At long last! Tony Blackburn finally awarded an OBE

Its “the icing on a very lovely cake,” says Tony Blackburn after being awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours List.

Tony, who is known for his enthusiastic style and love of radio, has clocked up an incredible 60 years of broadcasting and is still going strong. Many believe the award is long overdue but finally he has been recognised for his services to broadcasting and charity.

He was one of the early pioneers of commercial radio in the UK as a DJ on Radio Caroline and Wonderful Radio London in the 1960s and he launched Radio 1 in 1967. Tony admits it never crossed his mind he’d be doing what he loves 60 years later.

Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Radio 2, told PA: “Everyone at BBC Radio 2 is thrilled that Tony is receiving this wonderful recognition for his remarkable contribution to broadcasting, which goes back to the earliest days of pirate radio right through the decades to the present.”

Other broadcasters to be recognised include MBEs going to Steve Wright for services to radio, James Whale for services to broadcasting and talkSPORT’s new breakfast show presenter Jeff Stelling for services to sport, broadcasting and charity.

Elsewhere, Global Founder and Executive President Ashley Tabor-King receives a CBE.

And beyond proud being your husband xx https://t.co/g3W2c8ll9i

— Tony Blackburn (@tonyblackburn) December 29, 2023