Radio 2 - 1970s Programme Themes: Terry Wogan

At the time of writing (2020), only Steve Wright carries on the older Radio 2 (and Light Programme) tradition of having a theme tune for a weekday/daytime show. But, back in the '70s, everyone had one... and John Dunn had two!

In my early teens, growing up in Oxfordshire where Radio 1's appalling 247 metre frequency was virtually un-usable, I was more familiar with Radio 2's output at that time - particularly as Mum's kitchen radio never strayed from the network's crystal clear VHF frequency. Mind you, David Hamilton's Radio 1 afternoon show - simulcast on Radio 2 - was the highlight of weekday listening, along with weekend Radio 1 simulcast treats on VHF like Junior Choice and the Top 20.

And so, these Radio 2 programme theme tunes gradually permeated my sub-conscience and, even today, bring back some very clear memories.

Terry Wogan was the king of breakfast in the 1970's on Radio 2 with a show that consistently grew its audience as the decade wore on. I don't recall him ever starting the programme with this theme, but Brass Incorporated's "Just Like That" always closed it - a tune I would only ever hear during the school holidays or on school-days when I was skiving off with a "cold"! For me, it would signal that the breakfast things had been cleared away and - if Mum wasn't working - she'd either be starting to get ready to go to the shops or would be getting the Hoover out!

See how Terry fits into the schedule for the week beginning Monday October 3rd 1977:
06.00 Colin Berry (simulcast with Radio 1)
07.00 Terry Wogan
09.00 Pete Murray
11.30 Jimmy Young
14.00 David Hamilton (simulcast from Radio 1)
16.30 Waggoners' Walk
16.45 John Dunn
See: https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio2/1977-10-03

Check out other iconic themes in my 1970s Radio 2 Programme Themes playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDDqWXrHlieyl3AdL3uMS8PVOWLLn7mi4

Thanks for subscribing to the Retro Radio channel!

Видео Radio 2 - 1970s Programme Themes: Terry Wogan канала RetroRadioUK