- Douglas Muggeridge
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Douglas Muggeridge (1928–26 February 1985)[1] was the controller of BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 from February 1969 until 1976.[2]
Biography
Muggeridge first worked as a reporter for the Liverpool Post, joining the BBC in 1956 as a radio producer.[3] He was appointed as controller of Radio 1 & 2 in February 1969. Following on from Robin Scott,[4] the first Controller for the two networks, Muggeridge tried to up-date the BBC's thinking on pop music radio. Although not a great pop music fan himself, he was responsible for giving both networks their individual identities and for introducing a twice-daily news magazine programme to Radio 1. Entitled 'Newsbeat' the programme still features on the network today. In 1971, he appointed Rodney Collins - known as a supporter of pirate radio through his weekly music newspaper columns - as Publicity Officer for the two networks in an attempt to gain more coverage for Radio 1 in music papers such as the NME, Melody Maker, Disc and Record Mirror. In 1971, Muggeridge signed up leading BBC broadcasters such as Tony Blackburn, Jimmy Young and Pete Murray to long-term contracts in the face of the challenge from the new local commercial radio stations.[5] He was later the Director of Programmes and Deputy Managing Director of Radio, before becoming Managing Director of External Broadcasting in 1981, overseeing the BBC World Service.[4] He was nephew of Malcolm Muggeridge.[2]
He died on 26 February 1985 in St Thomas' Hospital, London.[3]
References
- ^ BBC annual report and handbook 1986, 1985, ISBN 978-0563204480, p. 160-1
- ^ a b Martin, Chad Andrew (2003) Paradise now: youth politics and the British counterculture, 1958-1974, Stanford University Press, p. 134
- ^ a b "Douglas Muggeridge", Toledo Blade, 27 February 1985, p. 14, retrieved 2010-12-18
- ^ a b Briggs, Asa (1995) The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, vol. 5: Competition, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0192159649, p. 704
- ^ "U.K. Radio Figures up, MOR Slant for Network", Billboard, 1 January 1972, p. 27, retrieved 2010-12-18
Media offices Preceded by
Robin ScottController, BBC Radio 1
1969–1976Succeeded by
Charles McLellandPreceded by
Robin ScottController, BBC Radio 2
1969–1976Succeeded by
Charles McLellandBBC Radio 2 Current
presentersRichard Allinson • Michael Ball • Zoë Ball • Tony Blackburn • Ken Bruce • Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes • Desmond Carrington • Jamie Cullum • Brian D'Arcy • Russell Davies • Chris Evans • Vanessa Feltz • Paul Gambaccini • Mike Harding • Bob Harris • Jools Holland • David Jacobs • Aled Jones • Paul Jones • Steve Lamacq • Alex Lester • Janice Long • Stuart Maconie • Brian Matthew • Simon Mayo • Graham Norton • Paul O'Grady • Dermot O'Leary • Nigel Ogden • Trevor Nelson • Elaine Paige • Mark Radcliffe • Frank Renton • Clare Teal • Alan Titchmarsh • Jeremy Vine • Johnnie Walker • Jo Whiley • Claudia Winkleman • Terry Wogan • Steve Wright, Janey Lee Grace and Tim Smith
News, sport and traffic reporters Sally Boazman • Lynn Bowles • Alan Dedicoat • Fenella Fudge • Fran Godfrey • John Marsh • Charles Nove • Andrew Peach • Rebecca Pike • Bobbie Prior • Ricky Salmon • Tom Sanders • Jonny Saunders • Selina Scott • Moira Stuart • Matt WilliamsControllers Robin Scott • Douglas Muggeridge • Charles McLelland • David Hatch • Bryant Marriott • Frances Line • James Moir • Lesley Douglas • Bob ShennanNotable programmes Big Band Special • The Chris Evans Breakfast Show • Elaine Paige on Sunday • Friday Night is Music Night • The Organist Entertains • Pick of the Pops • Radcliffe and Maconie Show • Sounds of the 60s • Steve Wright in the Afternoon • Sunday Half Hour • Sunday Night at 10 • Weekend Wogan
Seasonal programming External links Categories:- 1928 births
- 1985 deaths
- BBC radio producers
- BBC executives
- BBC Radio 1 controllers
- BBC Radio 2 controllers
- British radio people stubs
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