John Peel famously championed obscure music from unsigned bands. Tim Westwood did the same for hip-hop. And David Rodigan the same for reggae. His summer season of programmes – a sort of Reggae for Beginners – returned to Radio 2 last night and every track was a delight. I’ve been listening to Rodigan since I was at school and at first I wasn’t keen. He’s an actor and I initially thought that he was just playing the part of a reggae enthusiast. I couldn’t have been more wrong. His passion is genuine, all consuming and dates back more than 40 years. And yet Rodigan, Peel and Westwood all seem unlikely champions for music in which you wouldn’t think middle-aged, middle-class men would have any interest. But for introducing me to this track alone, I’ll be a fan of David Rodigan MBE forever.
Unlikely champions.

- "Make love to...3rd Apr 2014
- Sometimes it'...2nd Apr 2014
- The perfect p...1st Apr 2014
- Britain's fir...31st Mar 2014
- At last, I've...30th Mar 2014
- A Bogarts and...29th Mar 2014
- Cash in the a...27th Mar 2014
- Should "Diva ...26th Mar 2014
- Women and gui...25th Mar 2014
- My son Jack i...24th Mar 2014
- The Full Engl...23rd Mar 2014
- Kate Bush ann...22nd Mar 2014
- The day my wi...21st Mar 2014
- I'm about to ...20th Mar 2014
- The way all p...19th Mar 2014 prev next