Annie Nightingale Dies: First Female BBC Radio 1 DJ & Host Of ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ Was 83

Max Goldbart
·2 min read
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Annie Nightingale, the first female presenter of a BBC Radio 1 show and co-host of The Old Grey Whistle Test, has died after a short illness. She was 83.

A statement to the press attributed from her family said she passed away yesterday at her home in London.

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“Annie was a pioneer, trailblazer and an inspiration to many,” said the statement. “Her impulse to share that enthusiasm with audiences remained undimmed after six decades of broadcasting on BBC TV and radio globally.”

It added: “Never underestimate the role model she became. Breaking down doors by refusing to bow down to sexual prejudice and male fear gave encouragement to generations of young women who, like Annie, only wanted to tell you about an amazing tune they had just heard. Watching Annie do this on television in the 1970s, most famously as a presenter on the BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test, or hearing her play the latest breakbeat techno on Radio One is testimony to someone who never stopped believing in the magic of rock ‘n’ roll.”

Radio 1 head Aled Haydn Jones called her a “world class DJ, broadcaster and journalist, and throughout her entire career a champion of new music and new artists.”

Born in England, Nightingale started her career as a journalist before she joined BBC Radio 1 in 1970, remaining the only woman in the DJ lineup for 12 years. She was known for her passion for a wide range of music – championing everything from prog rock and punk to acid house and grime – and continued hosting for decades, moving with the times.

Nightingale presented a range of other shows on the radio and was also the host of BBC Two’s The Old Grey Whistle Test, a 1970s/1980s music show that featured non-chart hits in opposition to BBC One’s Top of the Pops. She also presented a range of documentaries.

She was active on the scene up until last year, hosting Annie Nightingale Presents.

She is survived by two children.

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