John Dunn (disc jockey)
Encyclopedia
John Churchill Dunn, professionally known simply as John Dunn, (4 March 1934 in Glasgow
, Scotland
- 27 November 2004 in Croydon
, Surrey
, England
) was a disc jockey
and radio presenter who worked for many years on BBC
Radio.
His career spanned more than 30 years and he was named Radio Personality of the Year three times. Dunn started his broadcasting
career in the RAF
, before he joined the BBC External Service in 1956 as a studio manager. He then became an announcer for domestic BBC Radio in the 1960s, famously stating "Here is the news - in English" after Emperor Rosko
's first show on the first day of BBC Radio 1
in 1967.
Dunn became the regular presenter of Breakfast Special with the start of the new networks, but in 1972 he effectively swapped places with Terry Wogan
- Wogan taking over the breakfast show, whilst Dunn moved to the 3 pm to 5 pm afternoon slot The Dunn Thing. This did not last too long, and in 1974 Dunn spent a year presenting Late Night Extra. In the mid-1970s, Dunn oddly disappeared from the schedules for a while, but he moved to his long running drivetime programme in 1976. Its time slot varied - initially it ran from 4:45-6:45 pm, for a while it ran from 6 pm to 8 pm, but in 1986 it was moved to 5 pm to 7 pm.
After guesting on his drivetime show, writer/broadcaster Terence Pettigrew reversed their roles by inviting Dunn onto his BBC Radio 2 programme Caught In The Draft
, a documentary about compulsory National Service, which had originated during World War 2 and ended at the beginning of the 1960s. Like Pettigrew, Dunn had been conscripted, and begun his broadcasting career whilst in the forces. They were joined by other 'old sweats' including presenter Michael Aspel
, comedian Bob Monkhouse
and Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas
. The programme was produced by Harry Thompson
, who later found fame as the originator and long-time producer of BBC TV's award-winning Have I Got News For You
From 1972 to 1975, Dunn also presented the Radio 4 Children's programme Fourth Dimension. This was a magazine programme comprising a mixture of documentary features, drama series and stories. In 1979 John provided the BBC TV commentary at the Eurovision Song Contest
, held that year in Jerusalem.
He remained in the early evenings until 1998, when he announced that he was semi-retiring and that Johnnie Walker
was to be taking over the show. (Walker had been a stand-in presenter for Dunn during 1997 and early 1998). From then on, he still continued to present documentaries for the network, as well as editions of Friday Night is Music Night
In 1998, John Dunn was awarded a Gold Sony Radio Award for the best drivetime music programme. He made radio history in 1996 when he presented his show live from Antarctica.
He was married with two daughters, and lived in Croydon, Surrey. When he died he had been suffering from cancer
for some time.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
- 27 November 2004 in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) was a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and radio presenter who worked for many years on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio.
His career spanned more than 30 years and he was named Radio Personality of the Year three times. Dunn started his broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
career in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, before he joined the BBC External Service in 1956 as a studio manager. He then became an announcer for domestic BBC Radio in the 1960s, famously stating "Here is the news - in English" after Emperor Rosko
Emperor Rosko
Mike Pasternak, better known by his stage name of Emperor Rosko is a well known pop radio presenter.Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles DJs Lord Tim Hudson and Wolfman Jack...
's first show on the first day of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in 1967.
Dunn became the regular presenter of Breakfast Special with the start of the new networks, but in 1972 he effectively swapped places with Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
- Wogan taking over the breakfast show, whilst Dunn moved to the 3 pm to 5 pm afternoon slot The Dunn Thing. This did not last too long, and in 1974 Dunn spent a year presenting Late Night Extra. In the mid-1970s, Dunn oddly disappeared from the schedules for a while, but he moved to his long running drivetime programme in 1976. Its time slot varied - initially it ran from 4:45-6:45 pm, for a while it ran from 6 pm to 8 pm, but in 1986 it was moved to 5 pm to 7 pm.
After guesting on his drivetime show, writer/broadcaster Terence Pettigrew reversed their roles by inviting Dunn onto his BBC Radio 2 programme Caught In The Draft
Caught in the Draft
Caught in the Draft is a 1941 comedy/war film, directed by David Butler.-Plot:Don Bolton is a famous Hollywood star who tries to get married in order to avoid the draft, as he feels it will interfere with his career...
, a documentary about compulsory National Service, which had originated during World War 2 and ended at the beginning of the 1960s. Like Pettigrew, Dunn had been conscripted, and begun his broadcasting career whilst in the forces. They were joined by other 'old sweats' including presenter Michael Aspel
Michael Aspel
Michael Terence Aspel, OBE is an English television presenter, known for his reserved demeanour and rich speaking voice. He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life, Strange But...
, comedian Bob Monkhouse
Bob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
and Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas
Leslie Thomas
Leslie Thomas, OBE is a British author.- Virgin Soldiers :His novels about 1950s British National Service such as "The Virgin Soldiers" spawned two film versions, in 1969 and 1977, whilst his Tropic of Ruislip and Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective have been adapted for television Leslie...
. The programme was produced by Harry Thompson
Harry Thompson
Harry William Thompson was an English radio and television producer, comedy writer, novelist and biographer....
, who later found fame as the originator and long-time producer of BBC TV's award-winning Have I Got News For You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
From 1972 to 1975, Dunn also presented the Radio 4 Children's programme Fourth Dimension. This was a magazine programme comprising a mixture of documentary features, drama series and stories. In 1979 John provided the BBC TV commentary at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, held that year in Jerusalem.
He remained in the early evenings until 1998, when he announced that he was semi-retiring and that Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker (DJ)
Johnnie Walker MBE is a popular British veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster....
was to be taking over the show. (Walker had been a stand-in presenter for Dunn during 1997 and early 1998). From then on, he still continued to present documentaries for the network, as well as editions of Friday Night is Music Night
In 1998, John Dunn was awarded a Gold Sony Radio Award for the best drivetime music programme. He made radio history in 1996 when he presented his show live from Antarctica.
He was married with two daughters, and lived in Croydon, Surrey. When he died he had been suffering from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
for some time.