Tony Blackburn - Recent Years

Recent Years

Blackburn left Capital Gold in late 2002; he joined London's Jazz FM following the station's acquisition by GMG Radio in March 2003 as host of Real Soul every weeknight from 10pm until midnight, initially a live programme before a contract to host the Classic Gold breakfast show that May meant the show became voicetracked - Real Soul ended in March 2004. He was awarded the 'Oldie Of The Year' title in 2003. In addition, Blackburn presented a pre-recorded show entitled the Real Party Night, broadcast across the GMG Radio network and later by CN Radio stations every Saturday evening, prior to its conclusion in mid 2005.

In March 2004, Blackburn returned to BBC London 94.9, presenting a Monday evening soul show, and in addition to that, in April of the same year, he also took on the Saturday lunchtime show.

He also hosted the breakfast show on Classic Gold, with co-hosts Laura Frey (Laura Pittson) for four years and latterly Erika North and Sandy Warr. Although his Monday evening show on BBC London 94.9 ended in July 2004, he still continued to present the Saturday lunchtime show for the station.

In June 2004, he was temporarily suspended from his show on Classic Gold for playing songs by Cliff Richard, in defiance of a ruling by the head of programmes that Richard's music did not match the station's 'brand values'. The dispute made national headlines and was even referred to in Parliament, with Leader of the House Peter Hain voicing his support for Blackburn. He was reinstated, amid rumours that the episode was merely a publicity stunt. The station started adding Richard's songs to their playlist after public reaction to this.

He performed in a science fiction audio play based on the Doctor Who television series by Big Finish Productions - The Rapture. He played himself as a DJ, in an Ibiza nightclub where sinister forces are brainwashing the patrons.

In 2002, he appeared in the first series of the British reality TV series, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, which he eventually won. Blackburn also occasionally fronts competitions on GMTV, including "The Clues Brothers" (a parody of The Blues Brothers), with fellow DJ Keith Chegwin.

In February 2006, Blackburns house was renovated in an episode of How Not to Decorate.

In 2007, Blackburn was part of Beat The Boys on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. His obstacle was 'Tony Blackburn's Wheel of Steel' and he made a few appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks between 2001 and 2005, appearing alongside guests such as Slash and Gary Moore.

In 2007, Blackburn collaborated with The Wurzels to re-release "I Am A Cider Drinker", in aid of a Bristol prostate cancer charity. He left the Classic Gold breakfast show, upon the merger with Capital Gold, the same year. On 30 September 2007, he co-presented a recreation of BBC Radio 1's first programme with Chris Moyles to mark the station's 40th birthday.

After leaving Classic Gold, Blackburn continued with his Saturday Lunchtime show on BBC London 94.9 and also took over a three hour soul show on the KMFM network in Kent each Sunday afternoon. Blackburn made celebrity guest appearances on Channel 4's Countdown in early October 2007.