Category Archives: Worlds Shortest Radio Show

Sir Elton wants to have a meeting with Putin to discuss the Russian president’s disgraceful record on gay rights. I think this would be a very good idea. The two men have much in common. One of them is globally famous, was once married to a woman and is now a gay icon. The other […]

37 today. He’s the man of the moment with his astonishing performance(s) as both Ronnie and Reggie Kray in the hit film Legend. This is, of course, the second biopic about the Kray twins. In the early 90s, The Krays starred Gary Kemp as Ronnie and Martin Kemp as Reggie. Tom Hardy now makes Gary […]

This clip is uploaded from time to time by Facebookers, saluting two of the greatest stars of the 20th century, singing together at the height of their fame. But in 1960, it was viewed rather differently. This was Elvis’s first big TV appearance after coming out of the army. His millions of fans, who’d waited […]

On the one hand, this is great. Voters now have a genuine alternative to the bland, centrist politicians who have dominated British politics for the last twenty years. Labour has returned to its roots. On the other hand, it’s not so great. A healthy democracy needs a strong, credible opposition to hold the government to […]

This week, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 23,227th day on the throne and surpassed Queen Victoria to become Britain’s longest reigning monarch. I’m no flag waving Royalist but I do like the Queen. For more than 63 years, she’s served her country with distinction, discretion and dedication to duty. In that time, she has also […]

Let’s hope so. Botney is, of course, Alan Yentob. Private Eye gave him this nickname – Yentob backwards – and it’s wonderfully disrespectful to one so pompous. Once controller of BBC1, Botney has somehow re-invented himself as a presenter of arts programmes, as well as being the BBC’s “Creative Director”. He was also Chairman of […]

We all know that their first hit, Gangsters, was basically the same tune as Prince Buster’s Al Capone. But what about their first No.1 hit, Too Much Too Young? What was that based on? Have a listen to this.

Sadly, Mr. Rico will blow no more. Rico Rodriguez died yesterday. He was a hugely influential figure in popular music, playing trombone on countless reggae and ska records and helping to define a whole genre. After years blowing away in the background, Rico found fame with The Specials and practically invented 2-Tone. But his musical […]

Cradle To Grave started on BBC2 last night, a funny, sharply-written sitcom based on Danny Baker’s memoirs, starring Peter Kay as Fred, Danny’s dad. My wife was Danny Baker’s agent so I knew Danny and his family quite well. I met Fred many times and cannot stress enough how unlike Peter Kay he was. Fred […]

Of course he did. John “Jellybean” Benitez, a former New York DJ, produced this great but half-forgotten 80s dance tune. But it seemed unusual at the time for producers to take top billing above singers and musicians. However this caught on and Jellybean paved the way for the likes of Fatboy Slim and Calvin Harris […]