Wake Up to Wogan
Encyclopedia
Wake Up to Wogan was the most listened to radio show in the United Kingdom
and the flagship breakfast programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2
. The show was presented by Sir Terry Wogan who fronted WUTW from 4 January 1993; he had previously presented the breakfast show between 1972 and 1984, but the title WUTW was only added at the start of his second term. On 7 September 2009, Wogan confirmed to his listeners that he would be leaving the show at the end of the year, with Chris Evans taking over the breakfast show from the 11th January 2010. The final show was broadcast on 18 December 2009. Regular stand in presenter Johnnie Walker
would become interim host of the breakfast show for the three week period between Wogan's departure and Evans' arrival.
at 7.30am (following the news headlines) and finished with a hand over to Ken Bruce
at 9.30am. WUTW was a music based programme that included listeners' views and comments which were often light-hearted and whimsical. Traffic bulletins interrupted the programme at half hour intervals and had up until February 2007 been presented by that morning's newsreader. Similar to other programmes during the day the traffic bulletins are now delivered by a travel announcer.
The show was produced by Paul Walters
for many years and in addition to these duties Walters often traded banter with Wogan and the newsreaders on-air until illness took him away from the studio at the start of 2006. He did, however, continue to programme WUTW up until his death on 21 October 2006. Alan Boyd took over production duties in Walters' absence and has remained with the show since Walters' death. "Barrowlands" Boyd was at first rarely heard on-air, but often played a part in Wogan's "mini-dramas", usually as the dour Scottish soundalike for a Taggart
character.
The newsreaders who contributed to the show are Alan Dedicoat
("Deadly"), Fran Godfrey
("Mimi"), John Marsh
("Boggy") who retired in February 2007 but who presented news bulletins on a freelance basis and Charles Nove
("Super/Bossa") who joined the team following Marsh's "retirement". Each newsreader became a star in their own right and John Marsh, along with his wife Janet, had their life "stories" told in four "Janet and John" CDs. All have been released to raise funds for the Children in Need
appeal. The regular travel announcer is Lynn Bowles
(known as the 'Traffic Totty'), who, prior to Marsh's retirement and a change in format, had only presented the travel on the programmes either side of WUTW. Sir Terry will often refer to Lynn and the newsreaders as his "underlings", "peons" and "numpties". This was a long standing gag, used to make light of the fact that listeners who write into other Radio 2 shows (such as Steve Wright in the Afternoon) often address "the Team."
WUTW was one of the few Radio 2 programmes available which has edited highlights made available as a podcast
.
, cynicism
and befuddlement at modern society's habits, as being those of a true TOG. Wogan, as the archetypal TOG, was sometimes referred to as the "TOGmeister".
Younger listeners were sometimes called "TYGs" (Terry's Young Geezers/Gals); a frequent joke being that many TYGs were children forced to listen to WUTW in the car while being driven to school. Often, younger listeners getting in touch with the show were jokingly told to "get lost".
was used by the contributor(s) for comic effect. A few of these regular contributors are listed below:
For a list of regular contributors to the show, see TOGs
.
Often an e-mail was signed off with a name that is a double entendre
. Wogan was (usually!) good at cutting off his reading of an e-mail if it starts becoming too rude for transmission.
Originally Dawn Patrol host Sarah Kennedy
covered for him after persuading then Radio 2 Controller Frances Line that she was most suitable for the job. A couple of "dubious" moments whilst Kennedy was in the chair during the late 90s under James Moir
's reign, however, resulted in Ed Stewart
being granted the accolade. In the last few years of the show Johnnie Walker
had usually deputised for Wogan although Richard Allinson
had also frequently taken this role. Allinson tended to cover the show during Bank Holidays.
During the Christmas break in 2007, Top Gear
presenter Richard Hammond
covered the show's slot for several days and Jonathan Ross
had been known to present the show on a one-off occasion. From 2008 until Wogan's final holiday leave prior to his retirement from the breakfast show, Johnnie Walker had been the usual stand-in for Wogan. Contributors often used to joke that it was Terry Wogan who was in fact the stand-in for Johnnie Walker.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the flagship breakfast programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
. The show was presented by Sir Terry Wogan who fronted WUTW from 4 January 1993; he had previously presented the breakfast show between 1972 and 1984, but the title WUTW was only added at the start of his second term. On 7 September 2009, Wogan confirmed to his listeners that he would be leaving the show at the end of the year, with Chris Evans taking over the breakfast show from the 11th January 2010. The final show was broadcast on 18 December 2009. Regular stand in presenter Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker (DJ)
Johnnie Walker MBE is a popular British veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster....
would become interim host of the breakfast show for the three week period between Wogan's departure and Evans' arrival.
The Show
Wogan took over the airwaves from Sarah KennedySarah Kennedy
Sarah Mary Kennedy MBE is a British TV and radio broadcaster. She presented her own daily early morning radio show, The Dawn Patrol, on BBC Radio 2 from 1993, before announcing her decision to leave the show on 3 September, 2010.Kennedy was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2005, when...
at 7.30am (following the news headlines) and finished with a hand over to Ken Bruce
Ken Bruce
Kenneth Robertson Bruce is a British broadcaster known for his programme on BBC Radio 2, which is broadcast on weekdays from 9:30am until 12 noon.-Early life and career:...
at 9.30am. WUTW was a music based programme that included listeners' views and comments which were often light-hearted and whimsical. Traffic bulletins interrupted the programme at half hour intervals and had up until February 2007 been presented by that morning's newsreader. Similar to other programmes during the day the traffic bulletins are now delivered by a travel announcer.
The show was produced by Paul Walters
Paul Walters
Paul Walters was a BBC radio and TV producer, most noted for his work and appearances on Sir Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2 breakfast show Wake Up to Wogan, where he was known to millions as "Dr Wally Poultry"...
for many years and in addition to these duties Walters often traded banter with Wogan and the newsreaders on-air until illness took him away from the studio at the start of 2006. He did, however, continue to programme WUTW up until his death on 21 October 2006. Alan Boyd took over production duties in Walters' absence and has remained with the show since Walters' death. "Barrowlands" Boyd was at first rarely heard on-air, but often played a part in Wogan's "mini-dramas", usually as the dour Scottish soundalike for a Taggart
Taggart
Taggart is a Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler, who has written many of the episodes, and made by STV Productions for the ITV network...
character.
The newsreaders who contributed to the show are Alan Dedicoat
Alan Dedicoat
Alan Dedicoat is an announcer and on various programmes on BBC One and BBC Radio 2; he is probably best known as the "Voice of the Balls" on the National Lottery programmes on BBC One. He also reads the news on BBC Radio 2 where he is nicknamed Deadly.-Early Life:He was born on 1 December 1954...
("Deadly"), Fran Godfrey
Fran Godfrey
Frances Helen Godfrey is a BBC Radio 2 newsreader, most famous for her appearances on Wake Up to Wogan, the highest-rated radio show in Britain...
("Mimi"), John Marsh
John Marsh (newsreader)
John Marsh is a freelance newsreader on BBC Radio 2."Boggy", as he has been nicknamed by Terry Wogan, is from Sussex, and was originally a cameraman. However, a radio opportunity came up, and he ended up in BBC Radio 4. In 1982 he transferred to Radio 2. Marsh presented various radio shows, but...
("Boggy") who retired in February 2007 but who presented news bulletins on a freelance basis and Charles Nove
Charles Nove
Charles Alexis Nove born in London, is a long standing news and continuity voiceover announcer for BBC radio and television. In recent years he has provided holiday relief for BBC Radio 2 and what used to be Saga Radio in Scotland, and following John Marsh's retirement in February 2007 he became...
("Super/Bossa") who joined the team following Marsh's "retirement". Each newsreader became a star in their own right and John Marsh, along with his wife Janet, had their life "stories" told in four "Janet and John" CDs. All have been released to raise funds for the Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
appeal. The regular travel announcer is Lynn Bowles
Lynn Bowles
Lynn M. Bowles is a British radio traffic reporter and can currently be heard relaying the latest traffic news on a half hourly basis on the BBC Radio 2 morning shows presented by Chris Evans and Ken Bruce.-Early life:...
(known as the 'Traffic Totty'), who, prior to Marsh's retirement and a change in format, had only presented the travel on the programmes either side of WUTW. Sir Terry will often refer to Lynn and the newsreaders as his "underlings", "peons" and "numpties". This was a long standing gag, used to make light of the fact that listeners who write into other Radio 2 shows (such as Steve Wright in the Afternoon) often address "the Team."
WUTW was one of the few Radio 2 programmes available which has edited highlights made available as a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
.
Terry's Old Geezers and Gals - "TOGs"
Regular listeners to the show were often referred to collectively as TOGs (Terry's Old Geezers / Gals). A running joke on the show was defining what it takes to qualify as a TOG. Much humour was drawn from identifying stereotypical traits of the elderly, such as absent-mindednessAbsent-mindedness
Absent-mindedness is where a person shows inattentive or forgetful behaviour. It can have three different causes:# a low level of attention...
, cynicism
Cynicism
Cynicism , in its original form, refers to the beliefs of an ancient school of Greek philosophers known as the Cynics . Their philosophy was that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health, and...
and befuddlement at modern society's habits, as being those of a true TOG. Wogan, as the archetypal TOG, was sometimes referred to as the "TOGmeister".
Younger listeners were sometimes called "TYGs" (Terry's Young Geezers/Gals); a frequent joke being that many TYGs were children forced to listen to WUTW in the car while being driven to school. Often, younger listeners getting in touch with the show were jokingly told to "get lost".
Humorous contributors
The show relied heavily on e-mailed material sent in by listeners that was then read out on air, and there were many regular contributors from the general public. Often a pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
was used by the contributor(s) for comic effect. A few of these regular contributors are listed below:
- Mick Sturbs was the author of the Janet and JohnJanet and JohnJanet and John are the main characters in a series of reading books for children aged 4–7 years.-Origin:Originally, these stories were published by Row Peterson and Company as the Alice and Jerry books in the USA....
stories which were sent in to WUTW every three weeks so that they could be read out in the presence of John MarshJohn Marsh (newsreader)John Marsh is a freelance newsreader on BBC Radio 2."Boggy", as he has been nicknamed by Terry Wogan, is from Sussex, and was originally a cameraman. However, a radio opportunity came up, and he ended up in BBC Radio 4. In 1982 he transferred to Radio 2. Marsh presented various radio shows, but...
. The stories were released on four CD volumes, and the collected scripts have also been published under the title What Janet and John Did Next to raise money for the BBC Children in Need appeal. Betty Bickerdyke often featured in the Janet and JohnJanet and JohnJanet and John are the main characters in a series of reading books for children aged 4–7 years.-Origin:Originally, these stories were published by Row Peterson and Company as the Alice and Jerry books in the USA....
stories and she also appeared in emails relating to "Deadly", particularly those relating to the "WealdstoneWealdstoneWealdstone is a largely working-class and recent immigrant district in the London Borough of Harrow, north west London.-History and name:The eponymous Weald Stone is a sarsen stone, formerly marking the boundary between the parish of Harrow and Harrow Weald...
Tan and Touch-Up Emporium". Melanie Frontage was a character from the Janet and John stories. See John Run: The Complete Radio 2 Janet and John Marsh Stories as Told by Terry Wogan by Kevin Joslin was published in October 2009.
- Chuffer Dandridge, also a frequent contributor to Wake Up to Wogan, was a resting Shakespearean actor-manager who often e-mailed into the show to make comments regarding Sir Terry, or something in the news. He would also mistakenly refer to a road or place featured in the travel bulletins as an old acting friend: "Did I hear Lynn mention my old friend Bradford Bypass?" Chuffer often mentioned his producer/ director friend Dickie "Touch" Tingles who was, allegedly, a famous Music Hall veteran. Another long-running joke was the mention of him being owed a 'white fiver' (a pre-1957 Five Pound Note) by that person.
- Barnsley Chop, Dora Jarr, Lou Smorrels, Edna Cloud, Tim Custard, Gethin Nunn, Palacia Betts and Tansy Whitebytts were also regular contributors to the programme.
- Crookey of Old Bangor Town, Horatio Q. Birdbath, Katie Mallett and Wilting Baz often wrote poetry based on the days news stories or an odeOdeOde is a type of lyrical verse. A classic ode is structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode. Different forms such as the homostrophic ode and the irregular ode also exist...
to one of the newsreaders.
For a list of regular contributors to the show, see TOGs
TOGs
Terry's Old Geezers/Gals/Gits were people who listened to the Wake Up to Wogan show on BBC Radio 2 until it ended in December 2009. They often take on pseudonyms, as did the newsreaders, prior to February 2007...
.
Often an e-mail was signed off with a name that is a double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
. Wogan was (usually!) good at cutting off his reading of an e-mail if it starts becoming too rude for transmission.
Pause for Thought
During the last half hour of the show, the programme included a short interlude, where a moment of religious-related opinion was shared with Wogan and the listeners. Regular contributors include:- Julia, Lady Neuberger - RabbiRabbiIn Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and member of the House of LordsHouse of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
- Father Brian D'Arcy - PassionistPassionistThe Passionists are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross . Professed members use the initials C.P. after their names.-History:St...
PriestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
from IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and presenter of BBC 2's Sunday Half HourSunday Half HourSunday Half Hour is a long-standing show broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in the United Kingdom.It is broadcast on Sunday evenings between 8:30pm and 9:00pm and focuses on Christian hymns and prayer. It is one of only two remaining Christian based shows on Radio 2, the other being Good Morning Sunday...
- Revd Robert Gillion - Area DeanDean (religion)A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of ChelseaChelsea, LondonChelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
and RectorRectorThe word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Holy Trinity, Sloane Street
- Canon Roger RoyleRoger RoyleRoger Royle is an Anglican priest and broadcaster. He has been most well known for presenting Sunday Half Hour on BBC Radio 2.- Early life :...
- ordained in the Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
since 1962
- Lieutenant-Colonel Charles King - Editor-in-chief at the Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
's International HQ
- Dharmachari Nagaraja - member of the GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow 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...
Buddhist Centre
- Rabbi Pete Tobias - of the LiberalLiberal JudaismLiberal Judaism , is one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Reform Judaism. Liberal Judaism, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century is less conservative than UK Reform Judaism...
SynagogueSynagogueA synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in ElstreeElstreeElstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
Holidays and cover
Wogan was famous for the amount of holiday leave he took and had numerous presenters cover his absence over the years.Originally Dawn Patrol host Sarah Kennedy
Sarah Kennedy
Sarah Mary Kennedy MBE is a British TV and radio broadcaster. She presented her own daily early morning radio show, The Dawn Patrol, on BBC Radio 2 from 1993, before announcing her decision to leave the show on 3 September, 2010.Kennedy was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2005, when...
covered for him after persuading then Radio 2 Controller Frances Line that she was most suitable for the job. A couple of "dubious" moments whilst Kennedy was in the chair during the late 90s under James Moir
James Moir
James Moir was a senior BBC executive for many years until his retirement in 2003. Among the programmes he produced were Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game from 1971-75....
's reign, however, resulted in Ed Stewart
Ed Stewart
Ed Stewart is a radio broadcaster from England. His real name is Edward Mainwaring but he is known by the nickname Ed Stewpot Stewart.-Early life and career:...
being granted the accolade. In the last few years of the show Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker (DJ)
Johnnie Walker MBE is a popular British veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster....
had usually deputised for Wogan although Richard Allinson
Richard Allinson
Richard John McNeill Allinson is a British broadcaster. He started his broadcasting with a 3-year stint at Bailrigg FM, known at that time as University Radio Bailrigg ,whilst undertaking college courses at Lancaster University Management School. He was firstly Treasurer and then became President...
had also frequently taken this role. Allinson tended to cover the show during Bank Holidays.
During the Christmas break in 2007, Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
presenter Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
covered the show's slot for several days and Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
had been known to present the show on a one-off occasion. From 2008 until Wogan's final holiday leave prior to his retirement from the breakfast show, Johnnie Walker had been the usual stand-in for Wogan. Contributors often used to joke that it was Terry Wogan who was in fact the stand-in for Johnnie Walker.