The word legend is used frequently these days; it’s become commonplace in everyday vernacular, for instance…
“I bought you a pint mate.”
“Cheers mate, legend.”
Now, why don’t you gather around and let me tell you about someone for whom the word legend seems too small, a woman who changed not only the face of journalism for females the world over but also was an accomplished feminist writer, a personality, a total inspiration to several generations and a leader in a world of followers.
Annie Nightingale was the first female broadcaster on BBC Radio 1, and the BBC is, where she made her debut on 14 September 1963 as a panelist on Juke Box Jury, an early singles review show. At this point, she was already making waves through her work as a journalist in Brighton, working on the local Brighton Argus with her column, “Spin With Me.” During this time, she faced little overt sexism and was allowed to publish feminist pieces.
All the while, Annie became inspired by tales of the pirate radio ships in international waters broadcasting into the mainland that the British Government had outlawed. The vast popularity of the likes of Radio Caroline prompted Prime Minister Harold Wilson to decree that the BBC would run a new pop station in London called Radio 1, launched in September 1967 with a policy of no women on air! Not dissuaded, Annie Nightingale applied for a job as a disc jockey and was promptly rejected as the radio was obviously a “husband substitute” for bored housewives at home seeing to chores.
It took another three years of persistence before Annie’s friend in a little band called the Beatles and their Apple Records label persuaded the BBC to let her audition.
Throughout her meagre six programme run, Annie managed to not only quickly learn the ins and outs of running a radio show in real time, mostly on her own, due to an uncooperative team of male staff who wanted her to fail so that they could return to the status quo.
It was during this difficult radio birth that she became friends with another DJ called John Peel and on the evidence of her ratings and sheer determination she secured a contract purely off her own determination and laser-focused attitude.
Annie Nightingale’s Sunday Evening show hit the airwaves in February 1970, her evening slot was thought to keep her out of the way, but it proved to be extremely important in shaping her into the pioneer that we knew so dearly. With the eyes of the big wigs on daytime weekday programming, Annie could hone her craft and it was soon that she took over a Sunday daytime slot from Terry Wogan.
Annie Nightingale’s star was in ascendance and never returned to Earth. Throughout the next five decades, Annie was on the coalface of all genres of modern music. Her name was crucial in launching so many careers that listing them would be a mammoth task. From superstars to white-label Breaks producers, she laughed in the face of playlists and played only what she loved. Annie was always on the lookout, putting younger upstarts to shame by being in touch with artists herself; chances are, if you discovered an artist, Annie had already played them and emailed them personally.
That was the kind of person Annie Nightingale was. She could be on the BBC becoming the first female presenter of Old Grey Whistle test one minute, a role she held for four years, or changing the way DJs spoke to the public on her Mailbag requests segment (a concept that was doubted at first but now informs the very foundations of audience interaction in broadcasting). She was continuously making being a pioneer look effortless!
When The Police wanted to break new ground by documenting their first world tour (a practice that’s commonplace for many bands now, but this was way before mobile phones!), they enlisted Annie Nightingale to follow them around the globe and capture the tour.
She was also an accomplished writer. Her work for The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and even The Spectator proved that all media was hers to voice her thoughts directly into the common cultural narrative.
Annie notably led the charge for other women to become DJs and broadcasters and held the Guinness World Record for the longest career for a female radio presenter! She was the first, after all! Annie was always the first, which is why the term pioneer often gets thrown into the mix when anyone talks about her.
After being enchanted by the rise of “Acid House” in the eighties, Annie was also out in the clubs, DJing herself until very late in her life, meeting her public, and giving awards at underground music ceremonies in warehouses. She was genuinely thought of as one of us because she was.
Annie Nightingale indeed got her own award when she became Annie Nightingale CBE. However, did this prompt her to slow down? Not one iota!
Annie Nightingale’s show was a staple listen for anyone wanting to know what’s new. Her entire mission was breaking talent no matter where it came from. It didn’t matter how many times the BBC moved her timeslot to make room for yet another here today, gone tomorrow, young DJ Annie endured, and those who knew listened to her no matter what time of day it was!
Annie’s last broadcast on BBC Radio 1 was during Christmas December 2023, when she presented her best of 2023 show. She died only a few weeks later, on 11 January.
The shockwaves felt throughout the entire music industry, from small independent acts to global megastars, were seismic. We all cried. We all swapped stories. Annie had been a comforting, compelling, and inspiring voice emanating from our speakers all our lives, and now she was gone.
No one can ever replicate or replace this fantastic woman and her determination against an industry that absolutely could not stop her ascendance to the rightful owner of the title,
legend.
Annie Nightingale (1st April 1940 – 11th January 2024)
Personal Tribute By George Miller
Photos Supplied By The BBC Pictures Desk
Photo Credits: David Venni / BBC