPJimmy’

BBC director general Tony Hall said: ‘Sir Jimmy Young defined Radio 2 and was a true broadcasting pioneer. He will be dearly missed by his many fans.’

Bob Shennan, director of BBC Radio, said: ‘Sir Jimmy Young was a truly unique broadcaster who pioneered a form of presenting that generations have followed. He made current affairs relevant to millions of listeners and helped shape Radio 2 into the station it is today.’

TV presenter Timmy Mallett wrote: ‘His Unchained Melody was number one on the day I was born.’

‘He was a terrific communicator’